Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Sep 14: Goa’s shipbuilding industry, which delivers nearly 40% of India’s commercial vessels, is warning that without urgent policy support and infrastructure upgrades, the state could slip behind emerging shipbuilding hubs in other coastal regions.

“From a tonnage basis, Goa will come down in the next three to four years to probably the third or fourth position,” cautioned Arjun Chowgule, executive director of the Chowgule Group and CII Goa chairman. He stressed that shipbuilding is capital-intensive and needs loans with repayment periods of up to 12 years to stay competitive.

Infrastructure limitations, particularly the low height of bridges along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, have left most shipyards operating at full capacity. “What all the shipyards need is a 75-metre common-use jetty beyond the bridges with a 50-tonne crane to handle large structures,” said Mandovi Drydocks CEO Atrey Sawant, adding that government plans for such a jetty should be expedited.

Industry leaders believe Goa must pivot to high-value, specialized vessels rather than compete on size alone. They also call for lower GST on yachts—currently 40%—and incentives for shipyards producing smaller, sophisticated ships.

The Confederation of Indian Industry is set to discuss these challenges and a roadmap for sustainable shipbuilding at a key meeting on Monday.