**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways announces a landmark shipbuilding project resulting from India's maritime sector reforms. CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) signed a contract on February 18, 2026, for the construction of six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled container vessels. This contract follows a Letter of Intent and finalization of techno-commercial terms.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Contract Signing:** CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) signed a contract for the construction of six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled container vessels.
* **Location and Registration:** The vessels will be constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi and registered under the Indian flag.
* **Government's Policy:** The project aligns with the Government's policy framework for maritime sector development and aims to increase global engagement with Indian shipyards.
* **Strategic Partnership:** The initiative is supported by a strong India-France strategic partnership.
* **Vision:** The project supports India's vision to become a leading maritime nation, driven by sustainability, innovation, and global partnerships.
* **Background:** The agreement stems from discussions during the Prime Minister's visit to France on February 12, 2025.
* **Letter of Intent:** The contract followed a Letter of Intent (LoI) between CSL and CMA CGM for the design and construction of the vessels, leading to finalization of techno-commercial terms.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: CMA CGM**
* **Impact:** Gains access to shipbuilding capabilities in India and strengthens their commitment to a self-reliant maritime ecosystem.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the construction of the six LNG-fuelled container vessels in collaboration with Cochin Shipyard Limited.
**Stakeholder: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)**
* **Impact:** Secures a contract for the construction of six LNG-fuelled container vessels, boosting their commercial shipbuilding order book.
* **Action Required:** Construct the six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled feeder container vessels in Kochi, ensuring they are registered under the Indian flag.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways**
* **Impact:** The project furthers the country's maritime sector reforms and showcases India's shipbuilding capabilities on the global stage.
* **Action Required:** Continue to support and promote the development of the maritime sector through policy frameworks and strategic partnerships.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The central government ministry overseeing port and shipping development in India.
CMA CGM: A global shipping major that has signed a contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the construction of container vessels.
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL): An Indian shipyard constructing container vessels for CMA CGM.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Reforms in Maritime Sector Drive Landmark
Shipbuilding Project
CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited Sign Contract for Six
LNG-Fuelled Container Vessels
Posted On: 18 FEB 2026 8:01PM by PIB Delhi
New Delhi, 18 February 2026: India’s ongoing maritime sector reforms are translating into concrete
outcomes in shipbuilding and green shipping, with the signing of a contract between global shipping
major CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for the construction of six 1,700 TEU LNG-
fuelled feeder container vessels, signed at an event held in New Delhi today.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu
Thakur; Chairman and CEO of the CMA CGM Group, Mr. Rodolphe Saadé; Secretary, MoPSW, Shri
Vijay Kumar, IAS; senior officials of the Ministry; and representatives of the partnering organisations.
The vessels will be constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi and will be registered under the
Indian flag. The project adds to India’s commercial shipbuilding order book and reflects increasing global
engagement with Indian shipyards under the Government’s policy framework for maritime sector
development.
In a message on the occasion, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda
Sonowal, said: “India and France share a deep and trusted strategic partnership — spanning defence, space
cooperation, clean energy and Indo-Pacific maritime security. The presence of French President H.E.
Emmanuel Macron in India on recent occasions further reflects the strength and maturity of our bilateral
ties.
Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is advancing with
a clear roadmap to become a leading maritime nation, driven by sustainability, innovation and global
partnerships. The collaboration between CMA CGM and Cochin Shipyard Limited is a natural extension
of this vision into the maritime domain.
It demonstrates the growing confidence of global maritime leaders in India’s shipbuilding capabilities and
reinforces our commitment to building a strong, self-reliant and globally integrated maritime ecosystem.”
Addressing the gathering, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur,
said:
“This milestone has its roots in high-level strategic engagement. During the official visit of the Hon’ble
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji to France on 12 February 2025, he visited the CMA CGM
headquarters along with the President of France. During that interaction, the Chairman of CMA CGMexpressed strong interest — under India’s progressive shipping policy framework — in exploring the
flagging of vessels in India and building new ships in Indian shipyards. Today’s agreement is the concrete
outcome of that dialogue and shared vision.”
Following a series of meetings to finalise vessel specifications, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) executed
a Letter of Intent (LoI) with CMA CGM for the design and construction of six feeder container vessels,
each with a capacity of 1,700 TEU and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Under the LoI, CSL and
CMA CGM worked towards finalising techno-commercial terms, leading to the formal shipbuilding
contract.
***
PN/IY
(Release ID: 2229873) Visitor Counter : 632
Read this release in: Urdu , ही