India’s maritime economy is entering a new era of strategic growth and innovation. With a coastline stretching over 11,000 kilometres and access to critical global sea routes, the country is fast emerging as a hub for port-led industrialisation, shipbuilding, logistics, and clean energy.[1] Supported by the flagship Sagarmala Programme and driven by Maritime India Vision 2030, the Maritime India Vision 2047, several port clusters in India have been identified to enhance trade, infrastructure, and investment opportunities nationwide.
This listicle will take you through eight leading clusters driving transformation across India’s blue economy, spanning ports, shipbuilding and logistics to renewable energy and coastal manufacturing.
1. Gujarat cluster (Deendayal, Mundra, Dahej, Hazira, Sikka, Vadinar & Pipavav Port)
Gujarat’s coastline hosts one of the most advanced key port-led development zones in India, anchored by Deendayal (Kandla), Mundra Port, and Pipavav Port. Around 40% of the cargo arriving via sea routes in India is handled by Gujarat’s ports.[2] Further, a new mega cargo terminal with a capacity of 2.19 million TEU is being constructed at Tuna-Tekra under the PPP mode.[3] Deendayal Port has also been designated as a Green Hydrogen Hub as a part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
Gujarat cluster is not only home to some of India’s busiest ports and a significant share of the country’s cargo handling. Still, it has also emerged as a leading hub for shipbuilding and ship repair, with multiple large private shipyards, including major facilities at Pipavav, Hazira, and other locations. Further strengthening this maritime ecosystem, the Alang–Sosiya ship recycling yard in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, is recognised as one of the world’s largest ship recycling complexes, hosting over 100 recycling plots and handling a substantial share of global end-of-life tonnage.
cluster aims to position Gujarat as a global leader in shipbuilding, repair, and marine services, supported by deep-draft ports in India, R&D centres, and maritime training institutions.
The presence of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City and initiatives such as the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme are further enhancing Gujarat’s international competitiveness. Private players such as APM Terminal, DP World and Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) have already committed to investing in India’s shipping industry, reinforcing the state’s position as a hub of innovation and maritime growth.
2. North Maharashtra cluster (Mumbai and Jawaharlal Nehru Port)
Centred around Jawaharlal Nehru Port — India’s largest container port — this cluster serves as the gateway to India’s western trade network.[4] Located in Navi Mumbai, the port handles approximately 50% of India’s total containerised cargo across all major ports. Commissioned on 26 May 1989, the port connects to over 200 ports worldwide and remains a key driver of India’s maritime trade and logistics competitiveness.[5] The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is attracting manufacturers and logistics firms seeking proximity to port infrastructure, making it one of the most vibrant ports in India for global trade.
The upcoming Vadhavan Port, jointly developed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port and the Maharashtra Maritime Board, will increase container capacity on the western coast, with Terminal Investment Limited and Adani Ports and SEZ proposing huge investments in a major terminal, demonstrating strong private sector confidence in India’s port-led growth strategy.[6][7]
The cluster is also diversifying into cruise tourism, ship repair and coastal transport under the Government redevelopment initiatives. The newly inaugurated international cruise terminal at Mumbai Port, together with the State Government’s new shipbuilding policy aligned with central initiatives, is poised to propel this cluster into a hub of comprehensive economic development.
3. South Maharashtra and Goa Cluster (Mormugao and Jaigad Port)
The cluster centring on Mormugao Port in Goa (and the broader west-coast corridor including Jaigad) is revitalizing Goa’s maritime identity by combining cargo diversification, cruise and tourism potential and green-port initiatives. Mormugao Port has been formally recognised as India’s first “green port”, generating 3 MW of solar power (covering its own consumption)[8]
Collectively, this cluster is steadily emerging as a node for sustainable maritime logistics, cruise tourism, and coastal industrial growth.
4. Karnataka Cluster (New Mangalore Port)
The maritime cluster anchored by New Mangalore Port in Karnataka serves as the state’s gateway to the Arabian Sea and a central driver of port-led development along the western coast. As the port completes 50 years of service, it has marked a major milestone by signing MoUs worth approximately ₹52,000 crore during India Maritime Week 2025, with major corporates including Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), Aegis Vopak, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Reliance Industries Ltd, signalling large-scale investment interest in port infrastructure, logistics and energy value-chains.[9]
Complementing this maritime growth through ports, Karnataka is also advancing initiatives in river tourism and urban water transport, particularly along the Gurupura and Nethravati rivers. These efforts are aimed at creating interconnected tourism routes and enhancing urban water mobility, further strengthening the state’s integrated approach to coastal and inland waterway development.[10]
5. South Tamil Nadu and Kerala Cluster (Cochin and VOC Port)
The South Tamil Nadu and Kerala maritime cluster, anchored by Cochin Port and V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port, has emerged as a key hub for shipbuilding, port-led industrialisation, and green maritime innovation. Cochin Port continues to strengthen its position as a major gateway on the southwest coast, supporting container, LNG, coastal, and cruise traffic, while VOC Port is leading India’s green-port transition through pilot initiatives in green hydrogen and clean-fuel bunkering. Complementing these port capabilities, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) underscores the cluster’s expertise in shipbuilding, offshore fabrication and marine engineering. CSL is one of India’s largest ship‐building and repair yard, capable of constructing vessels up to 110,000 DWT and repairing up to 125,000 DWT.[11] Further, CSL signed MoU with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering for a long-term strategic partnership in shipbuilding, further strengthening India’s global competitiveness in shipbuilding.[12] With additional partnerships with Drydocks World [13] and other international shipbuilders, the cluster is also advancing maritime skilling, clean-energy initiatives and high-end repair technologies, positioning the South Tamil Nadu–Kerala corridor as one of India’s most dynamic and innovation-driven maritime ecosystems.
6. South Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu Cluster (Karaikal, Chennai, Kamarajar, Kattupalli and Krishnapatnam Port)
The South Andhra Pradesh & North Tamil Nadu maritime cluster spans a key stretch of India’s east and south-east coast. It is anchored by ports such as Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh, and Chennai, Kamarajar, and Kattupalli Ports in Tamil Nadu. Chennai and Kamarajar ports are the top Indian ports for car exports, with Hyundai and Kia as the primary original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Krishnapatnam Port, with its deep draft and strong cargo-handling efficiency, and Karaikal Port, with its strategic location and multi-cargo capabilities, together enhance the corridor’s connectivity to key industrial hubs.
At Kattupalli, there is an established shipyard developed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), geared to build large commercial and defence vessels, signalling the cluster’s ambition in shipbuilding and repair.
With deep-draft container and bulk terminals, an integrated shipyard at Kattupalli, and strong rail-road links into the industrial hinterland, the South Andhra–North Tamil Nadu corridor offers investors a powerful mix of port capacity, manufacturing depth and export competitiveness.
7. North Andhra Pradesh Cluster (Kakinada, Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram Port)
The North Andhra Pradesh maritime cluster, anchored by Visakhapatnam Port, Kakinada Port and Gangavaram Port, is evolving into a major port-industrial ecosystem. Visakhapatnam Port already handles large cargo volumes and is supported by the neighbouring Hindustan Shipyard, one of India’s oldest and most capable yards for shipbuilding, repairs and refits. Gangavaram Port serves as a key gateway for bulk cargo and major mineral-based industries. Kakinada Port further strengthens the cluster through its specialisation in agri-commodities, liquid and offshore support cargo, linking coastal trade with the region’s industrial hinterland.
Significantly, Visakhapatnam Port has signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh State Government to develop the project, which also includes a ship repair cluster with an investment commitment of Rs. 29,000 crore, and potential to generate large-scale employment. [14]
Thus, the North Andhra cluster is poised not only for enhanced port operations but also for manufacturing, repairs, logistics and industrial integration, positioning it as a major contributor to the east-coast blue economy.
8. West Bengal and Odisha Cluster (Gopalpur, Paradip, Dhamra, Haldia and Kolkata Port)
Strategically located along India’s east coast gateway, the cluster, centred on Paradip Port (Odisha) and associated ports such as Gopalpur Port and Kolkata/Haldia Port, is being transformed into a next-generation maritime and green-energy node. Paradip Port has been formally recognised by the National Green Hydrogen Mission as a Green Hydrogen Hub, enabling integrated production, consumption and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
Additionally, the Odisha Government has announced plans for a Rs. 24,700-crore shipbuilding and repair centre near the Mahanadi river mouth, along with a new port at Bahuda and a cruise terminal at Puri, further expanding the state’s maritime and industrial ecosystem.[15]
With Kolkata–Haldia’s linked industrial hinterland and Paradip emerging green-hydrogen infrastructure, the West Bengal–Odisha maritime belt is poised to become eastern India’s principal gateway for bulk trade, clean-energy exports and coastal manufacturing.
Anchoring India’s maritime future
India’s maritime clusters are the cornerstone of its evolving shipping industry, which is integrating infrastructure, innovation, and sustainability. From Gujarat’s industrial coastline and Mumbai’s logistics hub to Tamil Nadu’s green transition and Odisha’s hydrogen ambitions, these clusters exemplify how maritime clusters in India are driving growth and employment.
This listicle is written by Vaibhav Yaduvanshi
