Mazagon Dock's Nhava Project: A New Era in Shipbuilding

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), a state-owned defence shipbuilder serving the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, has received clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to establish a floating dry dock with a launching facility at Nhava, off the Mumbai coast.

Founded in 1960, MDL employs over 6,000 skilled workers and many more through indirect channels. The shipyard is currently engaged in the construction of Project 17, 15A, and 15B class warships, six Scorpene-class submarines, and has a total of 31 defence vessels on order. Future plans include building Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships and aircraft carriers.

The new floating dock will be made up of six pre-fabricated blocks, constructed in Bharuch, Gujarat, and assembled into a 180-metre-long dock covering 13,585 sq. metres. The project aims to address constraints posed by limited land-based infrastructure.

Temporary assembly facilities will be established on unused land at the Nhava yard, specifically chosen to avoid mangrove areas. These structures will be dismantled after the dock’s launch, scheduled for March 2026.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) found the site suitable, citing minimal ecological disturbance and favourable tidal conditions. Operations will utilize the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority’s navigation channel.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.