Hooghly Cochin Shipyard (Hooghly CSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard, has signed a contract to construct two luxury river cruise vessels for Antara River Cruises, the brand operated by Heritage River Journeys. These vessels are set to operate on the Brahmaputra River, marking a significant milestone in India's inland waterway tourism development.

The agreement includes a firm contract for the first vessel and a letter of intent (LoI) for the second. The signing ceremony was attended by Sanil Peter, CEO of Hooghly CSL, Raj Singh, Founder and Chairman of Antara River Cruises, and Madhu S. Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard. The project aims to blend world-class shipbuilding expertise with high-end riverine hospitality and supports the Union government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.

According to the official release, the vessels will establish new benchmarks in luxury, safety, and sustainability in inland navigation. This initiative not only promotes domestic manufacturing but also showcases India’s growing capabilities to build cruise vessels of global standards. This development reinforces the commitment of both organisations to expanding the luxury river cruise sector and boosting tourism along the Brahmaputra.