A new shipbuilding yard is set to be established at Ponnani port in Kerala under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The shipyard will occupy about 29 acres of coastal land on the western side of Ponnani Fishing Harbour undre the Kerala Maritime Board, making it the state’s second shipyard after Kochi. The project aims to boost economic development in the Malabar region. The agreement with the private partner is expected to be signed within two weeks. In its first phase, the shipyard will focus on building small vessels, with an investment of approx. Rs 200 crore. A wharf will be constructed next to the breakwater for this purpose.

In the second phase, large vessels will be built, with a projected investment of Rs 1,000 crore over seven to 10 years. The facility is expected to generate employment for about 1,000 people. P Nandakumar, MLA, emphasised that the project would significantly enhance Ponnani’s development and called for local cooperation to ensure its success.