Adani Ports places India's largest order of eight harbour tugs worth Rs 450 cr from Cochin Shipyard

Integrated transport utility company Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) on Friday announced the procurement of eight harbour tugs, which are to be constructed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, as part of the Make in India initiative.

The total contract value for the project is estimated at Rs 450 crore, with delivery expected to take place between December 2026 and May 2028.

This move is part of APSEZ's broader strategy to improve operational efficiency and safety in Indian ports.


Adani Ports' shares were trading at Rs 1237.05 apiece on the BSE, down 0.55 per cent on Friday at 1.25 PM.

As per the company, the new tugs are expected to enhance vessel operations by providing greater support and reliability in port services.

Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and CEO of APSEZ, said that the procurement from Cochin Shipyard Ltd reflects the company’s commitment to bolstering maritime infrastructure in India.

"This collaboration to procure from Cochin Shipyard Ltd signifies our commitment to enhancing maritime infrastructure in India and demonstrates our confidence in our nation's PSUs. By leveraging local manufacturing capabilities, which are world-class, we aim to contribute to the ‘Make in India’ initiative while ensuring that our operations meet international standards of safety and efficiency," he said.

This procurement follows previous contracts between APSEZ and Cochin Shipyard Ltd, including the construction of two 62-tonne bollard pull Azimuthing Stern Drive (ASD) tugs for Ocean Sparkle Ltd. Both tugs were delivered ahead of schedule and are now operational at Paradeep Port and New Mangalore Port. Additionally, the construction of three more ASD tugs is currently underway, bringing the total order from APSEZ to 13 tugs.