The CMA CGM Group and India’s Cochin Shipyard have finalized a contract for building containerships, in a development described as a defining moment for Indian shipbuilding. The news was reported by The Maritime Executive. The contract signing occurred during a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, his fourth trip to India since 2017.

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The companies had signed a letter of intent for the ships in October 2025 and spent subsequent months finalizing the vessel specifications. The project advanced while awaiting the completion of the Indian government’s Shipbuilding Financial Assistance scheme, which was issued in December by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

CMA CGM has committed to six feeder-sized, LNG-powered vessels, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEU. These will be the first ships India has built for an international shipping company, demonstrating the country’s ability to construct state-of-the-art ships with LNG propulsion. According to the Press Trust of India, the order is valued at $360 million, with the ships designed by Korea Maritime Consultants.

The vessels will be built at Cochin Shipyard in Kerala, with the first delivery scheduled for February 2029. Two ships per year will be delivered, and they will be registered in India. Under the financial assistance scheme, Cochin will receive government aid for building specialized ships and expanding national capabilities. This order reportedly brings Cochin Shipyard’s orderbook to a value of $2.5 billion.

This order follows CMA CGM’s move to re-register four vessels to India in 2025. The company reports it has already recruited 1,000 Indian seafarers and plans to onboard 1,500 by the end of 2026. CMA CGM will also establish a dedicated Research & Development hub in India in partnership with Capgemini, focusing on next-generation digital solutions for its global operations.

CMA CGM’s CEO stated that the order followed a compelling proposal from Cochin Shipyard, providing an alternative to building in China and Korea. He added that the company is looking to expand its engagement in container manufacturing and ship recycling in India, aiming to promote India’s capabilities in these areas and the development of domestic container shipping.

The CEO was in India as part of President Macron’s three-day visit, which included a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attendance at a two-day conference in New Delhi focused on innovation. France is reportedly close to a multibillion-dollar deal to sell Dassault Rafale fighter jets and maritime patrol aircraft to India. This follows a landmark trade agreement between the European Union and India completed in January.

The leaders of France and India hosted an India-France Innovation Forum and celebrated 2026 as the India-France Year of Innovation. Prime Minister Modi emphasized a transformation of the partnership into one between peoples.

India seeks to become a top 10 world-class shipbuilder as part of its economic growth plan. Other major shipping companies, Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping, are also expanding their participation in Indian shipping, having registered ships in India in 2025 and exploring opportunities for ship repair and new construction.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform