India’s SCI Opens Biggest-Ever Shipbuilding Tender Worth $720 Million To Global Yards

The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has launched its largest-ever global shipbuilding tender for six cellular container ships, with the project estimated to cost around $720 million (about ₹6,858 crore).

The tender covers the construction of six vessels with a capacity of 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) each. It includes two firm orders, while the remaining four ships are optional, according to an ET Infra report.

Under the tender conditions, Indian shipyards will receive priority through a Right of First Refusal (RoFR) process, allowing them to match the lowest bid submitted by a foreign shipyard.

A cellular container ship is designed specifically for carrying standard containers. These vessels use vertical guide rails and slots that allow 20-foot and 40-foot containers to be stacked in an organised manner, making them suitable for containerised cargo operations.

Indian Shipyards Get Priority Under Tender

According to the tender terms, the lowest evaluated bidder among eligible Indian shipyards will be given the opportunity to match the lowest evaluated offer submitted by a foreign shipyard.

If the first Indian bidder does not match the foreign offer, the opportunity will then move to the next eligible Indian shipyard as per the tender conditions.

The provision is aimed at encouraging domestic shipbuilding while allowing Indian yards to compete with international shipbuilders.

The tender also allows Indian shipyards that do not have previous experience in building cellular container ships to participate through technical partnerships with experienced foreign shipbuilders.

The foreign partner must have delivered at least two cellular container ships of 5,000 TEU capacity or more in the last 10 years, with those vessels currently in service.

The partner must also provide basic and detailed design support during the project and have experience in delivering or designing dual-fuel vessels that are already operational.

Possible Link With Bharat Container Shipping Line Consortium

The shipbuilding contract includes provisions that allow changes to the parties involved, which could indicate that the six vessels may be owned by the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) consortium, according to the ET Infra report.

SCI is part of the consortium along with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Chennai Port Authority, and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL).

Financial Support Available for Indian Builders

Indian shipyards participating in the tender can include support available under the Centre’s ₹24,736 crore Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS).

The scheme, part of the ₹69,725 crore maritime package announced for 2025, provides 15% to 25% financial assistance per vessel.

The support is intended to help Indian shipyards remain competitive while bidding against international shipbuilders.

Tender Conditions

The ships must be constructed at the bidder’s own facility, and subcontracting the project either fully or partially is not permitted.

Shipbuilders have been asked to submit fixed-price bids based on a 100% cash payment model, with payments to be made in instalments.

The tender also requires any foreign technical partner involved in the project to provide design assistance throughout the construction process.

SCI’s Earlier Container Ship Tender

The latest tender follows SCI’s earlier plan to build six methanol dual-fuel-ready feeder container ships.

That project, valued at around $360 million, involves six vessels with a capacity of 1,700 TEUs each. The earlier tender also included two firm orders and four optional vessels.

References: theweek, Infra ET