Move boosts green shipping and supports domestic shipbuilding under government incentives.

SCI Floats $360 Mn Tender to Build 6 Methanol Dual-Fuel Container Ships in India.

State-run Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI) has invited bids to construct six methanol dual-fuel-ready feeder container ships, each with a capacity of 1,700 TEUs, in a deal estimated at $360 million. The tender includes two firm and four optional vessels, with Indian shipyards granted a Right of First Refusal (RoFR) to match the lowest foreign bid and secure the contract. To qualify, domestic yards must demonstrate infrastructure and capability certified by the Indian Register of Shipping or an IACS member. Shipyards lacking container-ship experience may partner with reputed international yards or designers experienced in dual-fuel vessels running on LNG or methanol. Indian bids will factor in subsidies under the government’s Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS). The move follows a recent CMA CGM order at Cochin Shipyard Ltd and aligns with India’s ambition to enter the global top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030.