Andhra Pradesh has taken a significant step toward strengthening India’s maritime and defense manufacturing capabilities with the launch of the country’s first autonomous maritime shipyard and systems development center in Nellore district. The foundation stone for the ambitious project was laid by Nara Lokesh, Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics, at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Bogole mandal.
The project will be developed by Sagar Defence Engineering, a company known for its innovations in autonomous maritime technologies. The facility will include an autonomous maritime shipyard along with a systems development center, aimed at strengthening India’s indigenous maritime technology ecosystem and supporting the country’s growing defense sector.
According to officials, the company will invest around ₹45 crore in the first phase of the project. The development is expected to generate employment for more than 1,000 people, offering opportunities in shipbuilding, marine engineering, research and development, and autonomous systems technology. The Andhra Pradesh government has allocated about 29.58 acres of land on a lease basis for the project at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour, which includes 7.58 acres of waterfront land.
Authorities stated that the facility is expected to begin commercial operations by November 2026. In the long term, the project is planned to expand across nearly 200 acres, creating a major hub for maritime technology and innovation in the region. Experts believe the initiative will significantly contribute to the development of India’s blue economy while strengthening the country’s capabilities in autonomous shipbuilding and maritime robotics.
The project is also expected to position Andhra Pradesh as an emerging center for maritime innovation and defense-related manufacturing. With increasing focus on advanced technologies such as autonomous vessels and maritime robotics, the facility aims to play a key role in developing next-generation marine systems.
Earlier, Minister Nara Lokesh received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Nellore district at Kapparallatippa in Bogole mandal. The reception was organized by political leaders, party workers, and local residents under the leadership of Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, along with MLAs Prasanthi Reddy and Dagumati Venkata Krishna Reddy.
Several prominent leaders and officials attended the foundation ceremony, including Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Pulivarthi Nani, Bojjala Sudheer Reddy, Inturi Nageswara Rao, P Sunil Kumar, and N Vijayashree.
Also present were Damacharla Satyanarayana, MLCs Beeda Ravichandra Yadav, Bhoomireddy Ranga Gopal Reddy, and Balli Kalyan Chakravarthy. From the company side, the event was attended by Captain Nikunj Parashar, CHRO Sanyukta Singh, and RKP Singh.
Industry experts believe that the project could open new opportunities for high-tech manufacturing and innovation in Andhra Pradesh, while also strengthening India’s position in advanced maritime technologies. By focusing on autonomous vessels, marine engineering, and defense technology development, the initiative is expected to attract further investment and transform the state into a key maritime technology hub in the coming years.
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India’s First Autonomous Maritime Shipyard Launched in Nellore
