Introduction

The shipbuilding industry, recognised as the cornerstone of global trade, is dominated by China, South Korea and Japan. China was by far the biggest shipbuilder globally with 51% of the worldwide production of over 32 million gross tonnage (GT) merchant ships in 2023. South Korea followed it with approximately 18 million GT (28%) and Japan estimated about 10 million GT (15%). Together these three nations accounted for 95% of the world’s shipbuilding output that year. On the other hand, India’s contribution was minimal, as it was at an initial stage in this field. This indicates that these countries have different levels of industrial development and strategic focus. The numbers, however, do not tell the whole story as South Korea leads in high-value vessels such as LNG carriers. India’s shipbuilding industry has been revitalised with a $ 2.9 billion maritime development fund, which the country has previously recognised as strategic in importance.

Historical Development

Japan

The shipbuilding industry in Japan has a history closely related to its economic development. Until 1853, Japan was in an Era of Seclusion, a period in which most trade and maritime expansion from Japan was restricted as Japan adopted a policy of isolation. That changed with the arrival of Commodore Perry, during the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Building up maritime strength and industrialisation was given priority by the new Government. During World War I production was temporarily boosted, but stagnation continued after the war. World War II left the Japanese navy fleet severely damaged. The United States’ assistance and domestic innovation together fueled post-war reconstruction. Within the mass production era, the Japanese Government extended long-term support to firms like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Imabari Shipbuilding to promote their growth. All this helped Japan to become the world’s largest shipbuilder by 1956.

South Korea

Strategic Government intervention was essential to South Korea’s rise on the shipbuilding scale. Shipbuilding was one of the key economic sectors in the 1970s under the Heavy and Chemical Industrialization (HCI) policy of South Korea. Government-supported companies like Hyundai Heavy  Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) through workforce training. Large-scale investments in research, automation, and economies of scale were made, and that was credited to its success in the shipbuilding industry.

India

Historical records indicate that the Mughal era in Bengal showcased the peak effectiveness of the Indian shipbuilding industry. Research demonstrates that Bengal’s yearly shipbuilding output reached 223,250 tons during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Bengali shipbuilders developed the rounded ship deck which built superior sea vessels with reduced leakages than European vessels from this period. After independence, the Indian Government started several measures to restore shipbuilding activities. The Indian shipbuilding industry encounters obstacles because of its ancient infrastructure and marketplace competition. Modern strategies are needed to revitalize this sector.

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