Cochin Shipyard Ltd/CSL, through its Hooghly unit in West Bengal, has entered into a contract with Heritage River Journeys Pvt Ltd for the construction of two luxury riverboats for cruise shipping on the Brahmaputra River.
The vessels will be assembled at the Hooghly shipyard (fka Hooghly Dock, and Port Engineers Ltd) before its acquisition by CSL in October 2017.
The 1819-opened shipyard has been revitalised under CSL’s stewardship.
The new ships are being commissioned for operation by Heritage River Journeys under the Antara River Cruises brand, a leader in India’s luxury river tourism sector.
Antara is recognised for bespoke voyages along the Ganges, Padma, and Brahmaputra, and its flagship vessel, Ganga Vilas, holds record status as the world’s longest river cruise—covering over 3,200 km across twenty‑seven rivers, including the Sundarbans and Brahmaputra Valley.
According to official records, the agreement for the first vessel and a Letter of Intent for the second were formalised in a signing ceremony. The signatories were Sanil Peter, CEO of Hooghly CSL, on behalf of CSL, and Raj Singh, Chairman of Antara River Cruises, with the event witnessed by CSL Chairman‑Managing Director Madhu S. Nair.
The contract values are estimated between ₹100 crore and ₹250 crore, encompassing the first confirmed build and the second under LOI.
Notably, these vessels are to be the first luxury liners classified under the Inland Vessels Rules of 2022, marking a new chapter in India’s river cruise infrastructure.
With this collaboration, Cochin Shipyard aims to expand its portfolio into luxury tourism vessel construction, while Antara River Cruises enhances its fleet and extends its footprint into the Brahmaputra. The project aligns with the national ‘Make in India’ initiative and highlights India’s increasing capability in crafting vessels that meet global standards of comfort, sustainability, and safety.