Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Wins Repeat Order for Two Luxury River Cruise Vessels from Antara

Summary

Hooghly Cochin Shipyard, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard, has secured a repeat order from Heritage River Journeys, operator of Antara River Cruises, to build two more luxury river cruise vessels. The order falls in the ₹100-250 crore band, with deliveries due in June 2029 and June 2030, building on a similar contract signed in 2025.

Article

Kolkata: Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited (Hooghly CSL) has won a repeat order from Heritage River Journeys Private Limited to build two luxury river cruise vessels, its parent Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) said in a stock exchange filing on October 9, 2026.

The order has been classified as “Notable” under CSL’s order classification framework. The two vessels are scheduled for delivery in June 2029 and June 2030, respectively.

What is the value of the order?

CSL did not disclose the exact contract value, vessel specifications or the river on which the new vessels will operate. Under the company’s classification framework, a “Notable” order is valued between ₹100 crore and ₹250 crore. Higher bands are classified as Significant (₹250-500 crore), Large (₹500-1,000 crore), Major (₹1,000-2,000 crore) and Mega (above ₹2,000 crore).

CSL also stated that its promoters, promoter group and group companies have no interest in the awarding entity, and the contract is not a related-party transaction.

What was the earlier order?

The new contract follows Heritage River Journeys’ first order with Hooghly CSL in June 2025. On June 23, 2025, the companies signed a contract for two luxury river cruise vessels to operate on the Brahmaputra River. That order, also in the ₹100-250 crore range, was finalised through a contract for the first vessel and a letter of intent for the second.

The agreement was signed by Sanil Peter, CEO of Hooghly CSL, and Raj Singh, Founder and Chairman of Antara River Cruises, in the presence of CSL Chairman and Managing Director Madhu S. Nair.

The 2025 vessels were billed as the first luxury river cruise vessels to be classified under the Inland Vessels Rules, 2022, and the first of their kind to operate on the Brahmaputra.

Who is Heritage River Journeys?

Heritage River Journeys operates under the brand Antara River Cruises and runs luxury voyages on the Ganga, Padma and Brahmaputra river systems. Its flagship, Ganga Vilas, operates what is billed as the world’s longest river cruise, covering more than 3,200 km across 27 rivers, including the Gangetic plains, the Sundarbans and the Brahmaputra Valley.

What is Hooghly Cochin Shipyard?

Hooghly CSL is located in West Bengal on the site of the former Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers, which CSL acquired in October 2017. The yard, whose origins date back to 1819, has been revived under CSL’s ownership and now builds inland and coastal vessels.

How does it fit CSL’s order pipeline?

The river cruise contract adds to a run of smaller and mid-sized orders across CSL and its subsidiaries. In recent months, the group has won “Notable” orders for harbour tugs from Polestar Maritime and Ocean Sparkle, and a “Significant” order from Denmark’s Svitzer for four fully electric tugs. CSL also signed a letter of intent in October 2025 for six 1,700 TEU LNG-fuelled feeder container vessels for a European client, an order classified as “Mega”.

Why does it matter?

A repeat order within about 16 months points to growing confidence among domestic cruise operators in Indian-built river cruise vessels. It also supports the government’s push to develop inland waterway tourism and the Make in India agenda in shipbuilding.

For Hooghly CSL, steady orders in the specialised river cruise segment provide a niche that suits its riverine location and inland vessel expertise, while helping India build capability in a market that has largely relied on imported designs and foreign-built vessels.

FAQs

Which company won the river cruise vessel order?

Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited, won the order.

Who placed the order?

Heritage River Journeys Private Limited, which operates under the brand Antara River Cruises.

What is the value of the order?

The exact value was not disclosed. As a “Notable” order under CSL’s framework, it falls between ₹100 crore and ₹250 crore.

When will the vessels be delivered?

The two vessels are scheduled for delivery in June 2029 and June 2030.

What was the earlier order from Heritage River Journeys?

In June 2025, the company ordered two luxury river cruise vessels from Hooghly CSL for operation on the Brahmaputra River.