Photo for representatioal purpose.
| Photo Credit: H VIBHU
The Kerala Maritime Board is set to transform the existing infrastructure at Neendakara into a world-class maritime institute, aiming to provide international-standard education.
According to Maritime Board CEO Shine A. Haq, the primary objective is to leverage the facility to equip Kerala’s youth with the skills necessary to capitalize on the growing global and national job opportunities in the maritime sector.
By fostering technology transfers with premier international universities and encouraging private participation, the government intends to establish Kerala as a prominent hub for maritime studies.
The project breathes new life into a building constructed in 2015 that has remained a stranded asset for nearly a decade. The original structure was built without obtaining mandatory Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances and remained incomplete.
Furthermore, the site has been the subject of a Vigilance inquiry following allegations of mineral sand smuggling under the guise of construction. These technical and legal hurdles had previously prevented the development of the site into a functional maritime institute.
To ensure transparency and global standards, the Request for Proposal (RFP) was finalized after extensive consultations. This included a Maritime Education Summit in Kochi with industry experts and discussions with the Union Government’s Director General of Shipping and international educators. The tender process was conducted via government’s e-tender portal. After an initial round saw limited participation, a re-tender with wider publicity was initiated to identify a suitable private partner with proven expertise in the international maritime sector.
The selected partner is a consortium with established Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prestigious institutions such as the Aberdeen Petroleum Institute in Egypt and Glasgow University in Scotland. They also hold placement agreements with various global shipping companies. Under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the land and building will remain under government ownership. The private partner will manage development for 30 years, after which all assets will revert to the government.
This initiative is designed to be highly beneficial to both the State and the local community. The Maritime Board has ensured a steady revenue stream through a government-fixed lease rent and a share of the income generated from the institute and its associated tourism projects. Additionally, the board has secured scholarships for local residents and students from economically weaker backgrounds.
Published – March 10, 2026 08:26 pm IST
