New Delhi, April 13 -- The government plans to appoint naval architects to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to strengthen the regulator's technical capabilities and enable deeper consultancy support for shipbuilding, two people aware of the matter said, as India aims to cut reliance on foreign-built vessels. The move is aimed at equipping the regulator with in-house expertise to assess ship design, safety standards, and construction quality, the first of the two persons cited earlier said, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity. It will also help India align with global best practices and support domestic shipyards with technical guidance. The ports, shipping and waterways ministry's proposal forms part of a broader push to promote shipbuilding and expand India's maritime capabilities, strengthen national security, and boost domestic industry. "To operationalise the Shipbuilding Cell's mandate effectively, there is an urgent requirement for 15 naval architects with specialized expertise in shipbuilding, technical assessment, strategic planning, digital infrastructure, and investment facilitation. These naval architects will serve as the technical backbone of the Shipbuilding Cell, providing hands-on expertise in policy development, yard assessment, market analysis, project development, and implementation support," an official at the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways said, requesting anonymity. "This engagement is structured to attract two distinct categories of naval architects based on experience levels, ensuring a balanced team composition with both senior strategic guidance and intermediate technical execution capability," the official added. The second person said that the Directorate General of Shipping is transitioning into the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) under the new Merchant Shipping Act with the expanded mandate to include digital administration, green energy, and enhanced maritime security. The DGMA is expected to house the dedicated Shipbuilding Cell to develop India's shipbuilding and ship repair capacity, attract domestic and international investment, facilitate policy implementation, and support strategic maritime sector growth. This cell will comprise naval architects that would support the new role of the regulator. Queries emailed to the ministry of shipping and DGS remained unanswered till press time. The shipbuilding cell, supported by naval architects, will evaluate existing and proposed shipyards, including layouts, facilities, capacity, and upgrade needs, while preparing feasibility studies and concept plans for shipbuilding and repair projects, and developing standard design specifications for vessels and related infrastructure. "The move to create a dedicated maritime regulator and provide targeted support for shipbuilding signals a clear intent to build domestic capacity and improve regulatory clarity. The focus on shipbuilding clusters and ease of doing business is also important, as it can help attract investment and create a more competitive maritime industry. These measures are vital for India to achieve the vision for India becoming a top 10 shipbuilding and ship owning nation by 2030 and top 5 by 2047," said Nilachal Mishra, partner and head, government & public services, KPMG in India. The cell would also conduct financial modeling inputs based on technical assessments and capacity analysis and support development of bankable project concepts with defined technical specifications and cost-capacity relationships. It will also facilitate technical due diligence and investor site visits to shipyards....