Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works

Name

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works

Legal name

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd.

Website

https://karachishipyard.com.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Shipbuilding

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Ship and Boat Building (3366), Ship and Boat Building (33661), Boat Building (336612), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support (IMAJABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Submarine Manufacturing (SSN/SSK/SSBN) (IMAJABAG), Surface Combatants (Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes) (IMAJABAA), Heavy Lifting & Material Handling Infrastructure (Goliath Cranes, Jib Cranes, Hoists) (IMAJALAD), Hull, Structure & Steelwork Repair (TLAKAKAE), Chemical Tanker Shipbuilding (IMAJAAAF)

Keywords

• Naval shipbuilding services
• Submarine construction
• Ship repair services
• Heavy engineering fabrication
• Maritime training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Defence Shipbuilding & Submarine Construction: KS&EW builds naval vessels, submarines, and military craft for Pakistan Navy under government contracts. Revenue is project-based, driven by the Hangor-class submarine programme (4 submarines under technology transfer) and MILGEM-class corvettes. Long-cycle, large-contract model with government counterparties.
2. Ship Repair & Refurbishment: Undertakes above and underwater repairs of naval and commercial vessels, including steel renewal, structural repairs, machinery overhauls, and dry dock services. Revenue is per-job, with over 5000 vessels repaired historically.
3. General Engineering (Heavy Mechanical): Provides marine structural fabrications, dam/barrage gates, cranes/lifting equipment, steel structural fabrications, machining works, and foundry products to industrial clients in oil & gas, sugar, cement, and energy sectors.
4. Training & Skill Development Services: Shipyard Training School offers paid internships, management trainee programmes, diploma courses, and NAVTTC-sponsored technical training. Revenue is fee-based from commercial course enrolments and government-affiliated programme funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) is Pakistan's only shipbuilding company and largest industrial engineering complex, operating under the Ministry of Defence Production. The company constructs naval vessels (frigates, corvettes, fast attack craft, fleet tankers), Hangor-class submarines under Chinese technology transfer, commercial ships (container ships, tankers, tugs, barges), and provides ship repair, heavy mechanical engineering fabrication (dam/barrage gates, LPG pressure vessels), technical training, and material testing laboratory services.

Product overview

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) is Pakistan's sole shipbuilding company and largest industrial engineering complex, operating under the Ministry of Defence Production. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of six core business lines: Ship Building (constructing vessels up to 26,000 DWT including naval frigates, corvettes, fast attack crafts, tankers, and commercial ships), Submarine Construction (Hangor-class AIP submarines under China technology transfer), Ship Repair (dry dock and Ship Lift & Transfer System facilities), General Engineering (heavy mechanical fabrication, dam/barrage gates, OGRA-certified LPG equipment), Shipyard Training School (NAVTTC/STEVTA-affiliated technical training), and Material Testing Laboratory (metallurgical testing services). The product portfolio spans naval vessels (F22P frigates, MILGEM corvettes, Fast Attack Crafts, Hangor-class submarines), commercial vessels (container ships, tankers, barges, tugs), and industrial engineering products, positioning KS&EW as an integrated maritime and heavy engineering solutions provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Building Construction of naval vessels (frigates, corvettes, fast attack craft missile, fleet tankers) and commercial vessels (cargo ships, container ships, tugs, barges, dredgers, oil tankers) up to 26,000 DWT. Customers include Pakistan Navy and other maritime/government buyers.
• Submarine Construction Construction of Hangor-class Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) diesel-electric attack submarines for Pakistan Navy in collaboration with China under full technology transfer. Specifications include 76m length, 2800 tons displacement, 20 knots speed. Includes assembly, integration, and design capabilities under technology transfer.
• Ship Repair Comprehensive above and underwater repair, rebuilding, and overhauling of naval and commercial vessels using modern facilities including dry docks, quay walls, luffing cranes, and Ship Lift & Transfer System (SLTS) with 7321-ton lifting capacity accommodating 13 vessels simultaneously. Services include steel renewal, structural repairs, and machinery overhauls for naval and commercial customers.
• General Engineering Heavy mechanical engineering and fabrication services including marine structural fabrications (dam/barrage gates), industrial plant construction (sugar mills, cement plants, oil & gas refineries), cranes/lifting equipment, steel structural fabrications, machining works, foundry products, and OGRA-authorized LPG pressure vessels per ASME Section VIII Division 1. Customers include oil & gas, sugar, cement, and energy sectors.
• Shipyard Training School Technical and vocational training school established in 1957 offering NAVTTC-affiliated programs, STEVTA/SBTE diplomas in ship construction, IOSH/QHSE trainings, paid internships, management trainee programmes, and diploma courses. Certified by TUV Rheinland Germany and Takamol Skills Verification Program (Saudi Arabia). For students, technical workers, and industry professionals.
• Material Testing Laboratory In-house laboratory providing chemical, physical, and mechanical testing of metals, minerals, and ores including tensile, bend, impact, hardness, NDT, pressure testing, and calibration services in accordance with BSS, ASTM, and JIS standards. Available to industrial clients and internal shipbuilding operations.
• PN Gunboat PNS SAHIWAL Naval gunboat constructed at KS&EW for Pakistan Navy as part of indigenous naval vessel construction programme.
• Fast Response Boats (FRB) Fast Response Boats for naval operations, constructed at KS&EW for Pakistan Navy.
• Mooring Boats for Karachi Port Trust Construction of 02 mooring boats for Karachi Port Trust (KPT), for port operations support.
• 1,100 TEU Container Ship for PNSC 1,100 TEU container ship built entirely with domestic resources for Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), reducing reliance on foreign shipping lines.
• Hangor-Class Submarine (PNS Hangor) Hangor-class diesel-electric AIP-equipped attack submarine for Pakistan Navy. First unit of eight total in the program; KS&EW to construct four units domestically under Chinese technology transfer agreement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 vessels repaired including 430 foreign-flag carriers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ASFAT (Türkiye)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Under a 2018 agreement, KS&EW constructed 2 MILGEM-class corvettes with technology transfer from ASFAT (Turkish state-owned defence company). Two corvettes were built in Türkiye and two at KS&EW. This partnership transfers design and engineering expertise to Pakistan's domestic industrial base. Pakistan Navy CNS Admiral Naveed Ashraf cited this as a model for technology transfer and self-reliance.
• China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSIC) / Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015KS&EW is constructing 4 of 8 Hangor-class diesel-electric AIP-equipped submarines under a full technology transfer agreement with Chinese shipbuilders. Four submarines are built in China by CSOC/Wuchang Shipbuilding and 4 are assembled at KS&EW. This is the largest programme in Beijing's arms relationship with Islamabad, valued at approximately $5 billion. The partnership enables KS&EW to develop indigenous submarine construction capabilities.
• Syncrolift, NorwaycoreTechnology or IntegrationKS&EW operates and maintains its Ship Lift & Transfer System (SLTS) facility in collaboration with OEM Syncrolift, Norway. The system has lifting capacity of 7321 tons and platform dimensions of 125 x 32 m, accommodating 11+02 ships simultaneously.
• Dingler, GermanycoreTechnology or IntegrationKS&EW collaborated with German firm Dingler for replacement of 54 main gates and 10 scour gates at Sukkur barrage. This collaboration contributed to technology transfer in heavy marine structural works including dam and barrage gate fabrication, repair, and rehabilitation.
• Lloyd's Register, UKcoreTechnology or IntegrationLloyd's Register, UK certified KS&EW's Integrated Management System (IMS), encompassing ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. Classification societies including Lloyd's Register, Chinese Classification Society, Bureau Veritas, and Türk Loydu certify shipbuilding projects at all stages of construction.
• Italian National Armament DirectorateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector of Italian National Armament Directorate, V/Adm Giuseppe Abbamonte, visited KS&EW stall at IDEAS-2024 with the Italian Consul General present. Matters of mutual interest in naval defence were discussed, indicating potential future cooperation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited: India's premier defence shipyard, comparable as a state-owned naval shipbuilder constructing submarines (Scorpene-class) and surface combatants (destroyers, frigates) for the Indian Navy. Most directly comparable to KS&EW given similar monopoly position, defence focus, and submarine construction capability.
• Cochin Shipyard Limited: India's largest commercial and defence shipbuilder, building aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), naval vessels, and submarines (planned). Comparable in scale, diversification across naval/commercial, and Indian MoD backing analogous to KS&EW's Ministry of Defence Production oversight.
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE): Indian state-owned shipyard constructing frigates, corvettes, and fast attack craft for the Indian Navy. Comparable in product mix (small-to-medium naval combatants), state ownership model, and ship repair operations.
• Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group: Chinese state-owned submarine builder that is KS&EW's actual technology transfer partner on the Hangor-class programme. Directly comparable in submarine manufacturing (SSK/SSN), state-owned structure, and export-oriented defence shipbuilding model.
• ASFAT (Turkish Defence Industries Agency): Turkish state-owned defence contractor and KS&EW's joint production partner on the MILGEM-class corvette programme. Comparable as a state defence shipyard executing technology transfer programmes with allied navies and exporting naval platforms.

Broad incumbents

• Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding: Major Chinese state-owned shipbuilder constructing advanced Type 054A frigates, LHDs, and LNG carriers. Comparable in naval and large commercial vessel construction, and part of the broader Chinese shipbuilding ecosystem that supports Pakistan's defence industrial base.
• Navantia: Spanish state-owned naval shipbuilder constructing frigates, submarines (S-80 Plus), and auxiliary vessels. Comparable as a European naval prime with submarine construction capability, government ownership, and export programmes.
• Fincantieri: Italy's largest shipbuilder and a global naval prime constructing frigates, submarines, and cruise ships. Comparable as a diversified naval/commercial shipbuilder with strong government relationships and active technology transfer arrangements internationally.
• Damen Shipyards: Dutch global shipbuilding group with active naval and commercial shipbuilding operations including technology transfer programmes in similar emerging-market contexts. Comparable as a broad incumbent active in naval construction, ship repair, and capability transfer programmes for allied navies.

Regional players

• PT PAL Indonesia (Persero): Indonesian state-owned shipyard constructing naval vessels (KCR-40, KCR-60M fast attack craft) and commercial ships. Comparable as a Southeast Asian state-owned shipbuilder executing technology transfer programmes and serving as the domestic naval prime for its national navy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShipyardKarachi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@karachishipyard-qc4cm
• Facebookfacebook.com/karachishipyardpakistan

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works