Shipping Ministry

DG Shipping asks carriers to restrict Indian seafarers deployment in Hormuz

DG Shipping has advised shipping companies to restrict deployment of Indian seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf region amid escalating security risks and attacks on commercial vessels

India reports another vessel incident involving MT Jalveer off Oman coast

Indian embassy in Oman did not specify if the vessel involved in Thursday's incident had Indian seafarers on board

Three missing Indian seafarers aboard MT Settebello confirmed dead: Sonowal

Three Indian seafarers onboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, initially reported missing, are now confirmed dead, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday after bodies were located and identified. It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, Sonowal said in a social media post. "Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified," he added. The minister added that this is a "profound loss to our maritime family". "The Modi Govt stands firmly with the bereaved during this difficult hour and is fully committed to supporting the next of kin," he added. Sonowal said he has directed officials to ensure immediate repatriation of the rescued crew members and swift return of the mortal remains of the deceased for their final rites. India on Wednesday summoned the US charge d'affaires to strongly protest a US military attack on a commercial ve

Govt extends subsidy scheme for firms flagging merchant ships until FY31

The shipping ministry on Thursday extended the scheme for providing subsidies to Indian companies flagging merchant ships in India for five years until the financial year 20230-31. The scheme for the promotion of flagging of merchant ships in India has been extended for a further period of five years, till FY 2030-31, reinforcing India's commitment to strengthening its maritime fleet and global shipping presence, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in a statement. In order to achieve the objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the Union Cabinet, in July 2021, approved a scheme with an outlay of Rs 1,624 crore over five years for providing a subsidy to Indian shipping companies bidding for global tenders floated by ministries and central public sector enterprises for imports of government cargoes. The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech for FY22. According to the scheme, for a ship flagged in India after February 1, 2021, whic

India plans 62 new vessels with Rs 51,383 crore investment in FY27

India plans to add 62 vessels with Rs 51,383 crore investment this year to strengthen maritime capacity and ensure resilience amid global supply disruptions

Indian ports turning into logistics and industrial hubs: Shipping secy

India's ports are transforming from cargo gateways into integrated logistics and industrial hubs, supported by publicprivate partnerships and global best practices, Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Vijay Kumar, said on Wednesday. Addressing around 200 investors and industry stakeholders during a round-table held at the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) 2026 here, Kumar pointed out, "India is steadily - and decisively - moving in the direction" to be in the best position to sustain growth, attract investment, and integrate into global value chains. He shared the growth reported by Indian ports, where capacity has been doubled, and the next frontier is to have world-class efficiency and transshipment. Cargo handling capacity has doubled since 201314, from 1,400 MTPA to 2,771 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), with a target of 3,500 MTPA by 2030 and 10,000 MTPA by 2047. In FY 202526, India's major ports handled over 915 million tonnes - the highest ever - registeri

Govt expands Russian marine insurers list as Iran war strains supply chains

India is relying on Russian oil to meet most of its demand using a temporary waiver as the US-Israeli war on Iran keeps the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed

Parliamentary Panel seeks relief for shippers hit by West Asia disruption

Parliamentary panel recommends insurance support, working capital relief and a long-term maritime resilience framework amid rising costs and supply disruptions

No levy on Strait of Hormuz Transit, claims 'baseless': Shipping Ministry

Special Secretary in the Ministry of Shipping, Rajesh Sinha, stressed that no charges can be imposed on ships crossing the strait under global regulations

Exempt vessel sharing agreements from competition law: ShipMin to MCA

The exemption under Section 3 lapsed in 2021; the ministry's October 2024 draft proposed a three-year dispensation with conditions on Indian-flag vessels and space for Indian NVOCCs

India Maritime Week: Govt to soon release norms for shipping programmes

Guidelines to steer next phase of India's maritime ambitions

India targets 5% share in global shipbuilding market by 2030, says MoS

Union minister Shantanu Thakur on Monday said the government has set a target of securing 5 per cent share of the global shipbuilding market by 2030 and developing 10 world-class shipyards with the support of public-private partnerships and international collaborations. India is moving towards becoming a global hub for sustainable shipbuilding, backed by policy reforms, technological innovation and strong industry-government collaboration, Thakur said, addressing via video conference the CII Conference in Goa on 'India's Shipbuilding Roadmap towards Maritime Amrit Kal Vision 2047'. "Shipbuilding is more than just an industry - it is a symbol of national strength and self-reliance. Our vision is to make India not just a participant, but a leader in sustainable shipbuilding, contributing to green growth, blue economy, and Atmanirbhar Bharat," the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. "Our shipyard modernisation programme is ambitious yet achievable. We are targetin

Panel calls for urgent attention on geopolitics-borne shipping challenges

Clarify strategic vision and viability of divestment-bound Shipping Corporation, says panel

OMC-ShipMin talks for manufacturing domestic large vessels pick up pace

Shipping Ministry wants sectoral players to provide long term contracts for shipowners

ShipMin eyes salt lands for infrastructure expansion in major ports

Last year, DPIIT had sought unused salt lands from Centre and states

Sonowal launches projects worth Rs 2,000 cr to expand capacity at JNPA

Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday launched multiple projects worth nearly Rs 2,000 crore in order to expand capacity at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA), according to an official statement. The statement further said JNPA is amongst top global ports and India's largest port. It has crossed 10+ million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity in January 2025 and is poised to achieve 10 million TEUs throughput by 2027. In 2024, the port handled highest ever container volume of 7.05 million TEUs, performing at more than 90 per cent capacity, it added. According to the statement, it had an annual growth of 11 per cent Y-o-Y last year as compared to the previous calendar year. "The upgradation of Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT) in 2025 is also likely to add capacity to the port," the statement said. Major MoUs (memorandums of understanding) were signed in the presence of Sonowal for the development of the Vadhavan Port Project. "A MoU .

Cargo handling capacity reached 133 MMT in last 10 yrs: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal informed that cargo handling capacity has reached 133 million metric tonnes in the last ten years.Speaking at the 2nd Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) meeting in Kaziranga a day earlier, Sonowal said,"In the last 10 years, our cargo handling capacity has reached 133 million metric tonnes... More than Rs 60,000 crores of investment have been made in our National Waterways... In the inaugural session of the Inland Waterways Development Council, we inaugurated projects worth Rs 1400 crores for 21 states of our country...," he said."We aim to increase our cargo capacity to 200 million metric tonnes by 2030 and invest more than Rs 50,000 crore in this sector in the next 5 years...," the minister added.The IWDC, the apex body for policy deliberation on the promotion & propagation of inland waterways in India, witnessed major announcements to boost infrastructure along national waterways on Friday.The meeting also witnessed ministerial ...

Union Minister Sonowal launches National River Traffic & Navigation System

The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC), apex meet for policy deliberation for the promotion and propagation of inland waterways in India, witnessed major announcements to boost infrastructure along national waterways, a release said on Friday.According to the release, the second meeting of IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the development of waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), announced investments of more than RS 50,000 crore in the next five years. A series of new initiatives across 21 Inland Waterway States were announced worth more than Rs 1400 crore, on the occasion. The meeting was presided over by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.The IWDC began with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma along with the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal at Kohora in ...

Rewriting maritime map: Centre charts course for broader ship ownership

Shipping ministry seeks maritime overhaul with 4 key bills lined up in Parliament session

India to be among top 10 global ship manufacturers by 2030: Sonowal

Addressing 'Sagarmanthan - The Great Oceans Dialogue', Sonowal further said the global South will determine the shape of ocean trade in the 21st Century