NEW DELHI: India is undertaking its most expansive maritime infrastructure push, targeting increasing port capacity a whopping six fold to 10,000 MTPA in 2047. This all-transformative development places the nation at the pinnacle of global shipping hubs, while boosting economic growth and international trade competitiveness.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, spoke at the FICCI Maritime Conference and Expo 2025 and emphasized the sector's growth. Major ports now handle 820 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo annually, up by 47% since 2014. Overall port capacity has doubled in this period to 1,630 MMT.
India's maritime sector has emerged as a flagship of the country's economic revival," said Sonowal, reiterating the government's vision of "Ports for Prosperity." Efficiency gains include reducing container dwell time to three days and improving vessel turnaround time to 0.9 days, outperforming many advanced economies. These improvements have catapulted nine Indian ports into the World Bank's Container Port Performance Index 2023, with Visakhapatnam ranking among the top 20 globally.
Key projects under the expansion program include two mega-ports:
1. Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra: To be India's largest container facility
2. International Container Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar: To capture transshipment trade along crucial global routes.
India plans to invest $1 trillion in the maritime sector by 2047, which includes immediate plans for green hydrogen production hubs. Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, T K Ramachandran, announced the allocation of 4,000 acres at ports like Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradip for green hydrogen projects, with production expected to commence within a year. Investments of approximately Rs 5 lakh crore are anticipated by 2030.
In addition, the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling will come into force this June, providing an opportunity for Indian shipyards to enhance their share in the global ship recycling market, particularly at Alang.
International cooperation is still at the core. Dutch Consul General Mr. Nabil Taouati emphasized that the Netherlands would like to continue its cooperation with India in sustainable port development, logistics, and maritime security. The Netherlands is the fourth-largest source of FDI in India and will contribute to supply chain optimization, port decarbonization, and energy transitions.
Meanwhile, the maritime workforce and industry of India are in for a dramatic transformation. India is ranked second globally in ship recycling, 18th in shipbuilding, and third in seafarer contributions. The country has more than 300,000 seafarers, and it plans to provide 20% of the global seafaring workforce, enter the top five shipbuilding nations, and consolidate its leadership in ship recycling.
Despite its progress, the sector faces challenges, including skilled labor shortages and transitioning to sustainable fuels. Subba Rao, Managing Director of Sanmar Shipping, emphasized the need for industry collaboration, investment in sustainable technologies, and workforce development to address these challenges effectively.
The conference will also feature the release of the FICCI-CRISIL Knowledge Report entitled Forging New Horizons: The Growth of India's Shipbuilding and Repair Industry, focusing on India's prospects as an international shipbuilding and repair destination. The Expo, with participation from more than 100 exhibitors, plus over 50 speakers and a representation from more than 10 countries, truly underscores India's commitment to maritime modernization.
The maritime sector will lead the economic resurgence of the country, driving India towards being a global leader in shipping and trade, while it aims for its ambitious 10,000 MTPA capacity.
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