Initiatives Launched To Strengthen Maritime Sector

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways launched major initiatives to modernize India’s maritime infrastructure, strengthen global trade presence, and promote sustainability.

Initiatives Launched

• One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP): Aimed at standardizing and streamlining operations across India’s major ports, reducing inefficiencies, operational delays, and costs.
• Sagar Ankalan – Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI): A tool to enhance efficiency and global competitiveness of India’s ports, measuring key performance indicators like cargo handling and turnaround time.
• Bharat Global Ports Consortium: Strengthening global trade by expanding India’s maritime reach and enhancing trade resilience.
• MAITRI (Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface) App: To streamline trade processes, reduce bureaucratic redundancies and expedite clearances, reinforcing India’s commitment to ease of doing business.
• India Maritime Week (October 27-31, 2025): A bi-annual global maritime event to celebrate India’s maritime heritage and development, expecting 100 countries and 100,000 delegates.

India’s Maritime Sector

• Strategic Position: Located along the world’s busiest shipping routes, India is a key trading hub and a rising global power.
• India’s Maritime Sector Overview: Handles 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value, with port infrastructure critical to the economy.
• Growth in Cargo-handling: Between 2014-15 and 2023-24, major ports increased their annual cargo-handling capacity by 87.01%.
• Surge in Merchandise Exports: India’s merchandise exports rose to USD 451 billion in FY23, up from USD 417 billion in FY22.
• Maritime Sector’s Importance: India is the 16th-largest maritime nation, occupies a key position in global shipping, with major trade routes passing through its waters.
• Future Goals: India has outlined investments of US$ 82 billion in port infrastructure projects by 2035 to bolster the maritime sector.
  • India plans to establish a new shipping company to expand its fleet by at least 1,000 ships within a decade. 

Challenges 

• Infrastructure Gaps: Inadequate port infrastructure and outdated facilities at some ports, limiting capacity and efficiency.
• Congestion: High traffic volumes at major ports leading to delays, increased turnaround times, and reduced productivity.
• Environmental Concerns: Pollution and sustainability issues, including emissions from ships and port operations.
• Logistics Bottlenecks: Inefficient transport connectivity between ports, roads, and railways, impacting smooth cargo movement.
• Global Competition: Rising competition from other global maritime hubs, necessitating continuous investment and modernization.

Initiatives by Government

• Sagarmala Programme: Focuses on leveraging India’s coastline and of navigable waterways.
  • Supports port infrastructure, coastal development, and connectivity.
  • Financial aid for projects like coastal berths, rail/road connectivity, fish harbours, cruise terminals.
• Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030): Aiming for India to become a top 10 shipbuilding nation by 2030 and create a world-class, efficient, and sustainable maritime ecosystem.
  • Includes 150+ initiatives across ten key maritime sectors.
• Inland Waterways Development: 26 new national waterways identified by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
  • Provides alternative, sustainable transport, easing road/rail congestion.
• Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP): Aims to replace fuel-based harbour tugs with eco-friendly, sustainable fuel-powered tugs.
  • Transition to be completed by 2040 across major ports.
• Sagarmanthan Dialogue: An annual maritime strategic dialogue to position India as a global center for maritime conversations.
• Maritime Development Fund: ₹25,000 crore fund for long-term financing to modernize ports and shipping infrastructure, encouraging private investment.
• Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP 2.0): Modernized to help Indian shipyards compete with global giants.

Conclusion

• India’s maritime sector is poised for significant growth, underscored by its strategic initiatives and government schemes. 
• The first edition of Sagarmanthan has further cemented India’s commitment to becoming a global maritime leader, bringing together stakeholders to discuss key themes such as sustainability, connectivity, and governance. 
• The efforts will take India’s maritime sector toward a sustainable, innovative, and future-ready ecosystem, ensuring its place as a central player in the global maritime landscape.

Source: PIB