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India is stepping up efforts to expand its domestic shipping ecosystem through a combination of shipbuilding incentives, maritime financing reforms and fleet expansion plans aimed at reducing dependence on foreign carriers.
The push reflects a broader policy shift in which maritime infrastructure is increasingly being viewed through the lens of economic security, trade resilience and strategic autonomy. Government initiatives unveiled over the past three years have focused on boosting local ship construction, increasing Indian-flagged tonnage and strengthening coastal shipping capabilities.
Under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the government aims to position India among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations while significantly expanding domestic shipbuilding capacity. The Union Budget for 2025 also introduced a ₹250 billion Maritime Development Fund intended to improve access to long-term capital for shipbuilders, shipowners and related infrastructure projects.
Although nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes, a substantial portion of cargo continues to be carried by foreign-owned vessels, resulting in significant freight outflows overseas.
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), the country’s largest state-owned shipping company, has outlined aggressive fleet expansion plans as part of this transition. According to company officials, SCI intends to acquire 216 vessels by 2047 through investments estimated at around ₹1 trillion. The expansion includes oil and gas carriers, container ships and additional vessels under future joint ventures.
Private sector players are beginning to respond to the policy changes as well as India continues to balance competing priorities between promoting domestic shipping interests and maintaining the competitiveness of its ports as international transhipment hubs.
The debate has intensified following recent changes to cabotage rules governing foreign participation in coastal cargo movement. While the government has signalled stronger support for Indian-flagged vessels, global shipping operators have raised concerns that tighter restrictions could affect the attractiveness of Indian ports such as Vizhinjam for transhipment operations.
Logistics experts argue that India’s long-term success will depend not only on protecting domestic shipping interests but also on developing world-class port infrastructure capable of attracting global liner operators.
Industry executives say the transformation of India’s maritime sector will require sustained investment, policy stability and long-term access to capital. However, they believe the country’s growing focus on shipbuilding, vessel ownership and maritime finance marks a structural shift in how India approaches global trade and supply chain security.
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Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has expanded its technology partnership with US-based supply chain software provider Kaleris, committing up to $100 million toward automation and optimisation initiatives as it accelerates digital transformation across its port operations. The multi-year agreement will see Kaleris deploy AI-enabled terminal operating and optimisation systems across APSEZ’s network of 15 container terminals located at nine domestic and international ports. The rollout is intended to create a unified digital platform that improves operational visibility, planning accuracy and resource utilisation across the company’s maritime logistics ecosystem. The investment forms part of APSEZ’s broader plan to spend approximately $850 million on technology upgrades and decarbonisation initiatives by 2031. The company said automation investments under the Kaleris partnership will be implemented in phases to support long-term capacity expansion and operational efficiency goals. According to APSEZ, the technology deployment is expected to help unlock an additional 91 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo-handling capacity by 2030, equivalent to roughly 10% of its current installed capacity. The company is targeting annual cargo-handling capability of one billion tonnes by the end of the decade. The expanded programme builds on earlier deployments at six ports and will extend advanced planning, container handling and terminal optimisation capabilities across the wider network. APSEZ expects the systems to improve yard utilisation, accelerate vessel turnaround times and enhance end-to-end coordination between port assets and logistics operations. The company said the initiative aligns with its strategy to integrate artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and data-driven decision-making into port operations. By standardising systems across multiple terminals, APSEZ aims to improve productivity and operational consistency while supporting future growth in cargo volumes. As India’s largest integrated transport and logistics operator, APSEZ currently accounts for a significant share of the country’s port cargo volumes and continues to expand its domestic and international footprint. The latest investment underscores the growing role of automation and AI in modern container terminal management as operators seek higher efficiency, faster vessel turnaround and improved supply chain visibility. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) has secured a 10-year marine services contract for Argentina's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project, marking the company's entry into South America and strengthening its presence in the global energy logistics sector. The contract was awarded to an APSEZ-led consortium comprising its subsidiary Adani Harbour International FZCO and Argentina-based Meridian Group following an international tender process conducted by Southern Energy SA. The project carries an estimated investment commitment of US$70 million. Under the agreement, the consortium will provide a range of marine services for the Southern Energy floating LNG (FLNG) project, including tug operations for LNG carriers, offshore logistics support and crew transportation. Operations will be supported by four tugboats, an anchor-handling tug supply vessel and a crew boat. The award represents a significant international expansion for APSEZ, which has been increasing its presence in marine services linked to ports, energy terminals and offshore infrastructure. The Argentina project will give the company a foothold in a new geography while diversifying its revenue streams beyond traditional port operations. Located in the San Matías Gulf in Río Negro Province, the Southern Energy project is expected to become Argentina's first operational LNG export facility. The development will liquefy natural gas transported through the General San Martín pipeline using a floating LNG vessel. . For APSEZ, the contract highlights the growing role of logistics and marine service providers in supporting global energy supply chains. The company is expected to play a key role in vessel handling and offshore operations critical to the project's export activities. The deal also reflects increasing commercial links between India and Argentina in the energy sector, with LNG emerging as a strategic component of long-term trade and supply chain cooperation between the two countries. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, has become the first Indian port to partner with H2Global to facilitate green hydrogen export corridors between India and Europe. The strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marks a major step toward integrating India into the global green hydrogen supply chain and strengthening maritime trade links with European energy markets. The collaboration between VOCPA and H2Global, represented by the H2Global Foundation and Hintco GmbH, aims to establish the infrastructure, logistics frameworks and commercial mechanisms required for large-scale exports of green hydrogen and its derivatives, including green ammonia and e-methanol. The partnership will also explore long-term offtake arrangements and the development of sustainable maritime fuel ecosystems that support global decarbonisation goals. For the logistics and shipping sector, the agreement signals the emergence of a new clean-energy trade corridor connecting India’s southern coastline with Germany and broader European markets. As demand for renewable fuels accelerates across Europe, ports are increasingly being viewed as critical nodes in the hydrogen value chain, requiring specialised storage, handling and transportation infrastructure. The partnership is expected to catalyse investments in dedicated hydrogen and ammonia terminals, storage facilities and associated maritime logistics capabilities at the port. The development aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets the creation of a robust domestic hydrogen ecosystem and positions the country as a major exporter of green fuels. VOCPA has already emerged as a key player in this transition. The port was recognised as a Green Hydrogen Hub under the mission and commissioned a port-based green hydrogen pilot project in 2025, making it one of India’s pioneering maritime facilities in renewable hydrogen production and application. Industry observers believe the agreement could strengthen India’s competitiveness in the global green hydrogen market by leveraging Tamil Nadu’s abundant wind and solar resources, strategic maritime location and growing industrial base. For supply chain stakeholders, the initiative underscores the increasing convergence of clean energy, port infrastructure and international trade. As global energy supply chains undergo rapid transformation, the VOCPA-H2Global partnership positions India not only as a producer of green hydrogen but also as a critical logistics hub in the emerging international clean fuel economy. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
