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Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), the world’s second-largest ship owner, is looking at new ways to grow in India. They’re considering building RORO terminals, boosting inland logistics, and even building ships locally.
Jotaro Tamura, the President and CEO, stated, “MOL is open and positive about these opportunities. Right now, MOL has 13 ships sailing under the Indian flag, making it the fourth largest ship owner in the country.”
Tamura also highlighted that MOL wants to really understand what Indian shipyards need, and how that aligns with the company’s plans and expansion objectives. It's all about building trust and finding common ground.
Currently, MOL builds most of its ships in China, Japan, and Korea. From a broader global perspective, adding another country to the mix could significantly strengthen its shipbuilding capabilities. Tamura pointed out that before jumping in, MOL needs to determine what types of ships align with India's current shipbuilding sector. He also encouraged Indian shipbuilders to head in the right direction and take the steps that make sense for their growth.
He said it’s just not realistic for India to start out building complicated, high-tech ships right now. Indian shipyards aren’t ready to take on those kinds of projects, at least not yet, especially when you compare them to established players in other countries. As per him, India will develop these capabilities over time. For now, he says, focusing on bulk carriers makes sense—they could help strengthen partnerships between Indian shipyards and shipping companies worldwide.
MOL is already using Indian ports like Mundra, Pipavav, Mumbai, Ennore, and Chennai to export cars. In fact, the company leads India’s car export market. In the coming days, MOL would work to ensure that more and more ships are registered under the Indian flag.
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Batangas Integrated Port (BIP) has become the world's first port to receive the READY Port designation, marking the launch of a global framework designed to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure the continuity of humanitarian and commercial logistics during emergencies. The recognition follows a three-day multi-agency preparedness programme conducted at the port in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) Philippines. The initiative brought together government agencies, humanitarian organisations, logistics providers and private-sector stakeholders to assess emergency response capabilities, review operational procedures and conduct crisis simulation exercises. READY—short for Resilience, Emergency Action and Disaster-ready—is a capacity-building programme backed by the UN Logistics Cluster. The framework aims to improve the resilience of critical port infrastructure and maintain the flow of humanitarian aid and essential cargo during natural disasters and other emergencies. The Philippines was selected as the pilot location because of its high exposure to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. Batangas Integrated Port, operated by Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), DP World's local partner, serves as a key gateway for international and domestic cargo, roll-on/roll-off traffic and passenger services, with connections across the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The port's strategic role makes it an important logistics hub for both commercial supply chains and emergency relief operations. The workshop concluded with the development of a Port Readiness Action Plan, which will guide future resilience-building measures and provide a model for implementing similar disaster preparedness programmes at other ports in the Philippines and internationally. The READY Port framework is expected to strengthen coordination between port operators, government agencies, humanitarian organisations and logistics companies, helping ensure ports remain operational during crises while prioritising the movement of emergency relief cargo. Industry stakeholders view the initiative as a scalable approach to improving supply chain resilience in disaster-prone coastal regions worldwide. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
India has advised shipping companies and maritime recruitment agencies to restrict the deployment of Indian seafarers to conflict-affected areas in the Gulf region, following a series of security incidents involving merchant vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) issued the advisory amid growing concerns over the safety of Indian crew members after recent attacks on commercial vessels in the region. The directive asks Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) holders and shipping companies to avoid sending Indian seafarers to conflict zones until further notice. The move follows several maritime incidents in Gulf waters, including attacks on vessels carrying Indian crew members. The issue gained urgency after three Indian seafarers lost their lives aboard the tanker MT Settebello during a strike off the coast of Oman earlier this month. The incident has intensified concerns over the risks faced by merchant shipping operating in one of the world's most strategically important trade corridors. In its advisory, DG Shipping instructed vessel masters, ship managers and operators transiting through the Gulf region to maintain heightened security awareness, closely monitor navigational warnings, and implement all prescribed ship security procedures. The regulator said recent incidents involving commercial vessels have highlighted the increasing operational risks in the area. Indian authorities are closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Navy and Indian missions abroad. The government has also placed relevant agencies on high alert to ensure timely assistance and support for Indian seafarers working in the region. The Gulf region remains a critical route for global energy and container trade, with the Strait of Hormuz handling a significant share of international oil shipments. Any disruption to vessel movements in the area has implications for shipping operations, crew safety and global supply chains. As geopolitical tensions continue to affect maritime security, shipping companies are expected to review crew deployment and risk-management strategies for voyages through the region. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Andhra Pradesh is seeking a larger role in future global shipping networks by positioning its ports and logistics infrastructure to benefit from emerging Arctic maritime routes and evolving international trade corridors, according to state IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. Speaking at an international forum in Russia, Lokesh said shifts in global trade patterns, coupled with the gradual development of Arctic shipping lanes, could reshape cargo flows between Asia, Europe and North America over the coming decades. He said Andhra Pradesh intends to leverage its coastline, port infrastructure and industrial corridors to become an important node in these changing trade networks. The minister highlighted the state's strategic location on India's eastern seaboard, its deep-water ports and ongoing investments in logistics and industrial infrastructure. According to him, these assets place Andhra Pradesh in a favourable position to support international trade as supply chains diversify and new maritime routes gain commercial relevance. Arctic shipping routes have attracted increasing attention from governments and industry stakeholders because they can significantly reduce transit times between parts of Asia and Europe compared with traditional routes through the Suez Canal. While commercial adoption remains limited due to seasonal, environmental and geopolitical factors, logistics experts view the Arctic as a potential long-term supplement to existing global shipping corridors. Lokesh noted that Andhra Pradesh is pursuing a broader strategy centred on port-led industrialisation, logistics parks, multimodal connectivity and manufacturing growth. The state has been expanding its maritime infrastructure while promoting investments in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, technology, energy and export-oriented industries. The government is also strengthening links between ports, industrial clusters and transport networks to reduce logistics costs and improve cargo movement efficiency. These initiatives form part of Andhra Pradesh's ambition to establish itself as a major gateway for international trade and supply chain activities on India's east coast. Industry observers note that the growing focus on alternative trade corridors comes at a time when companies are reassessing supply chain resilience following disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, climate-related events and congestion at key maritime chokepoints. As a result, governments and logistics providers are exploring additional routes and infrastructure investments to diversify global trade networks. For Andhra Pradesh, participation in emerging trade corridors could strengthen cargo volumes, attract industrial investment and reinforce the state's position as a logistics hub serving both domestic and international markets. If global shipping patterns continue to evolve, ports along India's eastern coast could play a more prominent role in connecting Asian production centres with markets across Europe and beyond. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
