India is positioning itself to emerge as a global shipping hub by 2030. The nation is ambitiously aiming to join the ranks of the top 10 global ship manufacturers by 2030, with aspirations to break into the top five by 2047.
Against this backdrop, waterways, often referred to as the veins of the nation, are undergoing a significant transformation to enhance transportation efficiency and reliability.
Let’s explore the steps being taken to realize this ambitious vision:
Expanding Port Capacity
India is expanding its port capacity more than six-fold to reach 10,000 million tonnes per annum by 2047, marking the country’s largest-ever maritime infrastructure drive as it positions itself as a global shipping hub.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, highlighted this progress, stating, “The major ports are already handling 820 MMT of cargo annually, representing a 47 percent increase since 2014, while overall port capacity has doubled to 1,630 MMT during the same period. India’s maritime sector has become a cornerstone of the country’s economic resurgence.
Speaking at the FICCI Maritime Conference and Expo 2025 in Mumbai on Wednesday, he said the expansion program includes the development of two strategic mega-ports:
Vadhavan Port (Maharashtra): Set to become India’s largest container facility, the port off the coast of Dahanu in Maharashtra is being developed under a public-private partnership and will be able to handle ultra-large vessels as well.
Sonowal excerpts, “that the PPP project will position India among the top 10 global container ports by 2034.”
International Container Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay (Great Nicobar): This port targets capturing transshipment trade along key global routes.
Efficiency Gains and Modernized Infrastructure
The maritime modernization drive has already resulted in remarkable efficiency gains:
- Container dwell time reduced to three days.
- Vessel turnaround time improved to 0.9 days, surpassing several advanced economies.
- Nine Indian ports now feature in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index 2023, with Visakhapatnam ranking among the top 20 globally.
“These achievements epitomize our vision of Ports for Prosperity, where infrastructure serves as a springboard for economic growth and job creation,” Sonowal stated.
Green Hydrogen Hubs and Sustainability Initiatives
India’s maritime sector is targeting $1 trillion in investments by 2047, with immediate plans for green hydrogen production hubs at major ports.
Several companies have already leased 4,000 acres for green hydrogen facilities at the ports of Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradip, with production expected to commence within a year.
“Half a dozen companies have come forward to invest in these places,” Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, T K Ramachandran, said and added, “We expect about 5 lakh crores in investments by 2030.”
In addition, Ramachandran alluded to the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling, which takes effect in June, highlighting that the government expects Indian shipyards to benefit from it. Most recycling yards in Alang already comply with the conventions standards, positioning India to capture a larger share of the global ship recycling market, he noted.
Advancing Shipbuilding and Recycling
India’s updated shipbuilding financial assistance policy has catalyzed domestic shipbuilding, securing Rs 10,500 crore of orders while creating supply chains and job opportunities.
Director General of the Directorate of Shipping, Shyam Jagannathan, underlined that India’s maritime sector is undergoing a transformative expansion, with ambitious targets to reshape its global standing across multiple segments.
Currently ranked second globally in ship recycling, 18th in shipbuilding, and third in seafarer contributions with over 300,000 personnel, India aims to lead the ship recycling sector, break into the top five shipbuilding nations, and provide more than 20 per cent of the global seafaring workforce.
Global Maritime Partnerships
Last year, a global maritime summit yielded 360 Memorandum of Understandings with commitment to invest more than Rs 80 lakh crore in the next 25 years, the minister said, adding that a similar event will be held in October this year.
India’s journey to becoming a global shipping hub is marked by bold investments, efficient operations, and sustainability initiatives. With strategic port expansions, green energy hubs, and ambitious shipbuilding policies, the country is poised to redefine its maritime landscape and secure a leading position on the global stage.
