Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) is set to invite tenders for constructing medium-range crude oil vessels in the coming weeks, as announced by Chairman Capt. Binesh Kumar Tyagi. Speaking in Visakhapatnam during the unloading of LPG from the Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) Shivalik, Tyagi highlighted the government’s plan to acquire 112 domestically owned crude oil carriers to decrease India’s reliance on foreign ships for crude imports.
The Shivalik, SCI’s newest vessel and its second VLGC, represents a significant advancement in gas transportation. Built in Korea at a cost of ₹512 crore, it measures 225 meters long and 37 meters wide, with a cargo capacity of 82,000 metric tonnes, equivalent to about 1.1 crore domestic LPG cylinders. Equipped with modern safety features and an autopilot system, the Shivalik arrived from Qatar to deliver LPG for Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal noted that India’s reliance on foreign vessels costs approximately ₹6 lakh crore annually, comprising 95% of freight payments. He emphasized the need for a self-reliant fleet, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. Through SCI’s expansion and the government’s shipbuilding initiative, India aims to enhance its maritime capabilities by 2047.
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