The Directorate General of Shipping in India has launched Circular No. 53 of 2025, enhancing crew welfare and safety at sea. This includes a new training module addressing workplace violence, to be integrated into Basic Safety Training. Mandatory for all seafarers by January 2026, it promotes a respectful maritime environment.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal virtually inaugurated India’s first all-electric green tug on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in sustainable maritime operations. Designed for the Deendayal Port Authority, this tugboat is part of the Green Tug Transition Programme, aiming to decarbonize the maritime sector and promote clean energy solutions.
India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, securing the highest votes in its category during the London Assembly elections for the 2025-26 biennium. With 154 votes, India joins Category B, which includes nations with significant interests in international seaborne trade, enhancing its maritime influence globally.
India is enhancing its global maritime standing by promoting sustainable shipping practices, as highlighted by its recent re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in Category B. With 154 votes, this achievement reflects international trust in India’s leadership and commitment to a secure, environmentally friendly maritime future.
During the IMO Assembly, Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary of the MoPSW, highlighted India’s growing maritime leadership. He outlined key strategies, emphasizing seafarer welfare, green initiatives, and security. Kumar’s commitment to decarbonization and collaboration reflects India’s dedication to sustainable shipping and its influential role in global maritime policy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled a major initiative to enhance India’s shipping sector by developing local Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) capabilities. The move aims to modernize port infrastructure, reduce costs, generate jobs, and increase self-reliance, positioning India as a competitive force in the global maritime industry.
A 1.3-kilometre mural depicting India’s maritime history, from the Indus Valley era to today, is being unveiled at Kochi Naval Base. Led by the Better Kochi Response Group, the project aims for a Guinness World Record and seeks to educate youth about India’s rich, globally recognized maritime legacy.
Ahead of President Putin’s December visit to India, Russian and Indian officials are discussing enhanced cooperation in shipbuilding. Russia aims to support India’s shipbuilding industry development, focusing on establishing bases in Mumbai and Chennai and promoting “green shipbuilding.” This partnership seeks to bolster India’s maritime capabilities and reduce foreign dependency.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s dedication to shaping the maritime future, emphasizing shipbuilding and international partnerships. At the Samudra Utkarsh Seminar 2025, he praised India’s capabilities, asserting that all naval ships are built locally. He urged collaboration to enhance maritime industry and voiced commitment to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of self-reliance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged global firms to invest in India’s maritime sector, highlighting substantial infrastructure improvements and regulatory reforms. He pointed to key legislative changes aimed at modernizing governance and enhancing global competitiveness, projecting investment potential exceeding ₹4.5 lakh crore, alongside a growing workforce of over 300,000 seafarers.
High-level interagency consultations took place in New Delhi, led by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Nikolai Patrushev, aide to the Russian President. The talks emphasized the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, covering shipbuilding, port development, and Arctic operations, aiming for enhanced cooperation and long-term prosperity.
At the G7 Foreign Ministers’ session in Canada, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized India’s commitment to maritime security and prosperity. Highlighting the MAHASAGAR outlook and partnerships, he called for international cooperation to protect maritime infrastructure, combat threats like piracy, and uphold a rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS.
In a significant step to boost India’s maritime capabilities, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board. This partnership aims to enhance maritime infrastructure, develop a Greenfield shipyard, and promote indigenous manufacturing, aligning with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
India and South Korea plan to deepen shipbuilding cooperation, merging Korea’s advanced technology with India’s manufacturing strengths. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted the need to boost Indian-flagged vessels for energy imports. Recent Indian maritime reforms and industry incentives aim to position India as a major global shipbuilding and maritime hub.
HD Hyundai has partnered with the Government of India to support the “Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,” enhancing shipbuilding capabilities. Recent discussions between Chairman Chung Ki-sun and Minister Hardeep Singh Puri focused on collaboration in ship design and fleet expansion. The partnership aims to modernize India’s maritime infrastructure with significant investments.
