The National Shipping Board (NSB) has outlined a five-point roadmap to strengthen India’s merchant shipping capabilities and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign shipping lines, with a target of adding 100 vessels to the Indian fleet over the next five years.
The roadmap was discussed at the inaugural edition of ‘Sagar Samvad’, a day-long maritime dialogue focused on advancing the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The event brought together senior government officials, shipowners, financiers, maritime experts, industry representatives and young cadets at the Civil Services Officers Institute in New Delhi.
The five priority areas identified by the NSB are fiscal reforms, assured cargo support, access to competitive financing, regulatory streamlining and improved ease of doing business. Industry stakeholders said these measures could help address the cost disadvantages faced by Indian-flagged vessels and support the expansion of domestic tonnage.
The discussions highlighted that operating under the Indian flag currently involves significantly higher costs than operating under foreign flags. Industry representatives attributed the disparity to factors including taxation on ship imports and maintenance services, taxation related to seafarer wages and freight, as well as comparatively higher domestic financing costs. The issue is particularly significant as Indian shipowners are required to remain competitive with international freight rates when seeking cargo under the Right of First Refusal mechanism.
The proposed expansion of the Indian fleet is aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to carry its own trade, particularly critical commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, coal and fertilisers. The initiative also supports the longer-term ambition of positioning India among the world’s five largest ship-owning nations by 2047.
The inaugural Sagar Samvad was chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who also launched the NSB’s first official website. The board presented its annual report for 2025-26 along with reports from its subcommittees containing policy recommendations for the government. These recommendations covered areas including shipping policy, fleet expansion, financing, taxation and seafarer welfare.
A separate session examined the Maritime Labour Force: Opportunities and Challenges, focusing on employment generation, skills development and the evolving requirements of the global maritime industry. Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the potential of the maritime sector to generate high-quality employment for India’s young workforce.
The discussions stressed the need to expand maritime training capacity, strengthen industry-led skilling and improve employment pathways for Indian seafarers. Greater participation of women in maritime employment was also identified as an area requiring attention. Emerging segments such as cruise shipping and advanced shipbuilding were highlighted as areas where specialised skills will increasingly be required.
The event also included interaction between the Union Minister and trainee officers from maritime training institutions, providing young maritime professionals an opportunity to raise issues and discuss career opportunities in the sector.
Another key focus was the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities for the maritime industry. The government highlighted the progress of the ₹10,000-crore Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme, under which international shipping companies have begun placing orders for containers manufactured in India.
The deliberations at Sagar Samvad brought together policymakers and industry stakeholders to examine the structural changes required to make Indian shipping more competitive. With fleet expansion, financing, taxation, regulation and workforce development emerging as central priorities, the dialogue is expected to contribute to policy measures supporting India’s broader maritime ambitions through 2030 and towards 2047.
