Lok Sabha Question No. 3335 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Shipping Industry
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Smt. D K Aruna, Shri Eatala Rajender, Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3335

ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## SHIPPING INDUSTRY

3335.  SMT. D K ARUNA: SHRI EATALA RAJENDER: SHRI CHAMALA KIRAN KUMAR REDDY:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:

पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) whether shipping is the backbone of international trade and every fabric of our life is weaved by the shipping industry, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is helping the students on 'Career Pathways in Marine Engineering: From Ports to Offshore Platforms';
- (c) whether it is true that India is the third largest supplier of seafarers in the world after China and the Philippines, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps being taken by the Government to help students to take jobs in marine industry and to increase the international trade in future for Viksit Bharat 2047?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) & (b) Yes. Indian Shipping serves as backbone of international trade. Of India's Exim trade,  around  95%  by  volume and  70% by  value  is done  through  maritime  transport. Further, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), a sub-ordinate office under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways regulates, supervises and monitors Maritime Education and  Training  of  seafarers  leading  to  Certificate  of  Competency  in  accordance  with International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for seafarers.

(c) & (d) India has steadily emerged as one of the top five supplier nations of seafarers to the global maritime industry. As of June 2025, the country has over 5,00,000 registered seafarers, with 3,18,322 actively deployed worldwide, including 6,413 women seafarers.

In addition to this core workforce, India maintains a supplementary pool of nearly 60,000 skilled non-seafarers, such as marine technicians, welders, and fitters, who contribute significantly to the global maritime workforce.

To promote the seafaring profession, the Government of India, through the DGS, has approved 178 Maritime Training Institutes offering both pre-sea and post-sea marine courses.  Additionally,  DGS  has  authorized  563  Recruitment  and  Placement  Services Licence agencies to engage Indian seafarers for shipboard employment. Through the Maritime Training Trust, DGS is providing scholarships since the year 2014-15 to women seafarers. Till 2024-25, 2989 women seafarers have received scholarships and the total amount disbursed for this scholarship is Rs.28.38 Cr. Further, various welfare measures that have been instituted by DGS through the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS) are outlined below:

- i) Survival Benefit Scheme
2. ii) Invalidity Benefit Scheme
3. iii) Family Benefit Welfare Scheme
4. iv) Maternity Benefit Scheme
- v) Old Age Benefit
6. vi) Death on Board Benefit Scheme
7. vii) Ex-Gratia Support Benefit Scheme for Stranded / Abandoned Seafarers Family
8. viii)  Financial Assistance by way of award to children of seafarers

*****