Lok Sabha Question No. 4762 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Global Partnerships in Ports, Shipping and Maritime Logistics
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Biplab Kumar Deb

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4762

ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026

## GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS IN PORTS, SHIPPING AND MARITIME LOGISTICS

4762.  SHRI BIPLAB KUMAR DEB:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  engaged  with  foreign  countries  or  industry representatives to explore international partnerships in ports, shipping and maritime logistics, and if so, the details thereof; (b) the reforms undertaken to modernise the country's port legislation, maritime services and sectoral governance; and whether  the  Government  has  considered  any  technological  or  operational
- (c) improvements to strengthen maritime activities, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) Yes, the Government has been actively engaging with foreign Governments, multilateral organisations and global maritime industry partners for collaboration in ports, shipping and maritime logistics. These include partnerships for port modernisation,  development  of  shipping  infrastructure,  green  shipping  initiatives, digitization and maritime skill development.

Notable  recent  engagements  includeIndia-  Russia  partnership  to  explore Northern  Sea  Route,  Eastern  Maritime  Corridor  &  training  of  Indian  Seafarers  in Polar  Waters,  India  partnership  with  Denmark  for  Digital  Centre  of  Excellence  in Green  Shipping  and  India-Singapore  partnership  for  Green  &  Digital  Shipping Corridor.  Further,  Deendayal  Port  Authority,  Kandlahas  collaborated  with  Port  of Rotterdam for setting up technically advanced, state of the art supply side facilities including storage, handling, transportation and dispatch facilities for green hydrogen/green ammonia and derivatives.

Foreign  Direct  Investment(FDI)  is  also  allowed  in  port  sector  in  India.  DP World, UAEcurrently operates container terminals at various locations,such as,Jawaharlal  Nehru  Port in  Maharashtra,  Cochin  Port  in  Kerala,  Chennai  Port  in

Tamil  Nadu.  Further,  DP  World  is  also  developing  a  container  terminal  at  Tuna Tekra,  Deendayal  Port  in  state  of  Gujarat.  Similarly,  PSA  Singapore  operates terminals at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra.

The Government, through Joint Working Group meetings/bilateral meetings and Memorandumof  Understanding/  letter  of  Intent  etc.has  engaged  with  maritime countries,  like  Norway,  Netherlands,  Denmark,  Italy,  South  Korea,  Singapore, Japan,  Saudi  Arabia,  Sri  Lanka,  Myanmar,  Oman  etc.  toexplore  avenues  for possible collaboration.Global Maritime India Summit 2025, which was organised in Mumbai  during  27-31  October  2025,elicited  participation  from  over  93  countries, and involved more than 1,00,000 delegates and stakeholders.

(b)to (c)Key new maritime sector legislations that have been enacted recentlyare:

-  Merchant Shipping Act, 2025
-  Coastal Shipping Act, 2025
-  Indian Ports Act, 2025
-  Bills of Lading Act, 2025
-  Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025
-  Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021,
-  Inland Vessel Act, 2021
-  The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021

These  legislations  and  various  projects  have  been  undertaken  for  technological, operational and capacity enhancement to strengthen cargo handling at ports, coastal shipping,  cruise  tourism  and  fisheries  etc.  Projects  worth  more  than  Rs  40,000 crores to enhance the capacity and efficiency of Major Ports have been completed in the last ten years.

Further, to strengthen digitalization, green shipping and maritime innovation across ports and waterways, several initiatives that have been undertaken are as follows:

Digitalization  efforts  across  ports  and  waterways  are  focused  on  standardizing procedures,  reducing  manual  interventions,  and  improving  information  exchange between stakeholders.The One  Nation One Port Process initiativehas been undertaken  to  standardize  documentation  processes  and  re-engineer  operational steps  to  lower  transaction  volumes  and  reduce  cargo  processing  times.  Other initiatives such as, the Maritime Single Window (SagarSetu), e-Samudra, e-Pariksha, and Jalyan&Navic are strengthening IT systems, to increase operational efficiency in maritime sector.

Measures  have  been  undertakento  support  environmental  objectives  in  maritime sector. 'HaritSagar' Green Port guidelines, launched in 2023 provide a framework to Indian ports for reducing  carbon footprint. Other  measuresincludeadoption  of alternate fuels, low/zero-emission equipment, and integration of renewable energy. Three  major  ports  have  been  recognized  by  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable Energyas  Green  Hydrogen  hub  ports,  and  the  Green  Tug  Transition  Programme outlines  a  phased  shift  from  conventional  diesel  powered  tugs  to  low-emission

alternatives.

Further,  the  Government  of  India,  approved  a comprehensive  package  of ₹69,725 Crore to revitalize the country's shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem. The initiative adopts a four-pillar approach aimed at developing a globally competitive, technologically advanced, and sustainable maritime sector. These include Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme, Maritime Development Fund, Shipbuilding Development Scheme and policy, technology and institutional reforms. National Shipbuilding Mission isthe nodal body for coordination, implementation and monitoring of all initiatives under this framework.

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