Lok Sabha Question No. 2132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-12
Subject: Global Partnerships in Shipping Sector
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rao Rajendra Singh, Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi, Shri Khagen Murmu, Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Shri Tatkare Sunil Dattatrey, Shri Vijay Baghel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2132

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025

## GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS IN SHIPPING SECTOR

2132.  SHRI MANOJ TIWARI: SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL: SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI: SHRI TATKARE SUNIL DATTATREY: SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM: SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

## 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 Governments or industry representatives to explore international partnerships in ports, shipping and maritime logistics and if so, the details thereof, State-wise and port-wise; (b) the reforms undertaken to modernize India's port legislation, maritime services and sectoral governance and the extent to which they have been implemented, Statewise and port-wise; (c) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  any  technological,  operational  or capacity-enhancing improvements specially aimed at strengthening maritime activities like cargo handling, coastal shipping, cruise tourism and fisheries-related activities and if so, the details thereof, State-wise and ports-wise; and (d) the  steps  taken  to  strengthen  digitalization,  green  shipping  and  maritime innovation across ports and waterways?

## 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  include  India-  Russia  partnership  to  explore Northern Sea Route, Eastern Maritime Corridor & training of Indian Seafarers in Polar Waters,  Indo-Danish  Centre  of  Excellence  in  Green  Shipping  and  India-Singapore partnership for Green & Digital Shipping Corridor. Further, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in the state of Gujarat has 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 at DPA, Kandla.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is also allowed in port sector in India. DP World, UAE currently operates container terminals  at various location 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 Memorandum  of  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.  to  explore  avenues  for  possible collaboration. India Maritime Week 2025, which was organised in Mumbai from 27-31 October 2025, elicited participation from over 93 countries, and involved more than 100,000 delegates and stakeholders.

(b) to (d) Key legislations that have been passed recently include:

-  The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, to promote tonnage under the Indian flag
-  The  Coastal  Shipping Act,  2025,  to  simplify  license  regime  for  coastal vessels
-  The Indian Ports Act, 2025, for long-term planning & integrated development of ports
-  The Bills of Lading Act, 2025 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 to eliminate outdated colonial-era laws
-  The Marine Aids to  Navigation Act, 2021,  and Inland Vessel Act, 2021, modernizing  inland  water  transport,  replacing  outdated  legislation  to enhance safety, efficiency, and environmental protection
-  The Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 to enhance autonomy, provide greater flexibility, and attract private investment, replaced the Major Port Trust Act, 1963.

Various  projects  have  been  undertaken  for  technological,  operational  or capacity  enhancement to strengthen the 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 have been/are being undertaken 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 (ONOP) initiative is being 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 (Sagar Setu), e-Samudra, e-Pariksha, and Jalyan & Navic are strengthening IT systems, to increase operational efficiency in maritime sector.

Measures  are  being  undertaken  to  support  environmental  objectives  in maritime  sector.  'Harit  Sagar'  Green  Port  guidelines,  launched  in  2023  provide  a framework  to  Indian  ports  for  reducing  carbon  footprint.  Other  measures  include adoption of alternate fuels, low/zero-emission equipment, and integration of renewable energy. Three ports are being developed as Green Hydrogen hub ports, and the Green Tug Transition Programme outlines a phased shift from conventional tug vessels 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  (SBFAS),  Maritime  Development  Fund (MDF),  Shipbuilding  Development  Scheme  (SbDS)  and  policy,  technology,  and institutional  reforms.  National  Shipbuilding  Mission  (NSbM)  will  serve  as  the  nodal body  for  coordination,  implementation,  and  monitoring  of  all  initiatives  under  this framework.

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