Government aims to reduce dependence on foreign-owned vessels, expand our merchant fleet: Sonowal

Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, at the ‘India Maritime Week 2025’, in Mumbai on Monday
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India aims to increase its merchant fleet to reduce the dependence on foreign owner vessels and build an entire ecosystem for the ship-building sector, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Monday.

“We want to become self-reliant and we need to have our own ships and flagged vessels,” Sonowal said in a media interaction after the inauguration of the India Maritime Week.

With around 95 per cent of India’s external trade carried through the oceans, shipping remains a critical sector. While the number of Indian-flagged vessels has increased, Indian trade is still heavily reliant on foreign ships. Sonowal said the country would be able to save ₹4-5 lakh crore if it increases its merchant fleet.

The Government’s efforts in this direction are showing success, with foreign ships-owners like CMA CGM and Maersk reflagging some of their vessels in India. 

Switzerland-based MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), too, is planning to flag vessels in India.

Calling the maritime sector a strong pillar of Viksit Bharat, Sonowal said the sector in India is not just keeping pace, but setting new benchmarks “There has been a transformational progress in the sector in the past 11 years. Port capacity has doubled and the cargo handled has increased. The growth has been the result of investment, policy support and the government’s vision,” Sonowal said.

“Our vision is to quadruple port capacity, achieve 10-fold growth in cruise tourism, increase the share of coastal trade and become among the top five ship-building countries,” he said.

The minister said the Centre and states are jointly working to develop shipbuilding clusters that will build not just vessels, but spare parts required to build ships.

“The India Maritime Week has come a long way and the event has grown in scale, status and global relevance, with the participation of delegates from 85 countries and 500 exhibitors,” he said. Agreements worth ₹10 lakh crore in various sectors such as shipbuilding, port modernisation, green shipping, etc, will be signed at the event.

Published on October 27, 2025