Pratik Bijlani –
During India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) announced the signing of 76 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with key maritime stakeholders, signalling a powerful leap toward India’s maritime transformation. These agreements form part of a larger wave of over 600 MoUs signed overall by DG Shipping, collectively amounting to investment commitments exceeding ₹10 lakh crore (approximately USD 120 billion) across ports, shipping, inland waterways, shipbuilding, and maritime technology.
The MoUs signed by DG Shipping represent a significant shift from policy discussions to tangible execution, strengthening India’s position as a rising maritime powerhouse under the theme “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.” Leading the charge in this transformation were senior DG Shipping officials including Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping; Mr Sushil Mansingh Khopde, Additional Director General of Shipping; Capt. S.I. Abul Kalam Azad, Nautical Advisor; and Mr Ajith Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor-cum-Additional Director General.
The signings were conducted in batches with leading shipping companies, training institutions, and shipyards, reflecting the government’s collaborative approach to maritime growth. Notable MoUs included those with major stakeholders such as INSA, Sanmar Shipping, Chowgule, Ganges Shipyard, M2M Ferries, Castle Ship Management, Seamec Ltd., Seven Islands Shipping, Maersk Fleet Management and Technology India, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, ABS Marine, and Dockendale Ship Management, among others.
These partnerships span a wide spectrum of areas, including vessel acquisition, fleet expansion, shipyard infrastructure, maritime education, coastal connectivity, multimodal transportation, and crew training. High-value MoUs such as INSA’s ₹26,000 crore shipping development initiative and Sanmar Shipping’s ₹3,390 crore fleet expansion plan reflect strong confidence from industry leaders in India’s maritime policies and business environment. Other agreements aim to strengthen domestic shipbuilding, enhance skill development, and advance coastal shipping through the construction of new vessels, shipyards, and training academies.
The DG Shipping’s active engagement highlights the increasing role of regulatory and administrative agencies in anchoring strategic alliances and fostering private-public collaboration. The focus on green shipping, digitalisation, and domestic shipbuilding underscores India’s ambition to emerge as one of the top five maritime nations by 2047, in line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Maritime Vision 2047.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jagannathan, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to industry facilitation and growth. He said, “Our government’s mandate is clear — to ensure ease of doing business and to fully support your growth story with genuine intent. Wherever policy or regulation hinders progress, we invite you to reach out and partner with us as we take India’s maritime aspirations to the global forefront.”
The DG Shipping’s signing spree sends a strong message of India’s readiness to drive innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness in the maritime sector. As the MoUs move into implementation, they are set to catalyse employment, infrastructure development, and technological advancement — steering India’s maritime ecosystem toward an era of unprecedented growth and global relevance.
Marex Media