Pratik Bijlani – Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), India’s first maritime-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC), has formally commenced lending operations, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s maritime finance ecosystem. At its 51st Board Meeting held on December 30, 2025, SMFCL approved loan sanctions amounting to approximately ₹4,300 crore, formally entering the maritime lending…
As 2025 draws to a close, it is worth pausing not merely to recount activity, but to reflect on intent, outcomes, and the deeper structural challenges shaping India’s maritime ecosystem. Over the past year, through policy dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and sustained advocacy, one principle has remained clear: India’s maritime growth must be anchored in the welfare, employability,…
Pratik Bijlani – INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s stitched sailing vessel built using traditional shipbuilding techniques, has begun its maiden overseas voyage from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Muscat, Oman, symbolically retracing ancient maritime routes that connected India to the wider Indian Ocean world. Constructed entirely from wooden planks stitched with coir rope and sealed with natural…
The delivery of ‘ANJADIP’, the third of the eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) project, to the Indian Navy on 22 December 2025, at INS Adyar, Chennai, marks a moment of pride for Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The warship has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)…
China Barometer China’s economic deceleration intensified in November, with consumption, investment, and industrial output under-performing expectations amid ongoing efforts to rein in supply and stabilise the property sector. Policy makers have indicated further support for2026, including the issuance of ultra-long-term bonds to fund major projects and stimulate domestic consumption and investment. Energy China’s total electricity…
According to FICCI, for India to achieve its goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy by 2027, it is critical to expand production capacity, strengthen infrastructure, and enhance services both domestically and across global supply chains. The Indian logistics sector, valued at around US$380 billion in 2025, has grown steadily from US$250 billion in 2021,…
• Wishing you and all your loved one’s Merry Christmas and all the best for New Year 2026• How Beijing Built Arms Industry to Rival the WestNew jet engines show results of China’s military self-sufficiency push. In 2016, Beijing launched a new aerospace conglomerate called Aero Engine Corp. of China. It had a challenging mandate:…
Indian Register of Shipping has reported a strong year across defence, merchant marine, digital innovation and research during 2025, reinforcing its position as a key technical partner for governments, shipowners and shipyards at a time of accelerating change for the maritime sector. In merchant marine, IRS recorded broader engagement in international projects. It completed its…
The Institution of Engineers (India) (IEI) and the Institution of Marine Engineers (India) (IMEI), Chandigarh Chapter, jointly hosted a one‑day seminar on “Sustainability and Innovations in Marine Technology” at IEI Bhawan, Chandigarh. The event drew 74 maritime professionals, including senior industry leaders, practicing engineers, academics, and policymakers, creating a vibrant forum for knowledge exchange and…
Pratik Bijlani – ISWAN India successfully concluded its annual half-day seminar on 17 December at the Bharat Ratnam-Mega Common Facilitation Centre, SEEPZ SEZ, Mumbai, building on the momentum of its Seafarers Matter initiative and strengthening its commitment to the welfare and retention of seafarers. Held under the theme “Attract, Retain, Sustain: Supporting wellbeing of seafarers…