**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a high-level review meeting on April 29, 2026, to accelerate India's maritime self-reliance in response to global trade disruptions. The government has planned an investment of ₹51,383 crore to add 62 vessels and 2.85 million GT capacity during FY 2026–27. Key directives include the immediate preparation of an actionable white paper to address maritime gaps and the strengthening of inter-ministerial coordination to secure global supply chains.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Investment and Capacity Targets**
* A roadmap has been established to add 62 vessels in FY 2026–27.
* The expansion is backed by a total investment of ₹51,383 crore.
* India aims to create an additional 2.85 million GT capacity within the current fiscal year to bolster economic resilience.
**Fleet Expansion and Specialization**
* The Minister underscored the urgent need for more container vessels, LPG carriers, crude carriers, tankers, and dredging vessels.
* A focus has been placed on the procurement of "green tugs" to ensure sustainable operations.
* The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is now equipped to build specialized vessels specifically for the transport of Ammonia.
* The status of a Joint Venture between SCI and Oil PSUs to acquire 59 vessels was reviewed to ensure operational preparedness.
**Strategic and Policy Directives**
* Concerned departments are instructed to prepare a concise white paper outlining current gaps, clear targets, and a time-bound roadmap for the maritime sector.
* The policy response must focus on strengthening shipbuilding capacity, port infrastructure, and the broader maritime ecosystem.
* Enhanced vigilance and safety measures are mandated for Indian seafarers operating in sensitive maritime zones, such as the Strait of Hormuz.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways**
**Impact:** Holds primary responsibility for driving the "Atmanirbhar Shipping" initiative and achieving the FY 2026–27 targets.
**Action Required:** Lead the drafting of the maritime white paper and coordinate with other ministries to ensure outcome-oriented inputs.
**Shipping Corporation of India (SCI)**
**Impact:** Identified as a key executor for building specialized ammonia carriers and managing fleet expansion.
**Action Required:** Advance the Joint Venture with Oil PSUs to acquire 59 vessels and enhance technical capabilities for specialized transport.
**Oil PSUs and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas**
**Impact:** Critical stakeholders in the maritime supply chain and joint venture partners for vessel acquisition.
**Action Required:** Provide practical inputs for the upcoming white paper and align procurement strategies with the national maritime roadmap.
**Indian Seafarers and Maritime Agencies**
**Impact:** Directly affected by security protocols in sensitive international trade routes.
**Action Required:** Agencies must maintain heightened vigilance and implement strict safety measures in high-risk maritime zones.
Key Entities Referenced
Atmanirbhar Shipping: India's strategic initiative for maritime self-reliance, targeting the addition of 62 vessels and 2.85 million GT capacity by FY 2026–27.
Sarbananda Sonowal: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways who chaired the inter-ministerial meeting and directed the maritime roadmap.
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI): The primary national shipping entity tasked with building specialized ammonia vessels and executing joint ventures to acquire 59 vessels.
White Paper on Maritime Gaps: A directed policy document intended to identify current maritime deficiencies and establish a time-bound roadmap for sector expansion.
Strait of Hormuz: The strategic maritime location whose situation prompted the high-level review to accelerate India’s shipping capabilities and resilience.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
“India Sets Course for Atmanirbhar Shipping;
Plans 62 Vessels in FY 2026–27 with ₹51,383
Crore Investment:” Sarbananda Sonowal
“India Targets Addition of 2.85 Million GT Capacity to
Strengthen Atmanirbhar Shipping Push in the current fiscal”:
Sarbananda Sonowal
Shipping Minister Sonowal Directs Actionable White Paper on
Maritime Gaps, Targets and Roadmap with Inter-Ministerial
Coordination
“Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) equipped to build
specialised vessels to transport Ammonia:” Sarbananda
Sonowal
Posted On: 29 APR 2026 8:56PM by PIB Delhi
New Delhi, 29 April, 2026: In a decisive push towards self-reliance in the maritime sector, a high-level
inter-ministerial review meeting on the Strait of Hormuz situation pivoted to accelerating India’s shipping
capabilities, with a renewed focus on building a robust, future-ready maritime ecosystem.
Chaired by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the meeting
brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), oil PSUs,
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Directorate General of Shipping, National Shipping Board and the
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi,
we are positioning shipping at the core of India’s economic resilience. Our journey towards Atmanirbhar
shipping is a strategic necessity, and we are advancing a roadmap to add 62 vessels in FY 2026–27,
backed by ₹51,383 crore, creating an additional 2.85 million GT capacity.”
Reviewing the current global scenario and its implications on maritime trade routes, the Minister called
for urgent expansion of India’s shipping capacity, including container vessels, LPG and crude carriers, and
green tugs, to ensure resilience against external disruptions. Sonowal also reviewed cargo flows, vessel
movements and operational preparedness across key maritime segments. The need for expansion of
container fleet, green tugs, LPG carriers, crude carriers, dredging vessels and tankers were underscored by
the Minister to combat any future global challenge and sustain supply chain of the country. The Shipping
Minister also reviewed the status of the Joint Venture between Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and
Oil PSUs to acquire 59 vessels.“We must act with urgency to strengthen our fleet, shipbuilding capacity, port infrastructure, and the
broader maritime ecosystem,” the Union Minister said, underscoring the need for a coordinated national
effort.
Directing a structured policy response, Sonowal instructed all concerned departments to prepare a concise
and actionable white paper outlining & addressing the current gaps, clear targets and a time-bound
roadmap across key pillars of the maritime sector. Sonowal emphasised that this exercise must be
undertaken in close coordination with the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chemicals and
Fertilisers, and Commerce and Industry, given their critical linkage to maritime supply chains.
“This document will form the basis of our next review on a larger inter-ministerial platform. I expect
focused, practical and outcome-oriented inputs. Let us move forward with clarity, coordination and
commitment,” Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal added.
The Minister also reiterated that the safety and security of Indian seafarers remains paramount, with
agencies directed to maintain heightened vigilance in sensitive maritime zones. The inter-ministerial
meeting concluded with a call for greater alignment, coordination and execution across ministries and
stakeholders to position India as a globally competitive maritime nation.
The government continues to closely monitor developments in the region while advancing long-term
strategies to strengthen India’s maritime capabilities and secure its position in global trade.
***MI/Indu
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