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India Plans 62 New Vessels with Rs 51,383 Crore Investment by FY27

India has announced a plan to add 62 vessels in FY2026-27 with an investment of Rs 51,383 crore, creating 2.85 million gross tonnage capacity. Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized urgent expansion of shipping capacity, including container vessels, LPG and crude carriers, and green tugs. The minister reviewed cargo flows and operational preparedness, and instructed departments to prepare a white paper with clear targets and a time-bound roadmap. The initiative aims to strengthen India's maritime ecosystem and ensure resilience against external disruptions.

Key Points: India to Add 62 Vessels with Rs 51,383 Cr Investment

  • India plans 62 vessels in FY27 with Rs 51,383 crore investment
  • 2.85 million gross tonnage capacity to be added
  • Focus on container vessels, LPG, crude carriers, and green tugs
  • SCI and Oil PSUs joint venture to acquire 59 vessels
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India plans 62 vessels with Rs 51,383 crore investment in FY27: Minister

India plans to add 62 vessels with Rs 51,383 crore investment in FY27, creating 2.85 million GT capacity, says Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

"We must act with urgency to strengthen our fleet, shipbuilding capacity, port infrastructure, and the broader maritime ecosystem - Sarbananda Sonowal"

New Delhi, April 30

India is advancing a roadmap to add 62 vessels in FY2026-27 backed by a investment of Rs 51,383 crore, creating an additional 2.85 million gross tonnage capacity, according to the government.

In a 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.

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, 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.

The minister 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.

He 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 minister said, underscoring the need for a coordinated national effort.

He instructed all concerned departments to prepare a concise and actionable white paper outlining and 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," Sonowal noted.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
The Strait of Hormuz angle makes this even more strategic. With global tensions, we can't keep relying on foreign vessels for our energy needs. Rs 51,383 crore is a big investment but it's worth it for national security. Just hope there's proper accountability in how this money is spent.
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Michael C
As someone who works in maritime logistics, this is long overdue. India has one of the longest coastlines but our shipping capacity is nowhere near where it should be. The inter-ministerial coordination is key - too often these things get delayed because ministries don't talk to each other.
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Ananya R
While this sounds good on paper, I wish they'd also focus on improving port infrastructure. What's the use of more vessels if our ports can't handle them efficiently? Also, 2.85 million GT seems modest compared to global players. We need to think bigger. 🤔
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Vikram M
The white paper approach is smart - we need clear targets and timelines. The minister's call for coordination with petroleum and commerce ministries shows they understand the interconnected nature of this. Let's see if this actually translates into action on the ground.
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Siddharth J
Good initiative but what about our shipbuilding industry? Are we building these vessels domestically or importing? Atmanirbhar Bharat should mean we build our own ships, not just buy them. This would create more jobs and technical expertise in India.
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