India plans urgent shipping expansion amid Strait of Hormuz tensions
"We are positioning shipping at the core of India’s economic resilience," said Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
As the Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint in the West Asian war, India is working on a plan to urgently ramp up its shipping capabilities, with a renewed focus on building a robust, future-ready maritime ecosystem.
At a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting on the Strait of Hormuz situation, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, "India is advancing a roadmap to add 62 vessels in FY 2026–27, backed by Rs51,383 crore, creating an additional 2.85 million GT capacity."
The shipping minister reviewed the status of the joint venture between Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and oil PSUs to acquire 59 vessels.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, "We are positioning shipping at the core of India's economic resilience. Our journey towards self-reliant shipping is a strategic necessity."
The meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, oil PSUs, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, the Directorate General of Shipping, the National Shipping Board, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Reviewing the current global scenario and its implications for maritime trade routes, the minister called for the urgent expansion of India's shipping capacity, including container vessels, LPG and crude carriers, and green tugs, to combat any future global challenge and sustain the country's supply chain.
Sonowal also reviewed cargo flows, vessel movements, and operational preparedness across key maritime segments.
"We must act with urgency to strengthen our fleet, shipbuilding capacity, port infrastructure, and the broader maritime ecosystem," Sonowal said.
