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| August 2025 |
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From the Editorial Desk |
CMEC is happy to share the latest issue of the Maritime Briefing covering developments in Maritime Economy, Maritime Training, Maritime Sustainability, Maritime Technology, Maritime Trade and Blue Economy initiatives related to India and the World. |
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Maritime Technology |
- DG Shipping conducted a national level seminar highlighting the digital initiatives and the SAGAR SETU platform.
- GRSE signed a MoU with Reintjes Germany for marine population gearbox technologies.
- Jeena (an Indian Logistics company) tied up with Salesforce (a provider of cloud-based customer relationship management software) for integrated logistics network.
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Maritime Economy |
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A landmark achievement in the month of August 2025 was the passing of 05 Bills by the parliament, related to the Shipping, steered by the MoPS&W, to accelerate reforms.
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India also signed an MOU with Mauritius to enhance bilateral cooperation in Fisheries and Aquaculture.
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Maritime Training |
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ClassNK, a ship classification society, which is actively engaged in a growing range of ship related activities and services, certified a methanol bunkering training simulator which was launched at the maritime training Centre in Kochi (India).
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A regional Centre of Excellence for maritime skill development is being set up by MoPS&W at Dibrugarh (Assam).
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Maritime Sustainability |
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Kandla port has commissioned its first Make-in-India, green hydrogen plant with 1 MW in capacity which is being increased to 10 MW. L&T is also developing India’s biggest green hydrogen plant at IOCL Panipat (India).
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In another significant development, Shipping Corporation of India inducted an LPG carrier Sahyadri, a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), in its fleet.
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UNEP released a report for ocean investments outlining a framework and recommendation for sustainable ocean governance and investments.
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Maritime Trade |
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In another significant development India & Saudi Arabia agreed to deepen maritime cooperation by setting up a Joint Working Group (JWG).
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India and Africa are setting up an Automobile Trade Corridor with collaboration between Suzuki India and Trade Waltz.
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Blue Economy Initiatives |
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Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) launched a strategic investment roadmap 2035 for blue economy providing short, medium and long-term strategies.
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MoES also conducted a workshop on blue economy investments.
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The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched multiple tech initiatives to boost efficiency and productivity in the maritime domain. MoPSW and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) also signed an MoU to establish a Digital Centre of Excellence (DCoE) for the maritime sector to accelerate digital transformation in India's maritime industry. The DCoE will provide advanced IT solutions, foster innovation, and guide the modernization of port operations and shipping logistics through emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and Blockchain. Separately, MoPSW also launched the SAGAR SETU platform, which integrates multiple service providers to offer seamless EXIM-related services. The platform is designed to significantly reduce processing times for vessel and cargo documentation, promoting faster, paperless logistics. Notably, this platform connects over 80 ports and 40 key stakeholders, reflecting broad industry adoption......read more |
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Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reintjes GmbH, a Germany-based company working on marine gearbox design and manufacturing. The collaboration aims to enhance marine propulsion technology by integrating Reintjes’ high-performance gear trains with select ship engines built at GRSE’s facilities. The partnership is also expected to improve propulsion efficiency and performance for both defence warships and commercial vessels being made at GRSE. It serves both domestic and export markets. In June 2025, GRSE had signed two other key agreements - with Berg Propulsion (of Sweden) to upgrade propulsion systems for government marine projects, and SunStone (of Denmark) for potential collaboration on expedition cruise vessels. .. read more |
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RAD Propulsion, a UK-based company working on electric marine propulsion systems, announced the expansion of its international dealer network with new strategic partnerships in the Netherlands, India and Japan. Enviroshift, an Indian environmental technology provider, will play a role in introducing RAD’s electric propulsion systems to the Indian marine market, particularly across the fishing, tourism, defense, and emerging USV (Uncrewed Surface Vessel) sectors. This collaboration aims to accelerate the shift from fossil fuel-based systems to sustainable electric alternatives without requiring major vessel modifications, offering customers both capital and operational cost savings. The new partnership will enable RAD Propulsion to provide more localized demonstrations, service, and customer support while promoting sustainable boating solutions for both recreational and commercial users......read more |
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Salesforce, an American cloud-based software company that specializes in customer relationship management (CRM) announced a strategic collaboration with Jeena & Company (an Indian logistics and freight forwarding firm, founded in 1900) to accelerate the latter’s digital transformation through a unified, AI-powered platform. This collaboration will help Jeena & Company unlock deeper customer intelligence, data driven decision making and consistency across teams. As part of the first phase, Jeena & Company will deploy the Salesforce Sales Cloud to enhance sales visibility, and enable faster, more integrated engagement across its logistics network. The platform will empower sales teams with real-time visibility across every stage of the deal cycle, helping drive quicker closures and improve conversion rates... read more |
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To accelerate the pace of reforms, the monsoon session of the Parliament significantly passed five key maritime bills – The Merchant Shipping Bill 2025, The Indian Ports Bill 2025, Coastal Shipping Bill 2025, The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025, and The Bills of Lading Bill 2025. As their names indicate, they cover a whole host of maritime aspects related to ports, shipping, etc. Furthermore, they also replace old and outdated legislations on these issues. The Indian Ports Bill 2025 replaces existing provisions of the Indian Ports Act 1908, with modern & contemporary regulations. The Merchant Shipping Bill 2025 replaces the Merchant Shipping Act 1958(with 561 sections), while the new Bill offers a streamlined framework of 16 parts and 325 clauses. The Coastal Shipping Bill 2025 seeks to simplify and modernize the law governing coastal shipping, replacing Part XIV of the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 with a new-age, progressive legislation aligned with global cabotage norms. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill 2025 replaces a century-old colonial-era law with updated legislation designed to promote ease of doing business and make India’s shipping sector future-ready....read more |
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The Department of Fisheries under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (GoI) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources of the Maldives signed an MoU to enhance bilateral collaboration in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture. This MoU is one of six MoUs exchanged between India and the Maldives during Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s State visit to the island nation on 25thJuly 2025. The MoU seeks to promote sustainable tuna and deep-sea fisheries, strengthen aquaculture and sustainable resource management, foster fisheries-based eco-tourism, and support innovation and scientific research across both countries. Key areas of collaboration outlined in the MoU include value chain development, mariculture advancement, trade facilitation, and capacity building within the fisheries sector. The MoU will also facilitate training and knowledge exchange programs, with a focus on capacity building in aquatic animal health, biosecurity screening, aquaculture farm management, and specialized technical fields such as refrigeration, mechanical engineering, and marine engineering to support long-term skills development within the sector. .....read more |
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Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), a third-party ship manager, has launched its first methanol bunkering simulator at the Maritime Training Centre in Kochi (India), in partnership with Wärtsilä. This training platform (the WärtsiläTechSim 5000) equips seafarers with essential knowledge and hands-on skills to safely handle methanol fuel. The ammonia bunkering simulation module will also be launched in early 2026. The simulator is certified by ClassNK for both basic and advanced IGF Code (International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or other Low-flashpoint fuels) training. It features a comprehensive simulation of methanol fuel systems, including real-time monitoring of multiple storage and service tanks, integrated automation system (IAS) with interactive controls, 3D visualisation of bunkering stations and prep rooms, emergency shutdown (ESD) systems and alarm management, and a suite of e-Tutor scenarios covering bunkering, troubleshooting, and emergency response....read more |
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In a major boost for maritime skill development in India’s northeast, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W) is establishing a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE) in Dibrugarh, Assam. (Completion is targeted within 19 months.) The RCoE will provide advanced training in smart navigation, marine engineering, logistics, IT, and certified courses in inland waterway operations and maritime safety. It will support the development of new economic corridors via the Brahmaputra River, enhancing connectivity between the northeast and the rest of India, and also with neighboring countries in South and Southeast Asia. The new RCoE will complement the existing Maritime Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Guwahati, which already offers training in inland vessel management, hospitality, and safety. Together, the two institutes aim to equip youth across the eight northeastern states with globally relevant maritime skills. .....read more |
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The Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla) has commissioned India’s first Make-in-India Green Hydrogen Plant in the port sector at Kandla. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant. The plant is part of a larger 10 MW project (implemented by Larsen & Toubro). The commissioning of the 1 MW module within just four months, as part of the larger 10 MW project, reflects a new benchmark for implementation in India’s green hydrogen ecosystem. The plant is capable of producing approximately 140 metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually and is poised to play a crucial role in maritime decarbonisation and sustainable port operations....read more |
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The green molecules arm of Larsen & Toubro, L&T Energy Greentech, has won the tender for building India’s biggest green hydrogen plant at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd’s (IOCL) Panipat refinery. L&T also commissioned the country’s first megawatt-scale green hydrogen plant for the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) in Kandla. The CEO of L&T Energy Greentech Shri Derek M Shah said that the company will diversify into fuel cell manufacturing and round-the-clock electricity solutions for data centres using green hydrogen, and that the company intends to expand its electrolyser manufacturing facility at Hazira, Surat to 1 gigawatt (GW) from the 400 MW capacity, at present. He added that Europe, Japan, South Korea and Singapore can be big export markets for green hydrogen and its derivatives......read more |
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The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) has taken a major step in strengthening its LPG transportation capabilities with the induction of a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), called Sahyadri, into its fleet. In line with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Maritime India Vision 2030, SCI is expanding its fleet to augment tonnage under the Indian Flag and promote self-reliance in shipping. The VLGC has a cargo carrying capacity of 82,000 CBM, with 225 meters length overall (LOA), 36 meters in width, and depth of 22 meters. It is classed with both DNV and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), ensuring compliance with the established international standards and regulations thereby enhancing maritime safety, environmental protection, reducing risks and improving efficiency....read more |
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Launched as a partnership between the UN Global Compact and UNEP Finance Initiative, the Ocean Investment Protocol 2025 is a framework for financial institutions, policy makers and industry leaders to lead the growth of the sustainable ocean economy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and other related SDGs. The document seeks to guide financial institutions, insurers and reinsurers, ocean industries, governments and development finance institutions to manage risks and understand opportunities to increase energy security, food security and transport security, while advancing sustainable solutions. The report, it makes a series of recommendations for all the actors and stakeholders involved......read more |
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The 4th Meeting of the India–Singapore Joint Working Group on Trade & Investment (JWGTI) was hosted by India at New Delhi on 14th August 2025. Discussions during the JWGTI focused on deepening bilateral trade and investment ties, identifying priority sectors for greater alignment, improving logistics and supply chains, streamlining regulatory frameworks, and exploring ways to facilitate cross-border trade. The meeting reviewed ongoing collaboration in areas such as the semiconductor sector and digitalisation of trade, and explored potential partnerships in skills development, capacity building, and other emerging sectors for mutual benefit. Both sides agreed on the importance of more frequent engagements to translate these opportunities into concrete outcomes....read more |
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India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen their bilateral maritime relations, and both countries have formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) on maritime cooperation in shipping and logistics, marking a new chapter in their strategic partnership. The decision was taken during a high-level virtual meeting between Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services His Excellency Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. The JWG will act as a platform to enhance collaboration in maritime trade, port infrastructure, logistics, and allied areas, creating new opportunities for growth. Officials said the initiative represents a major step in expanding strategic cooperation between the two countries, which already share strong ties in energy and trade......read more |
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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Suzuki Motor Corporation, and TradeWaltz Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen automobile trade between India and Africa, with a focus on digitalisation, decarbonisation, and creating a sustainable supply chain. The collaboration aims to establish a robust automobile trade corridor between India, one of the fastest-growing passenger car markets, and Africa, where demand for affordable and reliable vehicles is increasing. MOL will bring its shipping and logistics expertise, Suzuki will bring its vehicle production and market access, and TradeWaltz will bring its blockchain-based trade digitalization platform. For Suzuki, which already has a significant presence in India, Africa is seen as a natural extension of growth. MOL, meanwhile, has been expanding its footprint in South Asia to capitalise on the growing demand for vehicle transport....read more |
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Recognizing the immense potential of Odisha’s long coastline packed with rich marine bioresources, the Science & Technology Department of the Government of Odisha has initiated the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research & Innovation Corridor (or OMBRIC). It has a budget of Rs 50 crore to be spent over five years, and is aimed at transforming the state’s blue economy and simultaneously contributing to the nation’s economic growth. Six higher education institutions, including IIT Bhubaneswar, also signed MoUs with the Odisha Government to provide R&D support for OMBRIC. OMBRIC is designed to translate research into tangible economic outcomes. Through IP generation, incubation support, and entrepreneurial mentoring, research findings will evolve into market-ready products, fostering the growth of marine biotech startups and enterprises. This “lab-to-market” pipeline will ensure a sustainable ecosystem for innovation-driven marine industrialisation in Odisha. OMBRIC also places strong emphasis on community engagement and social impact, and seeks to involve coastal populations through training, education, and participatory conservation......read more |
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The Ministry of Earth Sciences (GoI), released a report titled ‘Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, innovation and sustainable growth.’ The report prepared by Ernst & Young highlights multiple issues such as fragmented governance, poor coordination, lack of data sharing, low private investment, and technology gaps -especially in offshore wind and deep-sea exploration - which limit progress. It attempts to consolidate India’s blue economy into a single framework—highlighting existing cross sectoral initiatives, impediments to further growth and development, and pragmatic interventions to truly unlock the full potential of the blue economy. Case studies of potential, scalable and replicable models are also presented. The report not only covers potential sources of blue finance - such as blue bonds, blended finance, sovereign guarantees, and public-private partnerships - but also offers detailed sub sector-wise opportunities to invest in a robust project pipeline. A strategic investment roadmap to 2035 is also provided, which highlights short, medium, and long-term priorities across sectors....read more |
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The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) hosted a national-level Brainstorming Workshop on Blue Economy Investments with its Strategic Knowledge Partner in New Delhi. The event was attended by stakeholders from the government, private sector, academia, and financial institutions. The workshop aimed to promote a better understanding of three thematic domains, i.e., Trade and Investments, Startups and Innovation, and Ease of Doing Business. Deliberations at the workshop precipitated results-oriented recommendations to align the blue economy with India’s business reform agenda, identifying priority investment areas and scalable projects, and financial de-risking tools. A white paper titled “Ocean of Opportunities: Trade, Investments, and Start-ups in the Blue Economy’ was also released, which underscores the need to create investor-ready projects, improve state-level readiness, and explore blended finance while fostering new technologies, incubation ecosystems, and marine sustainability solutions. The outcomes of these deliberations are expected to influence the National Blue Economy Investment Strategy and inform future roadmaps for Blue Economy implementation......read more |
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