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India’s maritime regulator has outlined an eight-pillar roadmap aimed at steering the country’s shipping sector toward net-zero emissions, with a focus on cleaner fuels, sustainable port operations, green financing, workforce development and environmentally responsible ship recycling.
Speaking on World Ocean Day, Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan said the framework is designed to support the decarbonisation of a sector that handles the vast majority of India’s international trade while aligning with the country’s long-term economic and environmental objectives.
The roadmap forms part of the Directorate General of Shipping’s National Maritime Decarbonisation Policy Framework and centres on five broad themes: green shipping and ports, sustainable ship recycling, green finance and technology, human capital development, and waste management.
On ship recycling, India intends to align its practices with the standards of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. Authorities also plan to expand the use of digital platforms and improve access to capital for green maritime projects.
The roadmap places significant emphasis on workforce development. India currently accounts for around 16.5% of the global seafaring workforce, and policymakers aim to increase that share beyond 20% over time through training and skill development initiatives.
Jagannathan linked the maritime transition agenda to the government’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, highlighting the growing importance of the blue economy. He noted that maritime and ocean-based sectors contribute roughly 4% of India’s GDP and are expected to play a larger role in supporting long-term economic growth.
Beyond shipping, the strategy identifies opportunities in cruise tourism, coastal shipping, aquaculture, marine biotechnology and deep-sea resource development. India’s coastline, stretching approximately 11,000 kilometres, is expected to remain central to these growth plans.
The policy push is also accompanied by a wider legislative agenda. Proposed reforms include amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act, a new Coastal Shipping Act focused on domestic maritime transport and feeder services, and changes to the Indian Ports Act aimed at encouraging greater private-sector participation and modern port governance models.
Addressing environmental concerns, Jagannathan stressed the need to tackle pollution entering marine ecosystems through rivers, including microplastics, untreated sewage and industrial discharge. He reiterated India’s commitment to global climate and ocean sustainability goals while calling for transparent international funding mechanisms that support developing economies during the maritime energy transition.
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Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has expanded its technology partnership with US-based supply chain software provider Kaleris, committing up to $100 million toward automation and optimisation initiatives as it accelerates digital transformation across its port operations. The multi-year agreement will see Kaleris deploy AI-enabled terminal operating and optimisation systems across APSEZ’s network of 15 container terminals located at nine domestic and international ports. The rollout is intended to create a unified digital platform that improves operational visibility, planning accuracy and resource utilisation across the company’s maritime logistics ecosystem. The investment forms part of APSEZ’s broader plan to spend approximately $850 million on technology upgrades and decarbonisation initiatives by 2031. The company said automation investments under the Kaleris partnership will be implemented in phases to support long-term capacity expansion and operational efficiency goals. According to APSEZ, the technology deployment is expected to help unlock an additional 91 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo-handling capacity by 2030, equivalent to roughly 10% of its current installed capacity. The company is targeting annual cargo-handling capability of one billion tonnes by the end of the decade. The expanded programme builds on earlier deployments at six ports and will extend advanced planning, container handling and terminal optimisation capabilities across the wider network. APSEZ expects the systems to improve yard utilisation, accelerate vessel turnaround times and enhance end-to-end coordination between port assets and logistics operations. The company said the initiative aligns with its strategy to integrate artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and data-driven decision-making into port operations. By standardising systems across multiple terminals, APSEZ aims to improve productivity and operational consistency while supporting future growth in cargo volumes. As India’s largest integrated transport and logistics operator, APSEZ currently accounts for a significant share of the country’s port cargo volumes and continues to expand its domestic and international footprint. The latest investment underscores the growing role of automation and AI in modern container terminal management as operators seek higher efficiency, faster vessel turnaround and improved supply chain visibility. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) has secured a 10-year marine services contract for Argentina's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project, marking the company's entry into South America and strengthening its presence in the global energy logistics sector. The contract was awarded to an APSEZ-led consortium comprising its subsidiary Adani Harbour International FZCO and Argentina-based Meridian Group following an international tender process conducted by Southern Energy SA. The project carries an estimated investment commitment of US$70 million. Under the agreement, the consortium will provide a range of marine services for the Southern Energy floating LNG (FLNG) project, including tug operations for LNG carriers, offshore logistics support and crew transportation. Operations will be supported by four tugboats, an anchor-handling tug supply vessel and a crew boat. The award represents a significant international expansion for APSEZ, which has been increasing its presence in marine services linked to ports, energy terminals and offshore infrastructure. The Argentina project will give the company a foothold in a new geography while diversifying its revenue streams beyond traditional port operations. Located in the San Matías Gulf in Río Negro Province, the Southern Energy project is expected to become Argentina's first operational LNG export facility. The development will liquefy natural gas transported through the General San Martín pipeline using a floating LNG vessel. . For APSEZ, the contract highlights the growing role of logistics and marine service providers in supporting global energy supply chains. The company is expected to play a key role in vessel handling and offshore operations critical to the project's export activities. The deal also reflects increasing commercial links between India and Argentina in the energy sector, with LNG emerging as a strategic component of long-term trade and supply chain cooperation between the two countries. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, has become the first Indian port to partner with H2Global to facilitate green hydrogen export corridors between India and Europe. The strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marks a major step toward integrating India into the global green hydrogen supply chain and strengthening maritime trade links with European energy markets. The collaboration between VOCPA and H2Global, represented by the H2Global Foundation and Hintco GmbH, aims to establish the infrastructure, logistics frameworks and commercial mechanisms required for large-scale exports of green hydrogen and its derivatives, including green ammonia and e-methanol. The partnership will also explore long-term offtake arrangements and the development of sustainable maritime fuel ecosystems that support global decarbonisation goals. For the logistics and shipping sector, the agreement signals the emergence of a new clean-energy trade corridor connecting India’s southern coastline with Germany and broader European markets. As demand for renewable fuels accelerates across Europe, ports are increasingly being viewed as critical nodes in the hydrogen value chain, requiring specialised storage, handling and transportation infrastructure. The partnership is expected to catalyse investments in dedicated hydrogen and ammonia terminals, storage facilities and associated maritime logistics capabilities at the port. The development aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets the creation of a robust domestic hydrogen ecosystem and positions the country as a major exporter of green fuels. VOCPA has already emerged as a key player in this transition. The port was recognised as a Green Hydrogen Hub under the mission and commissioned a port-based green hydrogen pilot project in 2025, making it one of India’s pioneering maritime facilities in renewable hydrogen production and application. Industry observers believe the agreement could strengthen India’s competitiveness in the global green hydrogen market by leveraging Tamil Nadu’s abundant wind and solar resources, strategic maritime location and growing industrial base. For supply chain stakeholders, the initiative underscores the increasing convergence of clean energy, port infrastructure and international trade. As global energy supply chains undergo rapid transformation, the VOCPA-H2Global partnership positions India not only as a producer of green hydrogen but also as a critical logistics hub in the emerging international clean fuel economy. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
