Loading...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with senior leadership of A.P. Moller–Maersk in Gothenburg, Sweden, focusing on strengthening cooperation in maritime logistics, port infrastructure development, and green shipping initiatives. The meeting underscores India’s growing push to modernise its maritime ecosystem and position itself as a major global logistics and shipping hub.
During the interaction, PM Modi met Maersk Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla on the sidelines of his engagements in Sweden, where he has been holding talks with European industry leaders and government officials. Discussions reportedly centred on opportunities for investments in India’s ports, logistics infrastructure, and sustainable maritime solutions.
The talks assume significance as India accelerates efforts under its Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aimed at transforming the country’s shipping and logistics capabilities through port-led development, improved multimodal connectivity, and adoption of green technologies. The government has been actively engaging global maritime companies to attract investments and technological expertise into the sector.
Maersk, one of the world’s largest container shipping and integrated logistics companies, has been expanding its presence in India across supply chain solutions, warehousing, inland logistics, and port operations. The company has also been at the forefront of global decarbonisation efforts in shipping, including investments in alternative fuels and low-emission vessel technologies.
Green shipping emerged as a key area of discussion during the Gothenburg meeting. India has increasingly prioritised sustainable maritime operations through international collaborations and policy initiatives focused on reducing emissions and building greener port infrastructure. Recent partnerships with European countries, including Denmark, have already paved the way for initiatives such as a Centre of Excellence in Green Shipping and studies on green maritime corridors.
The meeting with Maersk aligns with India’s broader strategy of strengthening resilient supply chains and enhancing trade connectivity with Europe. Modi, during his engagements in Sweden, highlighted the importance of trusted global partnerships, resilient logistics networks, and sustainable industrial growth amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.
Industry observers believe deeper collaboration between India and global shipping leaders such as Maersk could accelerate the modernisation of Indian ports, improve cargo handling efficiencies, and support the transition towards cleaner maritime transport systems. The discussions also reinforce India’s ambition to emerge as a leading player in the global blue economy and sustainable shipping ecosystem.
In a significant move aimed at accelerating India’s maritime transformation, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has intensified its engagement with global and domestic shipping lines to strengthen the country’s maritime and logistics ecosystem. Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary, MoPSW, recently held one-on-one interactions with representatives from leading shipping companies at the Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai, reinforcing the government’s collaborative approach toward industry-led growth. The discussions focused on understanding the expansion plans of shipping operators, operational bottlenecks, infrastructure requirements, and policy-related concerns affecting business efficiency. Industry stakeholders also shared perspectives on capacity enhancement, regulatory facilitation, and measures required to improve India’s competitiveness in global shipping and trade. The consultations form part of the government’s broader strategy to position India as a leading maritime and logistics hub under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Maritime India Vision initiatives. The ministry has been consistently promoting port modernisation, digitalisation, sustainability, and multimodal logistics integration to support growing trade volumes and reduce logistics costs. Officials highlighted that India’s maritime sector is undergoing rapid transformation driven by infrastructure expansion, mechanisation, and increased private sector participation. The government has also prioritised shipbuilding, coastal shipping, inland waterways, and green maritime initiatives to enhance India’s role in the global maritime value chain. The latest stakeholder engagement reflects the ministry’s emphasis on policy facilitation through direct industry consultation. By opening dialogue with shipping lines, the government aims to address operational challenges more effectively while encouraging long-term investments across ports, shipping services, logistics infrastructure, and maritime connectivity. India’s maritime ambitions are closely aligned with initiatives such as Sagarmala, which seeks to promote port-led development and improve cargo movement efficiency through enhanced port connectivity and integrated logistics infrastructure. The programme continues to play a critical role in reducing supply chain costs and boosting export competitiveness. The engagement with shipping lines also comes at a time when global maritime players are increasingly exploring opportunities in India. Several international operators have shown interest in expanding investments in shipbuilding, terminals, and logistics services, underlining growing confidence in India’s maritime growth trajectory. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 https://cargoconnect.co.in/ 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
In a major boost to provide trade security amid rising global shipping disruptions, India unveiled the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP), a whopping $1.5 billion insurance instrument solidly supported by a sovereign guarantee of $1.4 billion (around ₹12,980 crore). The objective is simple, however, strategically important for the Indian-linked ships. The idea is to ensure that the ships continue to get insurance coverage even during times of global uncertainty and volatility. The BMIP was launched on Tuesday by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Union Ministry of Finance. The official launch took place during an event chaired by DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju. During the event, the first Marine Hull and Machinery War Policy issued under the instrument was officially handed over to Hoger Offshore and Marine Pvt Ltd. The Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) will cover marine hull and machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity (P&I), and war for Indian-flagged or India-linked vessels. General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) will manage the pool, while a governing body and underwriting committee will oversee its operations. The first policy under this system has already been issued. The New India Assurance Company provided a Marine Hull & Machinery War Policy to Hoger Offshore and Marine Pvt Ltd, officially starting the pool. The structure is organised carefully. Claims up to $100 million will be paid from pooled resources. Claims exceeding that amount will be covered by the sovereign guarantee, after reserves and reinsurance are used up. It is also learnt that the Government has assured the stakeholders from the maritime industry that India will not allow critical maritime activity to stop due to insurance disruptions. The timing of rolling out the BMIP is crucial as there have been major disruptions on key global shipping routes due to the West Asia crisis, a region very crucial for India's oil and energy imports. In these situations, international insurers often raise premiums significantly or avoid risky routes altogether, as they did with the Strait of Hormuz. For a country that imports most of its energy and relies heavily on sea trade, this unpredictability creates a strategic risk. India is now working to establish a domestic safety net. For more such news and updates, visit CARGOCONNECT.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ), through its marine platform Astro Offshore, has entered into a strategic agreement with Oceaneering International to jointly pursue specialised offshore and subsea opportunities across Europe, marking a major step in its global marine expansion strategy. The collaboration strengthens APSEZ’s ambitions to build one of the world’s largest integrated marine platforms while accelerating its entry into ultra-deepwater offshore operations and international markets. A key milestone in this expansion is the induction of Astro Atlas — Astro Offshore’s first ultra-deepwater vessel and its largest, most advanced asset to date. The 2021-built 97-metre DP2 multipurpose support vessel has been added to the company’s growing fleet to support complex subsea engineering and offshore infrastructure projects. Equipped with a 150-tonne subsea AHC crane, secondary lifting systems, moonpool functionality and accommodation for up to 100 personnel, Astro Atlas is designed for specialised operations including cable laying, subsea construction, underwater intervention and pipeline installation in water depths exceeding 3,000 metres. According to Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), APSEZ, the partnership combines Astro Offshore’s expanding high-specification fleet with Oceaneering’s expertise in deepwater engineering and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, significantly enhancing APSEZ’s offshore operational capabilities. Mark Humphreys, CEO, Astro Offshore noted that the addition of Astro Atlas strengthens the company’s ability to support increasingly complex offshore requirements while reinforcing its focus on operating one of the industry’s youngest and smartest fleets. The move aligns with APSEZ’s broader roadmap to scale its marine business into a globally diversified platform spanning logistics, offshore support, subsea engineering and deepwater infrastructure services. The company is targeting a 200-vessel fleet, marine revenues of ₹6,000 crore and planned capital expenditure of ₹13,000 crore by FY31.
