The minister also confirmed that the state-owned Shipping Corp. of India is working with oil PSUs to aggregate demand for 112 vessels and form a joint venture for long-term fleet augmentation, an initiative that could save India up to $75 billion in foreign exchange annually paid to foreign shipping lines.
In a major boost to India’s maritime resurgence and energy security, Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, welcomed the induction of Shivalik, India’s third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), under the national flag at Visakhapatnam Port.
Operated by the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Shivalik joins Sahyadri and Anandamayi in the company’s growing VLGC fleet. The 82,000 cubic metre (CBM) carrier—named after the sub-Himalayan range—was built in South Korea and inducted into SCI’s fleet on September 10. At 225 metres long, the vessel features segregated tanks, advanced temperature control systems, and complies with global safety and efficiency standards.
“This initiative reinforces India’s commitment to building a strong, self-reliant and globally competitive shipping sector to set the economy sail towards Viksit Bharat,” said Sonowal.
Shivalik completed her maiden voyage by loading over 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)—comprising propane and butane—at Ruwais, UAE, before arriving in Visakhapatnam for discharge operations for Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL). The voyage strengthens India’s energy connectivity with the Arabian Gulf, ensuring secure and efficient LPG transport.
Commending the 29-member crew led by Capt. Bhaskar Tandon, Sonowal said, “Shivalik stands as a beacon of our determination to expand Indian-flag tonnage and reduce dependence on foreign carriers for critical energy cargo.”
Capt. BK Tyagi, Chairman, SCI, confirmed that the company is working closely with oil PSUs to expand Indian tonnage, enhance operational reliability, and reduce freight costs. SCI’s fleet currently comprises 58 owned vessels totalling 5.26 million deadweight tonnage (DWT), spanning crude carriers, product tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, LPG carriers, and offshore support vessels.
Vision 2047: Maritime Nationhood
Sonowal reiterated India’s ambition to become one of the world’s top five maritime nations by 2047. “We are in the midst of a golden era for India’s maritime sector. From policy reform to infrastructure creation, the transformation underway is unprecedented.”
He outlined how SCI’s collaborations with oil and steel PSUs—under the guidance of the Ministries of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG)—are paving the way for a new era of Indian-owned and Indian-flagged vessels.
“SCI is working with oil PSUs to aggregate demand for 112 vessels and form a joint venture for long-term fleet augmentation. This could save India up to $75 billion (₹6 trillion) in foreign exchange annually paid to foreign shipping lines,” Sonowal said.
SCI’s partnership with steel PSUs aims to strengthen the dry bulk segment, while its plan to launch the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) will expand India’s footprint in container shipping and improve EXIM competitiveness.
“These initiatives not only reinforce energy security and maritime capacity, but also catalyse domestic shipbuilding, repair and ancillary industries,” Sonowal added. “They will create high-quality employment and position India as a resilient, innovative maritime power.”
He also highlighted ongoing policy reforms in shipbuilding, financing and systemic transformation, aimed at building a globally competitive maritime ecosystem.
“Our vision is to make India a design–build–finance–own–repair–recycling powerhouse. A future where a far larger share of India’s EXIM cargo sails on Indian-built and Indian-owned vessels. We are fixing historic cost disadvantages, creating world-class clusters, and accelerating the green transition that will power Viksit Bharat 2047.”
Sonowal urged all stakeholders to seize this moment of transformation and contribute to India’s maritime renaissance.