The Indian government has launched a major push to build large ‘Made in India’ merchant ships to boost trade security and become a global maritime leader.
The Indian government has started a big plan to increase the number of large merchant ships made in India. This step is part of the country’s goal to become one of the top maritime powers in the world in the next 10 to 20 years.
Right now, most of the goods India exports and imports are carried on foreign ships. But in case of an emergency—like a war or a conflict—those ships might avoid Indian ports. This could harm India’s global trade badly.
A senior official from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways explained, “We need our own fleet of ships. We can’t depend only on foreign vessels. If they stop coming during a crisis, our trade will suffer.”
This idea became stronger after a recent 3-day tension between India and Pakistan, which raised security concerns at Indian ports. The government realised that having Indian-built and Indian-owned cargo ships is important for the country’s safety and economy.
India also wants to become a “developed country” by 2047, and building a strong shipping industry is seen as a key part of that goal.
The government has already taken several steps to support this plan:
- Financial help through the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy
- Setting up Maritime Development Funds
- Creating clusters for shipbuilding and repair
- Giving customs duty exemption on parts used in ship construction and repairs
- Granting infrastructure status to large ships
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that India has everything it needs to become a world leader in shipbuilding. He pointed out India’s strategic location, skilled manpower, low costs, and a strong steel industry as big advantages.
The focus is not just on building new ships, but also on improving ship repair facilities. This will make India self-reliant in both construction and maintenance of ships.
India wants to stop depending on foreign ships and start using its own big cargo vessels for trade. The government is giving full support—money, policies, and infrastructure—to make this happen. This move will not only protect India’s trade during emergencies but also give a huge boost to the economy, jobs, and global image of the country.
