India has room for improvement in global maritime rankings, as highlighted by D. Murmu during her speech at the eighth convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai. Murmu emphasised that India is not among the top 20 nations in terms of annual port calls and has only two container ports listed among the top 50 worldwide.
She urged Indian ports to address infrastructure and operational challenges to elevate their status. One significant challenge is the diversion of container ship cargo to foreign ports due to depth restrictions, which could be mitigated by enhancing port infrastructure. In the merchant and civilian shipbuilding industry, Murmu stressed the need to achieve high standards of efficiency and competitiveness.
She also discussed the Sagarmala program, which signifies a shift from port development to port-led development. This approach encompasses five pillars: port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development, and coastal shipping or inland water transportation.
Murmu’s remarks underscore the importance of addressing challenges to enhance India’s standing in the global maritime sector.
