India’s seafarer workforce triples to 3 lakhs; Sonowal projects 25–30 lakh jobs in the maritime sector.
India has firmly anchored itself among the world’s top three suppliers of trained seafarers, with a workforce now exceeding three lakh, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced today.
Addressing the 10th convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, Sonowal congratulated 2,196 graduating students and highlighted how the maritime sector has been revitalised over the last decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
“Careers in shipping, ports, logistics, shipbuilding, and green technologies are booming as India steers towards becoming a global maritime leader,” he said, urging graduates to combine ethics, innovation, and resilience in building a sustainable future.
India’s ports have undergone massive upgrades since 2014, achieving an impressive turnaround time of just 0.9 days, outpacing the USA, Germany, Singapore, and others. Nine Indian ports now feature among the world’s top 100. Work is underway on the ₹76,000 crore Vadhavan Port, poised to be one of the largest container hubs globally.
Cargo movement via inland waterways has surged sevenfold, while coastal shipping has expanded by 150% in a decade. Looking ahead, the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 charts an ambitious roadmap with investments worth ₹80 lakh crore across ports, shipping, shipbuilding, and green initiatives such as hydrogen bunkering, methanol-fuelled vessels, and green corridors.
The sector has also seen a ₹70,000 crore package for shipbuilding and recycling, alongside a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund to boost tonnage and financing. The new Indian Ship Technology Centre at Visakhapatnam, built with ₹305 crore, will drive R&D, skill-building, and innovation.
Thanks to these reforms, India’s seafarer base has grown from 1.25 lakh in 2014 to 3 lakh today. Sonowal projected that these measures will create 25–30 lakh direct and indirect jobs across shipbuilding, ports, shipping, logistics, and allied industries.
“India’s maritime resurgence is not just about economic growth; it is about empowering youth and positioning India as a true leader in the blue economy,” Sonowal declared, underlining the graduates’ role in shaping a Viksit Bharat and an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Source: PIB
