The three major global companies are taking advantage of cabotage laws and the boom in coastal traffic to strengthen their presence in India
Genoa – The world’s three main shipping companies — MSC, Maersk and CMA CGM — are transferring part of their fleet under the Indian flag, to exploit favorable cabotage rules and the growing commercial activity along the coasts of the world’s most populous country.
The French CMA CGM was the first to move in 2025, registering four ships in India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the group’s headquarters in Marseille. Recently, the company also announced plans to build container ships on Indian soil, marking a historic step for the sector.
Along the same lines, Maersk has already registered the Maersk Vilnius under the Indian flag, while another ship, the Maersk Vigo, is in the process of changing registry. MSC, the world’s largest container company, is also expected to announce a similar operation shortly during the India Maritime Week.
According to Asha Pillai, Chief Strategy Officer of Docker Vision, the reflagging represents much more than a symbolic gesture: each registered ship helps to increase the national tonnage, keep transport revenues in the country and create opportunities for Indian seafarers, ports and shipmanagement companies.
These moves are part of the Modi government’s strategy outlined in the Maritime India Vision 2030, which aims to modernize ports, develop inland and coastal waterways and attract investment in the shipbuilding, ship maintenance and maritime services sectors, strengthening India’s role as a new global maritime hub.
