According to reports, Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is preparing for a major newbuilding campaign, with plans to acquire 26 domestically built ships in a move linked to India’s broader push to expand its national fleet and shipbuilding capacity.
According to sources familiar with the scheme, the project is valued at approximately $2.3 billion and would add 1.18 million GT to SCI’s fleet on a phased delivery schedule. If executed, the expansion would grow India’s flagship line beyond its current fleet of approximately 55 vessels, which include tankers, bulk carriers, boxships, and offshore units.
The move is part of a broader acquisition initiative in India’s managed energy, fertilizers, and steel sectors, with government-backed companies expected to order more than 200 ships, and it also aligns with national goals to reduce dependence on foreign-built vessels.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration unveiled multi-billion dollar moves across the shipping sector to boost the shipbuilding sector. Under current targets, India aims for locally built tankers to account for 7% of the fleet by 2030, with a long-term ambition to increase this figure to nearly 70% by 2047, the year India aspires to achieve developed economy status.
SCI’s anticipated order would be among the largest by a single Indian operator in recent years and would mark a shift in acquisition strategy towards Indian yards. Details on the ship types have not been officially revealed, although the orders are expected to support crude, product, and dry cargo shipping.
The fleet push comes alongside other government-led initiatives, including the planned launch of a domestic container line, Bharat Container Line, to be developed as a public-private enterprise. Authorities have said the new line will target a fleet of up to 100 ships, including time-chartered vessels, although no firm timeline has been confirmed.
India has also signed a number of maritime collaboration agreements with global operators, including MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM, to strengthen port and logistics infrastructure, as it eyes a larger role in global trade flows.
Adis is an experienced news reporter with expertise in finance, media, and education. He has written across the spectrum of the energy and offshore ocean industries for many years and is a member of the International Federation of Journalists. He had previously written for titles from the Navingo Media Group, including Offshore Energy, Subsea World News, and Marine Energy.
August 12, 2025
August 12, 2025
August 12, 2025
August 12, 2025
August 12, 2025
