Guwahati: India’s seafarer workforce has grown from 1.25 lakh a decade ago to over three lakh today, placing India among the top three global suppliers of trained seafarers. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said this addressing the 10th convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) on 26th September. Highlighting the remarkable transformation of India’s maritime sector under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the employment opportunities now available to youth entering the sector.
Congratulating the 2,196 graduating students, Sarbananda Sonowal said, “You are entering a sector that has been revitalised over the past decade and is central to India’s economic, strategic, and global ambitions. Careers in shipping, ports, shipbuilding, logistics, research, and green maritime technologies have never been more diverse or in demand as we move towards becoming one of the global leaders in the maritime sector under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.”
Since 2014, India’s ports have undergone extensive modernisation and mechanisation, resulting in a “turnaround time” of just 0.9 days—surpassing ports in advanced maritime nations such as the USA, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, and Singapore. Nine Indian ports now rank among the top 100 globally. Construction of Vadhavan port, with an investment of Rs 76,000 crore, will be one of the world’s largest container ports. Cargo movement via inland waterways has increased sevenfold, and coastal shipping volumes have risen over 150% in the last decade.
The ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ provides a long-term roadmap for India’s maritime resurgence. Investments totalling Rs 80 lakh crore are being directed toward port infrastructure, coastal shipping, inland waterways, shipbuilding, and green shipping initiatives. The government has established green corridors, green hydrogen bunkering at major ports, and promoted methanol-fuelled vessels to encourage sustainable maritime operations.
The government has also launched a historic Rs 70,000 crore package to revitalise shipbuilding and ship recycling. The Maritime Development Fund (MDF) with a corpus of Rs 25,000 crore will provide long-term financing to boost India’s tonnage and shipbuilding capabilities. A revamped Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) addresses cost disadvantages in domestic shipbuilding, including credit notes for ship-breaking, while the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) supports greenfield clusters, brownfield yard expansions, and risk coverage. The Indian Ship Technology Centre (ISTC) at Visakhapatnam, with a Rs 305 crore investment, will serve as a hub for design, R&D, engineering, and skill development.
India’s seafarer workforce has grown from 1.25 lakh a decade ago to over three lakh today, placing India among the top three global suppliers of trained seafarers. This creates vast opportunities in navigation, ship operations, logistics, and allied maritime industries both in India and abroad.
Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised the employment potential of these initiatives, stating, “These transformative measures are expected to generate 25–30 lakh direct and indirect jobs in shipbuilding, ports, shipping, logistics, and allied industries. India’s maritime resurgence is not only about economic growth, but also about creating meaningful careers for our youth in a Viksit Bharat and an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Sonowal added, “Graduates stepping into this sector carry the responsibility of upholding ethics, embracing innovation, and navigating technological and environmental challenges, contributing directly to India’s emergence as a maritime powerhouse and a global leader in the blue economy.”
