The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways celebrated a groundbreaking year in 2023, introducing a series of initiatives designed to propel India’s maritime sector to unprecedented heights. The year-end review highlights the sector’s robust growth and dedication to sustainable practices through ambitious visions and significant achievements in logistics and port performance.
During the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, the Honorable Prime Minister unveiled the ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,’ a comprehensive roadmap with an investment of Rs. 80,000 lakh crores. Building upon the Maritime India Vision 2030, this visionary plan outlines over 300 initiatives aimed at enhancing ports, shipping, and waterways by 2047 to support India’s ‘Blue Economy.’
The summit, organized by the Ministry, emerged as the largest held in Mumbai, resulting in the signing of 360 MoUs worth Rs 8.35 lakh crore and announcing investible projects worth Rs 1.68 lakh crore. The National Logistics Portal (Marine), inaugurated on January 27, 2023, streamlined logistics operations by connecting all stakeholders through IT, promoting efficiency, transparency, and cost reduction.
‘Sagar Manthan,’ a real-time performance monitoring dashboard launched on March 23, 2023, aids in monitoring projects, KPIs, and financial parameters. The ‘SAGAR-SETU’ mobile app, launched on March 31, 2023, enhances Ease of Doing Business by providing real-time port operations and monitoring services.
Major ports demonstrated significant improvements in key operational parameters from April to November 2023, showcasing the efficiency and effectiveness of Indian ports. Under the ‘Harit Sagar’ scheme for achieving zero carbon emissions, guidelines were launched on May 10, 2023, with major ports already exceeding their renewable energy generation targets.
Agreements, such as the Green Hydrogen hub in Kolkata, contribute to sustainable practices, while the inauguration of the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping on March 22, 2023, marks a significant step towards carbon neutrality and a circular economy.
The year 2023 also witnessed India’s first international cruise liner, Costa Serena, on November 3, showcasing the country’s potential in the cruising and tourism industry. Inland waterways observed a 7.49% increase in cargo movement, and the launch of the world’s longest 51-day river cruise, MV Ganga Vilas, highlighted the potential of inland water tourism.
Overall, 2023 for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has been characterized by transformative initiatives, visionary goals, and sustainable practices, reflecting India’s commitment to becoming a global maritime leader.