Ports, Shipping & Waterways Ministry: Yearly Performance (2024)

Year End Review of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways 2024: Government of India

Date: 31 DEC 2024

1. General

1. Hon’ble Prime Minister Inaugurated Green Waterway Initiative in Varanasi on February 23, 2024, two hybrid electric catamaran vessels were dedicated to the nation. These vessels, designed to operate on the River Saryu in Ayodhya and the River Ganga in Varanasi, are a testament to India’s commitment to sustainable transport solutions. Powered by fast-charging batteries, they aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions while supporting religious tourism.
2. Hon’ble Prime Minister unveiled Projects of the Ministry

• On February 28, 2024, a diverse array of projects worth Rs.10,324 crore were unveiled at Tuticorin. Key highlights include the following:

• Outer Harbour Container Terminal project at VOC Port positioning it as the Transhipment Hub on the East Coast which was long awaited.
• Dedication of the development of ‘Tourism facilities at 75 lighthouses’.
• Flagged off India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell vessel built by CSL
• Showcased VOC Port as India’s first hydrogen hub port.
• On March 1, 2024, Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of multiple projects at SMP, Kolkata worth more than Rs. 960 crore under the aegis of “Viksit Bharat”, viz.:

• Inauguration of the Automated Fire Suppression System involving cutting edge sensor technology for Oil Jetties at Haldia Dock Complex for safer handling of inflammable liquid cargo.
• Inauguration of the rail mounted Quay crane at Haldia Dock Complex capable of handling 40 tonnes with potential to increase Port’s handling capacity by 2.5 lakh tonnes annually.
• Laying of Foundation Stone for a project dedicated to Container Handling, Enhancement and Mechanisation of berths 7 & 8 at Netaji Subhas Dock under Kolkata Dock System.

3. India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor

Ex-post facto approval was accorded to the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) by the Union Cabinet that was signed during the High Level visit between India and United Arab Emirates on Cooperation for the empowerment and operation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The IGFA aims to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries in Ports, Maritime and Logistics sectors.

4. World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report — 2023 released in April 2023

• India has reached 22nd rank in International Shipment category as against 44th rank in 2014.
• The average Container Dwell Time has reached a level of 3 days only as compared to 4 days for countries like UAE and South Africa, 7 days for USA and 10 days for Germany.
• Indian Ports “Turn Around Time” has reached 0.9 days which is better than USA (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days), Singapore (1.0 days) etc.

5. India re-elected to the Council of International Maritime Organisation for the biennium 2024-25 with highest tally

India has been re-elected to the Council of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), London in the category of 10 member countries with ‘the largest interest in international seaborne trade’. India secured 157 votes out of 163 valid votes cast during the election, which is the highest tally among all the countries elected. The Council elections were held during the 33rd session of IMO Assembly at London by secret ballot on 01.12.2023. The term of Council will be for the biennium 2024-25.

6. 19th Maritime State Development Council

20^thMSDC meeting was held on September 12 & 13, 2024 in Goa under the Chairpersonship of Hon’ble Minister of PSW and with the participation of Maritime States & UTs at the Ministerial/official levels. During the meeting, over 100 issues from various states were deliberated and successfully resolved. Several new and emerging challenges were also addressed, including the establishment of Places of Refuge (PoR) for ships in distress, the development of Radioactive Detection Equipment (RDE) infrastructure at ports to enhance security, and the facilitation of seafarers by recognising them as key essential workers, ensuring better working conditions and access to shore leave.

7. MoUs signed during Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024

MOUs worth Rs. 30,000+ crore was signed in the presence of CM Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel and Shri Sarbananda Sonowal during Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.

8. On 26.01.2024, MoPSW, during the 75th Republic Day parade, unveiled its tableaux, a visual representation of the visionary Sagarmala Programme, catalysing Port-led development in alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision. This flagship program significantly has reduced turnaround times and enhanced cargo handling efficiency across ports. Highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to gender inclusivity, the front portion of the tableaux showcased the remarkable 1100% increase in the number of women seafarers over the last 9 years. This symbolizes “Nari Shakti Driving the Blue Economy,” a central theme of the “Sagar Samman” initiative.
9. Gati Shakti Research Chair at IIM Shillong established on 23.02.2024 to foster academic research and multimodal logistics development, especially focusing on the Northeast region.
10. Constitution of ViBhaS and NAVIC Functional Cells at MOPSW:

Identifying the need for a theme based focused approach towards effective monitoring and implementation of ministry’s broad objectives as enlisted in the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 (MAKV 2047) to work towards a Viksit Bharat, MoPSW constituted a total of 20+ Viksit Bharat Sankalp (ViBhaS) cells and Neel Arth Vision Implementation Cells (NAVIC). These cells cover key areas such as Traffic- Cargo, Projects Schemes & PPP, Shipbuilding-Repair-Recycling, Maritime Finance, Technology, Legal, HR, etc., and have a two-tiered framework with ViBhaS members primarily being senior officers from Ministry for review, monitoring & coordination whereas NAVIC members being from various organizations under MoPSW (Major Ports, DGS, IWAI, etc.) focused on implementation.

11. Government e-market place (GeM):

During FY 2023-24, the total procurement by Organisations of this Ministry through GeM portal has been approx. Rs. 2754.13 crore as against the targeted amount of Rs.1624.14 crore i.e. 170% higher than the target. When it is compared with procurements of Rs. 577 crore during 2022-23 the growth works out to 377%.

12. New Initiatives: State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committees

MoPSW has constituted State Maritime & Waterways Transport Committees (SMWTCs) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary / Additional Chief Secretary of respective States, to coordinate the implementation of the wide array of initiatives and schemes in the maritime / waterways sector. SMWTCs have been constituted in 12 States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The constitution of SMWTCs in the remaining 18 States/UTs are underway, and in various stages of approvals.

13. Tuticorin International Container Terminal (TICT)

TICT was dedicated by Hon’ble Minister of PSW to the nation at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VoCPA) on September 16, 2024. He also inaugurated key infra projects as well as laid foundation stones for several initiatives and flagged off the maiden Container Vessel from TICT. The terminal has been developed with an investment of more than Rs. 434 crore, with a capacity to handle 6 lakh TEUs annually. The Hon’ble Prime Minister addressed the inauguration of TICT via video message.

14. Cruise Bharat Mission

The Hon’ble Minister of PSW launched ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai Port Authority on September 30, 2024. The Mission aims to boost the tremendous potential of cruise tourism in the country. It is envisaged that the activities under the mission will propel country’s cruise tourism industry by doubling cruise passenger traffic within five years: i.e. by 2029.

15. New Brand Ambassador of MoPSW

On September 17, 2024, the Hon’ble Minister of PSW announced that the Double Olympic Medal Winner in Shooting in Summer Olympics held in 2024 at Paris, Ms. Manu Bhaker, has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the Ministry. The shooting ace is the daughter of a Marine Engineer.

16. Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme

Cabinet, vide meeting dated 03.10.2024, approved the proposal for the New PLR scheme for the Major Port and Dock employees for payment of PLR from the year 2020-21 to 2025-26. This decision of the Government has benefited more than 20,000 Major Port officers and employees.

17. Cabinet Approval for NMHC Project

The Union Cabinet on 09.10.2024 approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat. The NMHC (National Maritime Heritage Complex) project is an ambitious initiative by the Government of India to create a world-class maritime museum and cultural center dedicated to India’s rich maritime history, heritage, and its strategic position as a maritime power. This project is set to be located in Lothal, a site in Gujarat that has historical significance and was a thriving Harappan-era port.

18. 1^stIndia Maritime Heritage Conclave – 2024

MoPSW organised the country’s first ever India Maritime Heritage Conclave-2024 (IMHC-2024) on December 11-12, 2024. This prestigious gathering celebrated India’s illustrious maritime legacy and its profound contributions to global trade, culture, and innovation. Presided over by Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President of India, the conclave brought together ministers, experts, and dignitaries from around the world, serving as a vibrant platform for dialogue and collaboration, reaffirming India’s enduring maritime heritage and its pivotal role in shaping the global maritime narrative.

19. International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island

Development of Mega Transhipment Port at Galathea Bay, Great Nicobar Island is envisaged to capture transhipment cargo from ports on the Indian East Coast, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, significantly boosting the region’s cargo handling capacity.  The port aims to handle 4 MTEUs by 2028 and 16 MTEUs by 2058. The project will be developed in four phases with a total estimated cost of Rs. 43,796 crore. The project will generate employment for 3,500 workers during the construction phase and once operational it will create 1,700 direct jobs and 350 indirect jobs. The project has also been accorded in the 77th Network Planning Group and notified as a Major port in India.

2. Ports
3. PortsPerformance

The cargo handling capacity at major ports has doubled over the past decade (reached 1,630 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by March 2024, as compared to 800.5 MTPA in 2014). Currently the cargo handling capacity at Indian Ports (including Major Ports and other than Major Ports) is 2690 MMTPA. The Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kal Vision 2047 envisions it to increase to >3,500 MMTPA by 2030 and 10000 MTPA by 2047.

In the current financial year (April-November 2024), the Indian major ports have already handled around 549.47 million tonnes of cargo as compared to 535.61 million tonnes during the same period of previous year i.e. an increase of 2.59%.

98 port modernisation projects costing over INR 32,000 crores have been completed so far which have increased the annual port capacity by more than 230 MTPA.

In terms of efficiency, the Major Ports of the country have witnessed significant improvement over the years which has been globally recognised

• According to World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report published in 2023, India has secured 38th position out of 139 countries in 2023, up from 44th in 2018 and 54th in 2014.
• As per the report, India has achieved a low average dwell time of approximately 2.6 days at ports, which is competitive compared to many developed nations.
• Turn Around Time (TRT) of major Ports has reduced from around 94 hours in FY-2013-14 to only around 48.06 hours in FY 2023-24. The average ship berth-day output and cargo handling capacity vis-a-vis FY 2014-15 have improved by 52% and 87% respectively.
• Major Ports in India are witnessing double digit annual growth and as per the recent World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index Report, India has moved up from 44th rank in the International Shipment Category in year 2019 to 22nd Rank in 2023. In timeliness of shipment delivery, the country witnessed a 17-place jump in ranking from 52 in 2018 to 35 in 2023.

2. Major Port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharastra

On 30.08.2024, the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Vadhavan Port by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime and port infrastructure development. The project, estimated at INR 76,000 crore, is part of India’s efforts to improve port infrastructure, enhance logistics efficiency, and boost economic growth, particularly in the Western region of India.

3. Sagar Aankalan Guidelines

Introduced on February 16, 2024, the “Sagar Aankalan” guidelines aim to benchmark and improve Indian Ports’ Performance. These guidelines are designed to boost logistics efficiency, align with global standards, and increase competitiveness and customer satisfaction in the port sector.

4. Long-term Main Contract for development of Shahid Beheshti Port Terminal, Chabahar

On May 13, 2024, the long-term Main Contract for the development of Shahid Beheshti Port Terminal, Chabahar which has been pending for quite a few years was signed between India Port Global Limited (IPGL) and Ports and Maritime Organisation (PMO) of Iran in the presence of Union Minister of MoPSW and Ayush. The Ministerial visit and signing of the Long-term Contract will further strengthen ties between the two nations and highlights the importance of Chabahar as a gateway for trade with Afghanistan and broader Central Asian countries. The development of the Chabahar Port Project is an India-Iran flagship project & the signing of the contact is a really important step in opening up the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to Central Asia.

5. World Bank’s CPPI 2023 Report

The CPPI 2023, developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence evaluates the operational efficiency of Ports in receiving and handling container ships. As many as 10 Ports of India made it to the Global Top 100 in the latest edition of CPPI 2023 for the first time. The Major Ports which secured ranks in the top 100 are Visakhapatnam (19), Kamarajar (47), Cochin (63), Chennai (80) and Jawaharlal Nehru (96). Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) has achieved a significant milestone by securing a spot in the top 20 rankings. Visakhapatnam Port outperformed all other Ports in India & climbed to 19th position from 122nd place in 2022.

6. International Day for Women in Maritime

On May 18, 2024, MoPSW celebrated the International Day for Women in Maritime in New Delhi, honouring the vital contributions of women seafarers. This year’s theme, “Safe Horizons: Women in Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety,” underscores the importance of safety and security of women in the maritime sector. During the celebration, 27 women seafarers from various marine institutes pursuing different degrees in maritime field and some professionals from the field were recognised for their dedication and significant contributions to the maritime industry.

7. Launch of SOP for GTTP by Hon’ble Union Minister-PSW to replace conventional fuel-based harbour Tugs with Green Tugs

The SOP for Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) was launched by Hon’ble Minister of PSW on August 16, 2024 in New Delhi for the transition from conventional fuel-based harbour tugs to green tugs. This is in line with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 released by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in 2023, envisioning reduction of the GHG emissions from port vessels of Major Ports by 30% by the year 2030 GTTP and is a key initiative under the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’.

8. Wage Structure Revision for Workers of Major Ports

On August 28, 2024, in a major breakthrough signalling the fruitful completion of talks a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bipartite Wage Negotiation Committee (BWNC) and the Indian Ports Association (IPA). The MoU facilitates the revision of the wage structure and addresses other service conditions, including pensionary benefits. The new pay scales, effective from January 01, 2022, will be formulated according to existing practices.

3. Shipping

1. India Maldives Shipping Service commenced with the flagging off of MV MSS Galena from VOC Port, Tuticorin by Hon’ble Minister of State (PSW) on May 05, 2023.
2. Investors Meet on Maritime Development Fund:

On June 6, 2024, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) convened a stakeholder meeting in Mumbai to discuss initiatives aimed at bolstering India’s shipping industry. The meeting witnessed participation from a diverse range of domestic and international investors and lenders, including prominent institutions such as NIIF, IFSC, SBI, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, and HDFC. Participation was also witnessed from institutions based out of IFSCGIFT. The Ministry presented the structure for the proposed Maritime Development Fund (MDF) and framework for functioning of proposed Ship Owning and Leasing Entity (SOLE). Feedback from participants was sought to gauge interest to invest in MDF and lend to SOLE.

3. Resumption of International Passenger Ferry Service (India and Sri Lanka)

On 16.08.2024, the ferry service between Nagapattinam (India) and Kankesanthurai (Sri Lanka) was successfully restarted after regular monitoring and coordination at the ministry level to enhance regional connectivity and tourism in both locations.

4. Formation of Wholly Owned Subsidiary of SCI in GIFT CITY

The Shipping Corporation of India has incorporated its wholly-owned subsidiary (WOS) ‘SCI Bharat IFSC Ltd.’ on 12th August, 2024, with its registered office at Gift House, Gift City, Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat and have got the “Certificate of Registration (CoR)” on 23rd September, 2024. The WOS has also started its business activities.

5. Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue

MoPSW in collaboration with Observers Research Foundation (ORF) organised “Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue” on November 18-19, 2024 in New Delhi. The Dialogue featured participants from 60 countries across the globe with more than 1700 participants including ministers, former heads of state and government, journalists, and experts.

4. Inland Waterways
5. Cargo Movement through Inland Waterways

IWT based freight movement in the country has increased ~7x times- from 18.1 MMT in FY 14 to 133.03 MMT in FY 24. For the current financial year 2024-25, in line with the annual target of 142 million tonnes, 94.81 million tonnes have since been transported during April to November 2024 as compared to 88.89 million tonnes over the same period for FY 23 i.e. an increase of 6.66%.

2. Cargo Promotion Scheme

IWT Cargo Promotion Scheme launched on 15.12.2024 by Hon’ble Minister (PSW) for providing 35% incentive to promote the utilisation of inland waterways transport sector by cargo owners and for establishing scheduled service for cargo movement on NW-1 and NW -2 and NW-16 via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP). This scheme is expected to divert 800 million tonne Km cargo on Inland Water Transport (IWT) mode, which is nearly 17% of the current cargo of 4700 million tonne Km on NWs. The scheme also aims to start a scheduled waterway cargo service between Kolkata and Varanasi/Pandu using Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) vessels through Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) for demonstration effect and to increase trust of cargo movers/owners in the waterway movement.

3. First Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) Meeting in Kolkata

On 08.01.2024, the maiden edition of IWDC meeting held on vessel “Ganges Queen” in Kolkata culminated with many firsts in an effort to ramp up capacity and augment viability of inland waterways of the country. The meet, chaired by the Union Minister of MoPSW and Ayush, and attended by key stakeholders including ministerial representations from 6 States, 14 States represented by Secretaries, as well as prominent stakeholders including policy makers and the industry leaders. The meet, with an objective to enable inland waterways as conduits of economic growth and commerce in the country committed an investment Rs. 45,000 crore for development of river cruise tourism in the country. Of this, an estimated Rs. 35,000 crore have been earmarked for cruise vessels and another Rs. 10,000 crore for development of cruise terminal infrastructure at the end of Amrit Kaal, i.e. by 2047.

Hon’ble Minister also launched ‘Harit Nauka’ – Inland Vessels Green Transition guidelines with an aim of 100% Green Vessels by 2047 and ‘River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047’ at the inaugural session of IWDC in Kollkata.

4. Deployment of First Hydrogen Fuel Cell vessel in Varanasi

The vessel deployed in Varanasi on 14.07.2024 to carry out the trails at the site and then to put into the operations.

5. Lighthouses and Ships
6. Lighthouse Photo Exhibition

The Directorate of Lighthouse and Lightships (DGLL) under MoPSW organised a Lighthouse Photo Exhibition from March 3 to 7, 2024 in New Delhi. The four-day lighthouse photo exhibition inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister for PSW and Ayush on March 3, 2024 aimed at promoting Lighthouse Tourism. The event featured a collection of 100 photographs capturing the beauty and historical significance of Lighthouses scattered across India’s vast coastline. MoPSW is committed to transform Lighthouses in the country as tourist destinations and renovate historic Lighthouses with adequate facilities.

2. Establishment of Lighthouse Tower at Rani Lakshmibai Shila (In-Mid sea) off East Coast of Andaman Island.

DGLL has commissioned the construction of Rani Lakshmibai Shila Lighthouse situated at the East Coast of Andaman Island. An amount of Rs. 32.82 crore was sanctioned for the construction of Lighthouse tower and Approach Structures (Phase – I).