India is positioning itself on a strong wicket to take the helm in the maritime world with some profound transformations. With close to 80% of global trade happening over the seas, shipping is often seen as the most carbon-efficient freight option. Yet it contributes close to around 5% of the global greenhouse gas emissions according to various studies. India over the last 11 years has undergone rapid transformations in business with the Make in India initiative, expanding trade with various nations and good momentum in its economy. Green shipping has emerged as a natural means to exercise its commitment to the Paris agreement besides leveraging economic opportunities strategically. Thus, the Indian government is accelerating its efforts towards making this a norm.
The government’s recently announced USD 8 billion (Rs. 69,725 crore) maritime package underscores the ambition. According to a press release from Prime Minister’s Office, this is “not a routine budget line, but a signal of ambition.” At its core lies a vision to modernise, mechanise and digitise ports, rejuvenate ship‑building and maritime ecosystems, and build India’s credentials in the emerging green maritime economy.
India’s ability to lead stems from a rare convergence of favourable factors. The country benefits from one of the lowest renewable‑energy generation costs globally, a robust industrial and ship‑building base, skilled maritime manpower and a coastline that offers natural advantages for port infrastructure realignment. Key ports such as Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat), . Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu) and Paradip Port Authority (Odisha) have been formally designated as green hydrogen hubs, pivotal nodes in the clean‑fuel maritime future.
India is also mapping out “green shipping corridors” — domestic (for example, between Kandla and Tuticorin) and international (linking India with Singapore or Rotterdam) which can aggregate demand for low‑emission fuels, build scale and signal confidence to investors.
Globally, the regulatory environment is tightening. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set net‑zero emissions by 2050 as a goal, with interim targets of 20‑40 % reduction by 2030. Regional measures such as the EU’s extension of its Emissions‑Trading System to shipping and the Fuel EU‑Maritime regulation add further impetus.
At the same time, technological advances from alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia and bio‑fuels to AI‑driven route optimization and wind‑assisted propulsion are converging. India can leapfrog by harnessing these emerging technologies, retrofitting its fleet and ports, and aligning with global standards early.
Yet, the path is not without challenges. Renewable‑energy adoption at Indian ports remains below 10%, lagging global peers; biofuel supply‑chains are under-developed and high retrofitting costs deter fleet upgrades. India must harmonise domestic regulations with evolving IMO norms.
To address this, India is pursuing multiple levers:
Investing in port modernisation and shore‑power systems to reduce emissions from berth operations.
• Building hydrogen, ammonia and methanol bunkering infrastructure at major ports.
• Scaling up renewables within port operations with some ports already achieving 100% renewable electricity, with national targets of 60 % by 2030 and 90% by 2047.
• Mobilising green finance from dedicated maritime funds to green bonds and international collaborations (including Quad‑aligned financing mechanisms).
• Developing a policy and regulatory framework: for example, the proposed National Green Shipping Policy (NGSP) sets out visions for alternative fuel adoption, infrastructure build‑out and alignment with global protocols.
The reason this matters now is two‑fold. First, shipping is central to India’s trade ambitions: handling over 90% of cargo by volume, maritime infrastructure underpins the country’s push to a USD 5 trillion economy. Second, the global shipping sector is facing a pivot: owners face higher compliance costs, fuel supply shifts and competitive pressure. India’s late‑entry into green shipping would imply competitive disadvantage; early entry offers leadership and economic gain.
Concretely, India can capture value across the value chain: manufacturing of green fuel infrastructure, ship‑building and retrofitting, bunkering services, digital maritime solutions and logistics optimisation. Combined with domestic demand, the export potential of such expertise to other emerging markets is significant.
For India to truly lead, sustained action along three critical axes will be vital:
• Technology and skills transfer: Partnerships with leading maritime nations for fuel‑cell, hydrogen and ammonia solutions, along with workforce capability‑building.
• Policy and regulatory alignment: Ensuring domestic frameworks reflect IMO and global norms so Indian vessels and ports remain globally competitive.
• Financing and scale: Marshaling capital — public, private and multilateral, to scale infrastructure, build green corridors and proliferate adoption.
India’s maritime future could become a model for how an emerging economy aligns economic growth with environmental stewardship. The stakes are high and time is short but the sea of opportunity is vast. If India plays its cards well then it wouldn’t be just a participant but a pioneer in heralding the green shipping revolution.
