Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is the Backbone of India's Maritime Ambitions: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) on completing 65 years of operations during a ceremony held at the International Cruise Terminal in Mumbai. On this occasion, he described SCI as the backbone of India's maritime and shipbuilding ambitions and urged the company to take a leading role in the campaign to achieve self-reliant and globally competitive maritime capabilities.

The Union Minister emphasized SCI's contribution to ensuring India's energy and trade security, specifically highlighting the company's performance during the recent crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Sonowal stated that India is moving toward becoming a top shipbuilding nation under the 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047', and SCI's fleet, personnel, and partnerships will be at the center of this mission. He stressed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is now committed to building ships within the country rather than merely owning them.

Established in 1961 as a liner shipping company with 19 vessels, SCI has now evolved into a diversified maritime enterprise. Currently, the company operates 58 ships with a total capacity of 5.26 million deadweight tonnage (DWT). Its operations include crude and product tankers, bulk and container shipping, LPG and LNG carriers, offshore services, passenger and coastal transport, project cargo, ship management, and shipbuilding consultancy.

Maharashtra's Minister for Fisheries and Ports, Nitesh Narayan Rane, who attended as a guest of honor, stated that a strong shipping ecosystem is essential for the growth of trade and employment within India's maritime economy. Meanwhile, Captain B.K. Tyagi, Chairman and Managing Director of SCI, expressed a commitment to building a modern and globally competitive fleet in support of national efforts to increase India's shipping capacity and tonnage.

SCI is currently expanding its fleet through government policy and financial assistance. This includes proposed joint ventures with public sector undertakings of Indian Oil and the Bharat Container Shipping Line, which are significant steps toward achieving the goals of MAKV 2047.