India to add 62 vessels with ₹51,383 crore push in FY27: Sonowal
Synopsis
India's ₹51,383 crore plan to add 62 vessels in FY27 is not routine fleet expansion — it is a strategic response to Hormuz risk. With SCI-oil PSU joint ventures, a cross-ministry white paper mandated, and green tugs on the list, the Centre is signalling that maritime self-reliance is now a national security imperative, not just a trade policy goal.
Key Takeaways
India plans to add 62 vessels in FY2026–27 with a ₹51,383 crore investment.
The expansion will create an additional 2.85 million gross tonnage (GT) of shipping capacity.
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a high-level inter-ministerial review triggered by the Strait of Hormuz situation.
A joint venture between Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and oil PSUs to acquire 59 vessels is under review.
All departments have been directed to prepare a time-bound white paper on maritime gaps and targets.
Coordination mandated with Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas , Chemicals and Fertilisers , and Commerce and Industry .
India is advancing a plan to add 62 vessels in FY2026–27, backed by a ₹51,383 crore investment that will create an additional 2.85 million gross tonnage (GT) of shipping capacity, according to the government. The announcement came during a high-level inter-ministerial review meeting convened to assess India's maritime preparedness in the context of the Strait of Hormuz situation.
Key Developments
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the meeting, calling for urgent expansion of India's shipping capacity across multiple vessel categories — including container vessels, LPG carriers, crude carriers, green tugs, dredging vessels, and tankers. The push is aimed at ensuring supply chain resilience against external disruptions and reducing dependence on foreign-flagged shipping.
Sonowal also reviewed the status of a joint venture between the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and oil public sector undertakings (PSUs) to acquire 59 vessels — a separate but complementary track within India's broader fleet expansion agenda.
What the Government Said
Speaking at the meeting, Sonowal underscored the urgency of a coordinated national response.
Point of View
Which suggests a security framing rather than a purely commercial one. The SCI-oil PSU joint venture for 59 vessels has been in discussion for some time; the real question is whether the white paper exercise produces binding procurement timelines or another aspirational document. India's share of global shipping tonnage remains negligible despite being one of the world's largest importers of crude oil — a structural gap that no single FY's vessel additions can close, but which must start somewhere.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is India's vessel expansion plan for FY2026–27?
India plans to add 62 vessels in FY2026–27, backed by a ₹51,383 crore investment that will create an additional 2.85 million gross tonnage of shipping capacity. The plan was reviewed at a high-level inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Why is India expanding its shipping fleet now?
The expansion is being accelerated in response to concerns over the Strait of Hormuz situation, which highlighted India's vulnerability to disruptions in seaborne trade and energy supply chains. Minister Sonowal called for urgent action to build a resilient, future-ready maritime ecosystem.
What types of vessels are included in the expansion plan?
The plan covers container vessels, LPG carriers, crude carriers, green tugs, dredging vessels, and tankers — a broad mix aimed at reducing dependence on foreign-flagged shipping across multiple trade and energy segments.
What is the SCI and oil PSU joint venture?
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is pursuing a joint venture with oil public sector undertakings to acquire 59 vessels, a track that was reviewed at the inter-ministerial meeting as part of India's broader fleet expansion agenda.
What is the white paper that Minister Sonowal has ordered?
Sonowal directed all concerned departments to prepare a concise, actionable white paper outlining current gaps in India's maritime sector, with clear targets and a time-bound roadmap. The document is expected to form the basis of a larger inter-ministerial review.
