Is India's Maritime Sector Ready for a Digital Transformation?

New Delhi, June 26 (NationPress) Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled several technological initiatives on Thursday, marking a significant digital transformation aimed at enhancing efficiency and productivity within India's maritime sector.

The rollout of the SAGAR SETU platform by the minister, alongside the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, to create a Digital Centre of Excellence, represents pivotal steps towards digital innovation and sustainable infrastructure development, as stated in an official announcement.

The launch of the SAGAR SETU platform heralds a new chapter in the logistics and maritime landscape of India. This digital initiative aims to boost operational efficiency, foster productivity, and simplify business processes, as highlighted in the statement.

In alignment with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, SAGAR SETU connects various service providers to deliver seamless EXIM-related services. The platform is engineered to significantly cut down processing times for vessel and cargo documentation, thereby promoting faster, paperless logistics. Impressively, this platform links over 80 ports and 40 key stakeholders, demonstrating broad industry acceptance.

The Digital Centre of Excellence will deliver cutting-edge IT solutions, promote innovation, and steer the modernization of port operations and shipping logistics through advanced technologies such as AI, IoT, and Blockchain. Supporting national maritime goals, the Centre will also focus on green and sustainable practices, in accordance with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the statement indicated.

The ‘DRISHTI’ Framework was also introduced to accelerate maritime objectives, providing a detailed monitoring system to speed up the execution of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Driven by the Prime Minister’s motto of “Reform, Perform, Transform, Inform”, DRISHTI is structured around four strategic pillars: KPI Monitoring, Achievements Tracking, Organisational Monitoring, and Functional Cell Oversight.

On this occasion, Sonowal stated, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s maritime sector is experiencing a profound digital transformation. With the launch of the SAGAR SETU platform and the Digital Centre of Excellence, we reinforce our steadfast commitment to leveraging modern technology to enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.

“In addition to modernizing port and logistics operations, this initiative will hasten our progress towards a greener, smarter, and Atmanirbhar maritime economy. By adopting advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and blockchain, we are creating a future-ready infrastructure that empowers our ports, streamlines trade, and solidifies India’s status as a global maritime leader,” he further added.

A standardized Scale of Rates (SOR) template for all major ports to improve transparency and ease of business was also unveiled. This new SOR aims to resolve inconsistencies and interpretation challenges by providing a uniform framework for port tariffs.

Developed after extensive consultations and a thorough evaluation of existing SORs and tariff guidelines, the template includes standardized definitions and transparent conditions for rate applications.

While allowing flexibility for ports to adapt to local contexts, the SOR template facilitates digital integration, enabling better tariff comparisons and clearer service definitions. This initiative is poised to enhance trade efficiency and align port services with the evolving market landscape.

A report titled “Gateway to Green: Assessing Port Readiness for Green Hydrogen Transition in India” was also released during the event. Prepared in collaboration with the Indian Ports Association (IPA), the report outlines a roadmap for evolving Indian ports into centers for green hydrogen production, storage, and export.

The report pinpoints strategic action areas such as land facilitation for green hydrogen production, stimulating demand, investing in shared infrastructure, fostering international collaboration, and adopting proactive investment roles. Notable Indian ports like V. O. Chidambaranar Port, Paradip Port, Deendayal Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai, and Cochin are particularly well-suited to meet the clean energy requirements of East Asia and the European Union.