Mumbai: The 21st Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) meeting concluded in Mumbai with a series of decisions aimed at strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure, improving ease of doing business and promoting port-led industrialisation.
Chaired by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the meeting was the first since the MSDC received statutory recognition under the Indian Ports Act, 2025.
The council directed that the One Nation, One Port Process (ONOP) reforms be implemented across all ports by March 2027. Ports have also been asked to integrate with the Maritime Single Window (MSW–Sagar Setu) by the same deadline. Electronic publication of port tariffs was mandated to improve transparency.
The council adopted targets under Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, covering more than 500 initiatives across ports, shipping, inland waterways, shipbuilding and green shipping.
States were urged to prepare port master plans aligned with national priorities and develop port-linked industrial clusters with ready-to-use infrastructure, land availability and faster approvals. The council also stressed multimodal connectivity through road, rail, waterways, pipelines and conveyors.
Sonowal launched two credit risk insurance products to protect shipbuilding projects against financial risks arising from delayed payments and other uncertainties.
The Shipbuilding Project Credit Risk Insurance Policy (SbPCP), developed by ECGC Ltd., will cover export projects, while the Business Credit Shield Policy–Shipbuilders (BCSPS), developed by New India Assurance Company Ltd., will protect domestic projects. The Centre will subsidise insurance premiums and provide support to insurers in the event of claims.
The council also prioritised shipbuilding, ship repair and recycling clusters, coastal shipping, cruise infrastructure and financing through maritime development schemes.
“The MSDC has now entered a new statutory phase, strengthening cooperative federalism in maritime governance,” Sonowal said, describing the meeting as a joint effort to advance India’s maritime ambitions.
The council also approved draft regulations and guidelines on port data and tariff transparency, while directing states and Union Territories to notify subordinate rules under Section 77 of the Act within three months.
