Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways informed that there has been a consistent rise in Indian tonnage and now, 1,530 vessels are Indian-flagged with 13.7 million gross tonnage (GT), reducing dependence of Indian cargo on foreign vessels. As recorded in June, about 1,041 vessels with 1.7 million GT are now engaged in coastal trade. While 485 Indian-flagged vessels with 11.95 million GT now operate in overseas trade, four vessels of 45,604 GT have been acquired under Indian-controlled tonnage.
Meanwhile, the volume of cargo transported through India’s inland waterways took a six-fold leap — from 18.07 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2013-14 to 133.03 MMT in 2023-24.
