The Government of India has launched E-Samudra, an integrated digital platform aimed at modernising maritime governance and streamlining services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other maritime stakeholders.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the platform on Saturday during a national stakeholder interaction on seafarer security, safety and welfare in Mumbai.
The platform is designed to provide a single digital window for maritime services, featuring end-to-end digital workflows, online payments, real-time tracking and digitally issued certificates. The initiative is aimed at reducing compliance burdens and making maritime services more transparent, predictable and time-bound.
Union Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar said the objective of E-Samudra goes beyond simply moving existing processes online.
“Our objective is not merely to put processes online, but to make them predictable, transparent and time-bound,” Kumar said.
Seafarer workforce triples in over a decade
The launch comes amid a sharp expansion in India’s seafarer workforce. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the number of active Indian seafarers has increased from around 1.03 lakh in 2013 to more than 3.23 lakh in 2025.
India is now the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, with the government targeting the position of the world’s largest supplier.
Sonowal said seafarers would remain at the centre of India’s maritime growth strategy and described E-Samudra as an important step towards creating simpler, more transparent and stakeholder-centric maritime governance.
Focus on seafarer welfare
Alongside the launch of E-Samudra, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) showcased a range of initiatives focused on the safety, welfare and working conditions of Indian seafarers.
These include the e-NAVIK 24×7 grievance redressal system, the upcoming Seafarer Tracking Dashboard, and the Digital Seafarers Employment Agreement (d-SEA).
The government also highlighted enhanced welfare measures under the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society, including Sagar Mein Yog, aimed at supporting the physical and mental well-being of seafarers, and Sagar Mein Samman, which focuses on supporting women seafarers.
Shift towards faceless maritime administration
DGMA Director General Shyam Jagannathan said E-Samudra would transform maritime administration from a conventional physical office-based model into a digital-first and faceless governance ecosystem.
“E-Samudra transforms maritime administration from a physical office-based model into an integrated digital ecosystem,” Jagannathan said.
The platform is expected to improve accessibility to maritime services while reducing the need for physical interactions with government offices.
DGMA strengthens response to global disruptions
The ministry also highlighted the DGMA’s role in managing recent geopolitical disruptions affecting global shipping.
According to the government, the regulator monitored more than 16,000 vessel calls, handled over 40,000 communications, and coordinated the safe repatriation of more than 4,000 stranded Indian seafarers.
The efforts were carried out in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions, the Indian Navy, shipowners and other stakeholders.
Digital governance aligned with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
Vijay Kumar said India’s maritime policy is anchored in the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, which recognises seafarers as key workers, as well as the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and the principle of “minimum government, maximum governance.”
The government said E-Samudra and the associated reforms are intended to reduce regulatory and compliance burdens, improve transparency and strengthen welfare and regulatory services for India’s rapidly expanding maritime workforce.
Sonowal also said India has emerged as the world’s leading ship recycling destination and is working towards becoming one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations.
The launch of E-Samudra marks another major step in India’s shift towards digital-first maritime administration, with technology being positioned as a key enabler for improving governance, strengthening seafarer welfare and supporting the country’s ambitions as a leading global maritime nation.
