India has officially announced its first national container shipping line — Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) — marking a major step in the country’s plan to reduce dependence on foreign carriers and boost control over its seaborne trade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of BCSL at the Global Maritime CEO Forum during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, describing it as part of India’s “new era of maritime confidence.”
The new line starts with a fleet of 51 boxships, backed by a $6.9bn investment. It will operate under a public–private partnership, supported by India’s Maritime Development Fund, and will focus initially on regional routes across Asia, West Asia, and the Red Sea, before expanding to global trades.
The launch of BCSL aligns with the government’s long-term goal to build a strong domestic shipping presence capable of handling a greater share of India’s growing containerised trade — much of which is currently carried by foreign operators.
During his address, Modi said India’s maritime sector was “advancing with great speed and energy,” highlighting record investments and policy reforms designed to transform the country into a global maritime hub.
As part of the same event, Modi unveiled a string of major state-backed shipping orders, including nearly 60 oil and gas vessels worth around $5.7bn, launch of a “Green Tug Programme” involving 100 eco-friendly tugs and 11 dredgers for Dredging Corporation of India.
In total, the announcements covered 437 new vessels worth a combined $26bn — part of the government’s wider “Maritime India Vision 2047” initiative.
The prime minister also confirmed that Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) plans to expand its fleet to 216 vessels by 2047, underscoring India’s long-term push for maritime self-reliance and fleet renewal.