The Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) will soon invite tenders for constructing medium-range crude oil carriers as part of the government’s strategy to achieve self-reliance in crude oil transportation, said Chairman and Managing Director Binesh Kumar Tyagi.
Speaking at the LPG consignment operation of the very large gas carrier (VLGC) Shivalik at the Visakhapatnam Port Authority’s LPG Terminal on Monday, Mr. Tyagi said the government has estimated a requirement of 112 domestic crude oil vessels in the future to reduce dependence on foreign ships for imports.
“The initiative aligns with India’s broader goal of ensuring energy and maritime self-sufficiency,” he said.
The newly inducted VLGC Shivalik marks SCI’s second such vessel after Sahyadri, which joined the fleet in August. Purchased from Korea at an investment of ₹512 crore, Shivalik measures 225 metres in length and 37 metres in width, with a capacity of 82,000 metric tonnes — equivalent to 1.1 crore domestic LPG cylinders.
The vessel, operating at minus 42 degrees Celsius and equipped with advanced features such as a 360-degree bridge view and an autopilot system, arrived in Visakhapatnam with a full load of LPG for Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL). Part of the cargo will be discharged in Visakhapatnam, with the remainder bound for Haldia Port.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, highlighting the economic impact of domestic vessel ownership, said that if India builds and operates its own crude oil tankers, it could save nearly ₹6 lakh crore annually — almost 95% of the cost currently spent on chartering foreign ships.
“India needs its own ships. This is the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr. Sonowal emphasized.
The SCI’s continued fleet expansion, particularly in gas and crude oil transportation, is seen as a key step toward strengthening India’s position as a self-reliant maritime nation.
