India Strengthens Maritime ‘Atmanirbharata’ As VLGC Shivalik Joins Indian Fleet: Sarbananda Sonowal
Marking a major milestone in India’s maritime and energy sectors, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday received the country’s third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) – Shivalik – under the Indian flag at Visakhapatnam Port. The event underscores India’s growing maritime self-reliance and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Built in South Korea and named after the Himalayan range, Shivalik is an 82,000 CBM state-of-the-art LPG carrier with advanced safety, temperature control, and operational systems. The vessel completed its maiden voyage carrying over 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) – a mix of propane and butane – from Ruwais, UAE, to Visakhapatnam, for discharge operations with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL).
Welcoming the vessel, Sonowal said, “The arrival of Shivalik under our national flag is not just a fleet expansion — it is a statement of confidence in India’s maritime resurgence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership. It symbolises the resilience, capability, and Atmanirbharta that will power Bharat toward Viksit Bharat 2047.”
He added that the induction of Shivalik, owned by the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI), strengthens India’s presence in the global energy trade while boosting the country’s tonnage under the Indian flag. “Our seafarers are the ambassadors of India’s maritime might,” Sonowal told the vessel’s 29-member crew led by Capt. Bhaskar Tandon.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) described Shivalik’s induction as a strategically significant step that enhances energy connectivity with the Arabian Gulf and ensures secure and efficient LPG transport to India. The vessel joins SCI’s two existing VLGCs – Sahyadri and Anandamayi – taking the corporation’s total fleet to 58 owned vessels with a combined 5.26 million DWT across segments including crude, product, LPG, and container shipping.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, Visakhapatnam MP Mathukumili Sribharat, MLA Ch. Vamsi Krishna Srinivas, Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) Chairman Dr. Madhaiyaan Angamuthu, and SCI CMD Capt. B. K. Tyagi were present at the event. The dignitaries toured the ship’s Navigational Bridge and Cargo Control Room, accompanied by Capt. Tandon and Chief Officer Vivek Tyagi.
Sonowal outlined the government’s comprehensive strategy to make India one of the top five maritime nations by 2047. He highlighted the collaboration between SCI, Oil PSUs, and Steel PSUs to aggregate demand for 112 vessels and establish joint ventures for fleet expansion, which could save ₹6 trillion in foreign exchange annually paid to foreign shipping lines.
In addition, SCI’s upcoming Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) aims to boost India’s footprint in container trade and enhance EXIM efficiency. “These initiatives will not only reinforce energy security and maritime capacity but also generate high-quality employment and strengthen India’s shipbuilding ecosystem,” Sonowal said.
The Minister also highlighted a series of transformative policy initiatives for maritime development:
* ₹69,725 crore package for shipbuilding and port modernization
* Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) extended till 2036 with a ₹24,736 crore corpus
* Maritime Development Fund (MDF) worth ₹25,000 crore, including long-term investment and interest incentives
* Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) with ₹19,989 crore outlay to expand capacity to 4.5 million GT annually
Additional reforms include infrastructure status for large vessels, customs duty exemptions on components, and extension of the tonnage tax regime to inland vessels.
“Our vision is to make India a design–build–finance–own–repair–recycle powerhouse,” Sonowal said. “A future where a larger share of India’s EXIM cargo sails on Indian-built and Indian-owned vessels.”
Concluding his address, Sonowal said, “The arrival of Shivalik symbolises India’s march toward maritime self-reliance and strength. Together, we are scripting a new chapter in India’s maritime destiny – one that sails under the proud tricolour, with confidence, courage, and conviction.”
