Category Archives: Shipping

The Lok Sabha passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, which aims to update and simplify the legal framework for shipping documents replacing the colonial era Act of 1856. The current law, a brief three-Section Act, primarily governs the transfer of rights and confirmation that goods were loaded onto a vessel. With the shipping industry evolving and the global trade landscape changing, there is a pressing need for India to adopt a more comprehensive and understandable law that aligns with international standards,” the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said in a statement. It also empowers the Central government to issue directions to facilitate the law’s implementation along with an inclusion of a standard repeal and saving clause, while eliminating the colonial legacy of the 1856 Act. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal termed it a historic milestone in India’s journey towards a modern, efficient, and globally competitive shipping sector. “The passing of this Bill reflects the government’s continued dedication to facilitating trade, reducing litigation risks, and ensuring that India remains at the forefront of global shipping,” the statement added. The Bill will be presented in the Rajya Sabha.

Kale Logistics Solutions’ (Kale) Malaysia Maritime Single Window (MMSW) has been officially launched by the honourable Minister of Transport Malaysia, Anthony Loke Siew Fook in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The implementation of Kale’s MMSW has meant an immediate reduction of vessel processing from up to five days, down to within hours, due to the real-time data and transparency of service level agreements (SLA’s) it manages. “The Ship Clearance System has been a game-changer for us. Transitioning from a manual, time-consuming process to a seamless digital platform has significantly improved efficiency and reduced clearance times – we are proud to be among the first to implement it successfully,” said Captain Subramaniam, General Manager, Port Klang. The MMSW digitally enhanced operations at Malaysia’s largest port situated on the world’s second busiest shipping lane, the Malacca Strait, to which 11,000 vessels call each year. Further phases of the MMSW project are set to see more ports join the system and the system’s capabilities set to increase further. “I am proud to see how the Kale system has helped Malaysian trade, as Malaysian ports reported over 30 million TEUs last year, a 10 per cent increase on 2023,” said Vineet Malhotra, Co-Founder and Director, Kale Logistics Solutions. “The improvement already seen in Port Klang’s operation speaks volumes to the capabilities of this level of collaboration, especially as Port Klang targets 15 million TEUs in 2025.” Following implementation at Port Klang the system was initiated across other federal ports in Malaysia, creating a digital framework to make port cargo operations vastly more efficient. MMSW is part of Kale’s – Port Community System, designed to promote paperless trade through the digitalisation of port systems to increase their …

Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, inaugurated the Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Jogighopa. The terminal is located at 91 km from Gelephu in Bhutan, 108 km from Bangladesh and 147 km from Guwahati. The strategic location of the terminal will play a pivotal role in solidifying India’s bilateral trade ties with Bangladesh and Bhutan. The Jogighopa terminal is also one of the declared Ports of call under PIWT&T between India and Bangladesh. By the year 2027, this terminal is expected to handle a cargo of 1.1 million tonnes per annum. “Today marks a historic day for the waterways transportation sector in the country as we dedicate the IWT Terminal at Jogighopa to the people and to the nation. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the waterways transportation has been undergoing a tremendous transformation propelling India’s logistics growth, propelling us towards Modi ji’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. The IWT terminal at Jogighopa is set to transform the connectivity in the region and bolster our trilateral trade with Bhutan and Bangladesh. Its strategic position allows it to play the role of an economic multiplier for the region, a testament to PM Narendra Modi’s doctrine of ‘Neighbourhood First,” Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, said.

The cargo volumes handled at the Indian ports has increased to 819.23 million tonnes in FY 2023-24 from 581.34 million tonnes in 2014-15, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5 per cent, Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, mentioned in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. The growth in cargo volumes is majorly contributed by dry bulk cargo (44.04 per cent) and liquid bulk cargo (33.8 per cent). The infrastructure development of major ports is in process, which involves the establishment of new berths and terminals, renovation of existing berths and terminals, deepening of drafts for attracting large vessels and road and rail connectivity development, he added.

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (Adani Ports) in its January report, has announced that the total cargo volumes handled in the month stood at 39.9 MMT. This is the highest single month figure ever for Adani Ports. Adani Ports saw a demand growth of 13 per cent YoY, which was supported by containers (32 per cent increase), and liquids and gas (18 per cent increase). For YTD 2025, Adani Ports has handled 372.2 MMT of cargo, with a robust demand growth of 7 per cent YoY. The growth is majorly contributed by containers (a 20 per cent increase), and liquids and gas (9 per cent increase). For YTD 2025, logistics rail volumes reached 0.53 million twenty-foot equivalent units, with an increase in demand growth of 9 per cent YoY.

DP World has registered a 17 per cent YoY growth at its International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Cochin. The firm has achieved its all-time high volume in 2024 by handling 840,564 TEUs. DP World Cochin introduced new STS Ship-to-Shore cranes, e-RTGs, and expanded yard space, boosting the terminal’s total capacity to approximately 1.4 million TEUs a year in 2024. It also upgraded power infrastructure, ensuring reliable and more productive operations even during peak demand, which has resulted in this unprecedented growth. “This success reflects DP World’s commitment to invest in world-class infrastructure to meet user demands, operational efficiency, ongoing innovation and the expertise of a skilled and dedicated workforce. DP World Cochin will remain a crucial hub for regional trade, driving economic growth and strengthening global market connections,” Praveen Joseph, CEO, DP World Ports & Terminals, Cochin, said.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) said that it has issued a Letter of Award (LoA) to Trident Agrocom Exports and Man Infraconstruction consortium for the development of an export-import cum domestic agriculture commodity-based processing and storage facility at its port. Once operational, the export-import-cum-domestic agricultural commodity-based processing and storage facility coming up on a 27-acre land parcel within the port complex, is expected to handle about 1.2 million tonnes of cargo annually. The facility will significantly contribute to the country’s agro trade by improving the processing, storage capabilities, and transportation infrastructure for agricultural commodities. This project will enhance India’s agricultural logistics capabilities and support the growth of both domestic and international agro trade. It also shows JNPA’s focus on accelerating key projects to ensure timely completion, reflecting the port’s commitment to driving economic growth in the agriculture sector. This is India’s first one-of-its-kind facility provided by JN Port which is designed to provide comprehensive services including processing, sorting, packing, and laboratory facilities, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring compliance with food safety and trade regulations. It shall cater to the agricultural commodities not only of Maharashtra but also of other states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Aiming to enhance operational efficiency and compliance with Indian customs’ regulations, Master Marine Services (MMSPL) has introduced the MMD3 SCMTR Digital Portal. The solution has been developed to streamline compliance with the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations (SCMTR). The MMD3 SCMTR Digital Portal is a comprehensive tool that allows businesses to Ensure compatibility with SCMTR specifications mandated by Indian Customs, and generate SAM, SEI, SDM, SDN, and CSN (including SCE and SCX) seamlessly. “Our in-house development of the MMD3 SCMTR Digital Portal is a testament to our dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction. With this tool, our customers can now navigate SCMTR compliance with confidence and ease. This breakthrough innovation not only underscores MMSPL’s technical prowess but also demonstrates its commitment to providing tailored solutions for the logistics and shipping industry,” Xerrxes Master, Managing Director, MMSPL, said.

Adani Gangavaram Port has announced the launch of two state-of-the-art Economic Grab Ship Cranes, marking a significant milestone as the first in India. These advanced electric cranes are designed to handle multi-purpose operations, efficiently managing, loading and unloading processes. The introduction of these highly advanced cranes will elevate the standards of operational efficiency and sustainable practices at the port. By integrating the latest technology and processes, the port aims to strengthen its position as a leader in trade services. “We are extremely delighted on the induction of the first Economic Grab Ship Cranes in India, and it is a witness to our commitment to enhancing efficiency and better serving our customers. We continue to invest in state-of-the-art technologies that improve efficiency, ensure sustainability, and enhance overall user experience. Our dedication to bringing the best processes and technology to serve the trade remains steadfast, and these cranes are a witness to our vision of becoming a leader in India’s port and logistics sector,” Adani Gangavaram Port Limited management said.

APSEZ (Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone) has announced handling of 36 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in November 2024. The major contribution in the cargo volumes is from containers, which saw a 21 per cent growth from the corresponding period in 2023. The Adani Ports have handled a total of 293.7 MMT of cargo on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, with a YoY growth of 7 per cent. The growth is mainly driven by containers (+19 per cent), and liquid & gases (+7 per cent). On the other hand, APSEZ also announced that its logistics rail volume on the YTD basis has surged 10 per cent YoY.