Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday unveiled a series of digital transformation initiatives at the IT Conclave 2025, aimed at modernizing India’s maritime governance. The event, hosted by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) in collaboration with the Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI), showcased efforts to build a smart, secure, and transparent maritime ecosystem.
The conclave, inaugurated by Sonowal alongside Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, aligns with the government’s “Digital India,” “Maritime India Vision 2030,” and “Amrit Kaal Vision 2047” initiatives. Key launches included a revamped DG Shipping website, the first phase of the e-Samudra platform, and a vision document outlining the sector’s digital transformation roadmap.
The redesigned DG Shipping website, now compliant with GIGW 3.0 standards, offers a multilingual, mobile-responsive interface to enhance accessibility for seafarers, shipowners, and training institutes. The e-Samudra platform, a cloud-native system, integrates over 60 maritime services, with its initial phase enabling streamlined vessel chartering approvals, financial assistance for shipbuilding, digital registration for multi-modal transport operators, and automated visitor access management for DGS offices.
Speaking at the event, Sonowal described the initiatives as a “paradigm shift” in maritime governance, emphasizing transparency, efficiency, and innovation. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s maritime sector is undergoing a digital renaissance, steering us toward a Viksit Bharat,” he said.
The conclave also introduced a pilot AI-based digital examination system at MMD Noida and a vision booklet titled “Leveraging Technology in Maritime.” The document details plans for learning management systems, web-based simulation tools compliant with global STCW standards, digital archival solutions, ERP systems for seafarers’ welfare organizations, and an Integrated Command and Control Centre for real-time data monitoring. It also emphasizes cybersecurity frameworks aligned with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Thakur highlighted the role of e-Samudra and other platforms in enhancing ease of doing business and positioning India as a global leader in maritime digital governance. “Inspired by the Prime Minister’s Digital India mission, we are building a maritime governance system rooted in innovation, speed, and service,” he said.
The roadmap outlined at the conclave envisions the adoption of AI, IoT, blockchain, and geospatial technologies to enable autonomous operations, predictive analytics, and advanced maritime services by 2030, paving the way for a future-ready blue economy.