Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday called on India’s young workforce to look beyond traditional seafaring roles and explore the expanding opportunities emerging across the maritime sector, including shipbuilding, ship design, artificial intelligence, green energy and technology.
Speaking at a Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways event, Sagarmanthan, Sonowal said India’s maritime ambitions will require a larger and better-skilled workforce as the country works towards strengthening its shipping and port ecosystem. He also stressed the need to develop the sector without compromising ecological sustainability.
The minister said employment in the maritime sector should not be restricted to seafarers, pointing to a much broader range of opportunities that young Indians can pursue.
He highlighted areas such as shipbuilding, ship design, artificial intelligence, green energy and other technology-driven segments as emerging avenues for employment and innovation. According to Sonowal, young people need to come forward with new ideas to address challenges related to technology, environmental protection and the changing requirements of the maritime industry.
He also stressed the growing role of technology in tackling emerging threats, including cybercrime, as the sector becomes increasingly digitised.
Women’s Participation In Maritime Workforce Rises
Sonowal also pointed to the increasing participation of women in the maritime workforce. He said the number of women entering the sector has grown significantly, from around 1,000 earlier to about 7,000 now.
The minister said the expansion of opportunities should encourage more young people, including women, to consider careers across different parts of the maritime ecosystem.
He stressed that even those who may not be interested in conventional shipping careers can find opportunities in other emerging areas connected with the sector.
Seafarer Numbers Expected To Rise 20% By 2027
The minister further said India expects the number of seafarers to increase by around 20 per cent in 2027, underlining the growing importance of the maritime workforce.
At the same time, improvements in port efficiency have helped reduce container turnaround time. Sonowal said the turnaround period, which was earlier around 36 hours, has now come down to approximately 23 hours.
The minister also highlighted India’s growing international engagement on maritime issues. He said the ministry has held discussions with several countries, including Belgium, Bhutan and Myanmar, covering areas such as green shipping, energy and other aspects of maritime cooperation.
India Targets Stronger Shipbuilding And Repair Ecosystem
Sonowal also emphasised the need to strengthen domestic shipbuilding and ship-repair capabilities as India seeks to become more self-reliant in the maritime sector.
He said India should develop stronger repair facilities within the country and create an ecosystem capable of supporting a larger domestic fleet. The minister also pointed to international interest in Indian shipbuilding, with orders and opportunities involving countries such as Germany, the US and Norway.
The broader objective, he said, is to build a stronger maritime ecosystem by combining domestic capabilities with international partnerships and exchange of ideas.
Environmental sustainability was another key theme in Sonowal’s remarks. He called for the younger generation to pursue technological development while ensuring that growth does not come at the cost of ecological balance.
As India works towards its long-term maritime ambitions for 2047, Sonowal said the country will need a workforce equipped to handle both existing requirements and new challenges emerging across the sector.
The minister also highlighted the importance of global cooperation in building a competitive maritime ecosystem, saying international partnerships and knowledge sharing would be critical to India’s efforts to expand its shipping and port infrastructure.
