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India’s coastal shipping sector is expanding as the country works to strengthen supply chain resilience and support sustainable growth. DP World, a global port operator, has increased its investment in domestic maritime trade, positioning itself as a key player in the shift.
The company’s Marine Services division now connects 14 Indian ports with a fleet of 10 vessels. In 2025, it handled roughly half a million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) through coastal routes. The recent acquisition of DP World Indus, a 2,500-TEU container ship dedicated to domestic trade, adds capacity while demonstrating the company’s long-term commitment to the sector.
Coastal shipping offers a more efficient alternative to road transport, which currently dominates India’s domestic cargo movement. Shifting freight to sea routes could ease highway congestion and reduce pollution from road vehicles. For a country with a long coastline, the potential benefits are significant.
DP World states that better coastal connectivity supports national competitiveness. Improved port-to-port networks could link manufacturing hubs with consumption centers more reliably, aiding industrial growth.
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The sector’s growth depends on more than private investment. India’s regulatory framework, particularly its cabotage rules, plays a key role. Current policy reserves domestic coastal trade for Indian-flagged vessels, while foreign-flagged ships require special permission. The goal is to protect local shipping interests and keep economic value within the country.
DP World has released a report outlining steps to modernize India’s ship registry. The document, Enhancing India’s Ship Registry: Pathways to Global Competitiveness, identifies four priorities: regulatory reform, fiscal incentives, international expansion, and sustainability measures.
The report aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030, the government’s plan to establish the country as a global maritime leader. A stronger registry could attract more shipowners, boost tonnage, and create jobs—from seafarers to port workers. DP World presents this as both an economic and strategic opportunity, fitting India’s broader trade goals.
A modernized system could help the country’s fleet meet international standards. As India seeks a larger role in global shipping, reducing bureaucratic delays, offering tax incentives, and improving service quality could make it a more attractive flag state. Still, reform alone won’t ensure success. Growth will depend on how well policy changes match industry needs.
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The company is expanding its fleet while pushing for regulatory updates that could benefit the entire maritime sector. Its latest moves show confidence in coastal shipping’s potential. The DP World Indus acquisition signals that this method is becoming central to India’s logistics strategy.
For coastal shipping to scale, more ports must upgrade infrastructure. Shippers will also need to view it as a reliable alternative to road transport. While the shift won’t happen quickly, India’s coastline could soon carry a much larger share of domestic freight.
DP World plans to keep investing in vessels, port networks, and partnerships to make coastal shipping faster and more sustainable. The next step requires closer collaboration between government, industry, and customers. If successful, the sector could transform how goods move across the country.
