Maharashtra Maritime Summit 2025 sets focus on port-led development

The Maharashtra Maritime Summit 2025, hosted by the Maharashtra Maritime Board along with the Ministry of Fisheries and Ports, Government of Maharashtra on July 16, 2025, brought together government leaders, global maritime players and private sector stakeholders in Mumbai this week to chart a clear path for transforming the state into a competitive maritime hub.

Opening the summit, Sanjay Sethi, Additional Chief Secretary, Transport and Ports, set the tone by underlining the government’s priority to make maritime logistics faster and more cost-effective. He said, “The ultimate aim is to reduce logistics costs, helping the economy to grow. The goal is to ease business, increase speed and decrease costs.”

Nitesh Rane, Minister of Fisheries and Ports, called the summit a collective moment to align all stakeholders toward a shared mission for clean and globally connected growth. He told delegates, “This is a call to action for all stakeholders aiming towards the goal of a cleaner, faster, globally connected Maharashtra.”

His remarks were echoed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who delivered the keynote address by reflecting on Mumbai’s long-standing maritime advantage. He said, “What has led Mumbai to be the economic engine of India is the two ports—Mumbai Port and JNPA. It has put Mumbai at the forefront. As we aspire to become a part of the global supply chain, we have to enhance our ports and their handling capacity.” He stressed that the planned Vadhavan Port, once operational, could rank among the top ten ports globally by handling capacity.

The first panel, titled 'Maharashtra’s Ports – Gearing Up for Future Growth', explored how the state can expand capacity and become a global maritime leader. Unmesh Wagh, Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, joined Rinkesh Roy of JSW Infrastructure, Hiren Shah of Adani Ports, Jibu Kurien Itty of DP World, and Ambar Ayade of Rural Enhancers Group.

Moderated by Mihir Shah of EY, the panel discussed the Maharashtra Maritime Development Policy 2023 and highlighted Vadhavan Port as a game changer that will handle up to 10 million TEUs and be India’s first fully green, deep-draft port. Roy noted that better hinterland connectivity through projects like the Chiplun–Karad tunnel is crucial. The panel called for port-led industrial hubs, smarter operations using AI and IoT, green initiatives at JNPA and Vadhavan, and ECA financing for PPP models. Ayade accentuated the necessity of an integrated workforce skilling plan. The panel also noted that end-to-end logistics, predictive maintenance, and technology adoption will help cut costs and boost efficiency.

In the second session, titled 'Maharashtra: One Stop for Ship Building, Repairing, Recycling', speakers highlighted India’s window to become a global player in shipbuilding and repairs. Rutger Dolk of Damen Shipyards, Rajnish Khandelwal of J M Baxi Marine Services, Steve Davis of Haskoning, Ameya Pratap Singh of Yogayatan Group, and Cmde Anil Jai Singh of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems India joined moderator Jagannarayan Padmanabhan of CRISIL to outline Maharashtra’s plan.

Khandelwal stressed that 60 per cent of India’s fleet needs recycling within a decade, while global shipyards have long wait times, creating an opportunity. The state’s maritime policy focuses on six clusters with upfront investment and subsidies to replicate models like Dubai Maritime City. Jai Singh stated that the success of warship building at Mazagon Dock shows India’s potential if it targets niche segments. Other topics of discussion included global technology tie-ups, ECA-backed financing, green shipbuilding, strong supply chains, improved skilling, seamless connectivity and a competitive ecosystem to match global quality and sustainability standards.

The final discussion, titled 'Water Power: Making Water Transport in MMR a Reality', focused on urban water mobility to ease Mumbai’s traffic congestion. Pradeep P, CEO of Maharashtra Maritime Board, joined Jitendra Rami of M2M Ferries and West Coast Marine Yacht Services, Sofia Lerm from Candela, and Capt. Devendra Manral of Indigo Seaways. The session was moderated by Shaji P. Janardhanan, Chief General Manager – Water Transport of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.

Janardhanan outlined MMB’s plan for a water metro integrated with rail and metro networks under national visions like the Harit Nauka policy 2024 and Amrit Kaal 2047. The panel addressed challenges like limited jetty space, slipways, and waiting areas and stressed the need for modular floating pontoons for safe boarding in varying tides. Lerm showcased Candela’s electric hydrofoils as energy-efficient options that cut water drag and emissions. Capt. Manral shared lessons from Gujarat’s RoRo and RoPax services, showing how good scheduling, adaptable infrastructure and subsidies keep services viable. The panel called for stronger last-mile links, clear schedules, and funding to support sustainability goals while ensuring financial viability and attracting private investment.

Throughout the day, MMB had informative presentations on Maharashtra Maritime Development Policy 2023, for promoting ship building, ship repair & ship recycling in Maharashtra and Water Transport in MMR.

The Maharashtra Maritime Development Policy 2023 outlines clear frameworks and incentives to boost port development, coastal shipping and tourism along the state’s 877 km coastline. Ports are categorised by investment size and capacity with long lease terms and benefits like tax exemptions, concessional land and transparent bidding.

For shipbuilding and repair, MMB’s 2025 policy supports India’s vision to join the world’s top shipbuilding nations by addressing cost disadvantages through capital subsidies, skilled workforce development, research support and streamlined approvals. It proposes marine clusters, shipyards in ports and standalone facilities with six cluster sites and eleven standalone locations already identified.

The water transport plan for MMR targets reliable and eco-friendly passenger services to complement roads and rail. A prefeasibility study identified ten new routes across Vasai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Mumbai Harbour with 22 terminals to be upgraded or built. The plan focuses on civil infrastructure, navigational safety, emergency response and modern hybrid-electric vessels under public-private partnerships. A detailed project report is underway to guide route planning, sustainable vessel design and phased rollout. These initiatives together aim to position Maharashtra as a leading maritime and coastal trade state with improved infrastructure, green transport and strong industrial capacity.

Speakers and stakeholders agreed that Maharashtra’s ports, shipyards and inland waterways must develop together to reduce logistics costs, attract investment and ensure sustainable growth. The sessions made it clear that global partnerships, skilled local workforces, new financing models and strong policy support will all be crucial to turn Maharashtra’s maritime vision into reality and strengthen its position in the global supply chain for decades to come.