CMA CGM Vitoria flags off as first foreign vessel under Indian flag

India marked a new chapter in its maritime history today as CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest shipping groups, officially flagged its first India-registered container vessel, CMA CGM Vitoria, at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT) in Mumbai. This event makes CMA CGM the first major foreign shipping line to register a containerised vessel under the Indian flag.

The flagging ceremony was attended by Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, along with senior officials from the Directorate General of Shipping, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), and industry stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Atit Mahajan, Managing Director, CMA CGM India, said, “This is the first foreign shipping line to be registered in IFSC GIFT City — that also in a record, making the shortest and fastest time of just 11 days.”

CMA CGM’s three-decade presence in India
Reflecting on the company’s growth, Mahajan stated,“CMA CGM started its journey in 1989 with a humble beginning by operating via a third-party agency network. It's a long but a very progressive journey. Today, we are the third-largest market player in India by volume, connecting the country to the rest of the world.”

He further outlined CMA CGM’s broader investments in India: “In addition to our shipping operations, the Group has strategically developed its infrastructure in India, thanks to the Group’s key investments in terminals located at Nhava Sheva.” He further added, that in addition to its first flag registration in India, the Group would register three more vessels in the near future.

With a total capacity of 2,592 TEU, CMA CGM Vitoria serves India on the Group’s BIGEX Network, providing direct links between India, the Gulf, and the Red Sea. The vessel performs weekly calls from both Nhava Sheva and Mundra.

Mahajan also emphasised the Group’s logistics expansion through its subsidiary, CEVA Logistics: “CEVA Logistics operates across 105 sites in 31 cities, managing around 900,000 square meters of warehouse space. The acquisition of Stellar Value Chain Solutions in 2023 further strengthens CEVA Logistics’ role in India’s contract logistics sector, offering global expertise and innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency.”

Strengthening strategic ties
Highlighting CMA CGM’s strengthening ties with Indian leadership, Mahajan noted, “The recent visit of India’s Honourable Prime Minister to CMA CGM’s headquarters in Marseille underscores the Group’s commitment to further expanding its presence in India across shipping, intermodal transport, logistics, and terminal operations.”

He also shared updates on the company’s maritime staffing development: “In particular, CMA CGM has recently opened a crew management office located in Mumbai for its fleet.”

On the Group’s social initiatives in India, Mahajan said, “Through the CMA CGM Foundation, the Group aims to have a positive social impact and has supported the education of approximately 2,350 underprivileged children in Mumbai over the past three years via 10 dedicated learning centers. CMA CGM remains fully committed to supporting India’s economic growth.”

Terminal growth and future expansion
Addressing the developments at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal, Aniruddha Lele, CEO at NSFT, shared operational milestones and future plans, “We took over the container Terminal from the Port Authority in 2023 and we have quickly completed the 1 million TEUs mark in November 2024. As the Minister mentioned, we will be adding capacities, so at NSFT, we will be adding 1 million TEUs more capacity by September this year, and that will again serve the benefit of shipping lines like CMA CGM.”

The terminal’s expansion is expected to enhance India’s maritime capabilities and cater to the increasing demands of global trade through Indian ports.

Significance of the Indian flagging
CMA CGM Vitoria will operate under CMA CGM’s BIGEX service network, providing direct weekly links between Indian ports and key destinations across the Gulf and Red Sea regions. This milestone marks not only an operational shift but also an alignment with India’s broader efforts to localise shipping assets and boost national shipping tonnage.

The move is also seen as a strategic contribution to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a proposed initiative to create new, efficient trade links between South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

By placing vessels under the Indian flag, CMA CGM strengthens India's logistics ecosystem, contributes to regulatory and tax frameworks under the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City, and deepens its long-term commitment to the country.

The flagging of CMA CGM Vitoria represents more than a single operational milestone — it symbolises the deepening role of India in global shipping networks. CMA CGM’s ongoing infrastructure and logistics investments, together with terminal expansions like those at NSFT, highlight the country’s growing importance as a hub for international trade and maritime connectivity.

As India continues to expand its port infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to attract more international investments, partnerships like CMA CGM’s are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian maritime logistics.