राष्ट्रीय हरित पत्तन एवं पोत परिवहन उत्कृष्टता केन्द्र

National Centre of Excellence in Green Ports and Shipping

Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), visited Chennai Port on January 27 as part of his nationwide review of major ports to assess operational performance, financial health, and long-term development plans in line with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. During the visit, he inaugurated and laid foundation stones for four infrastructure projects with a total investment of ₹54.27 crore, according to the Chennai Port Authority. These included a new passenger terminal for services connecting the mainland with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, constructed at a cost of ₹29.8 crore, and an indigenous Vessel Traffic Monitoring System valued at ₹22.58 crore.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has launched a ₹7,398 crore expansion of Kerala’s Vizhinjam International Seaport, aiming to transform it into a leading regional transshipment hub capable of berthing five mega mother vessels simultaneously. The project was announced at a foundation stone-laying ceremony led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. With the expansion, the port’s nameplate capacity will increase from 1 million TEUs to 3 million TEUs annually, with potential to handle up to 5.7 million TEUs through automation, additional cranes, and operational efficiency by 2029. Key upgrades include extending the container berth from 800 metres to 2,000 metres, lengthening the breakwater to 3,900 metres, reclaiming 7.6 million cubic metres of sea space.

The 12th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 12) took place from 19 to 23 January 2026. SDC 12 finalized the revised Explanatory Notes for the Safe Return to Port concept, the new guidelines for the use of remote inspection techniques under the 2011 ESP Code, and the interim guidelines for the use of fibre inforced plastics in ship structures. New initiatives were also considered, including performance standards for engine control room alert management as well as a work plan for the development of a safety framework for emerging technologies such as wind propulsion, battery power and nuclear reactors.

Marking a major milestone in India’s commercial shipbuilding sector, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has announced the signing of its first newbuild contract for six IMO Type II chemical tankers, each with a capacity of 18,000 DWT, to be constructed at its revitalised shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat. Valued at USD 227 million, the contract from leading European shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS is among India’s largest single commercial shipbuilding orders. It is also the first and largest chemical tanker order awarded to an Indian shipyard, reaffirming SDHI’s capability to deliver complex, world-class commercial vessels. The agreement includes an option for six additional sister vessels. The first tanker is scheduled for delivery within 33 months.

Greek gas shipowner Alpha Gas has re-entered the LNG newbuilding market, placing an order for two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers at South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean in a deal valued at around $500 million. Hanwha Ocean announced that the vessels will be constructed at its Okpo shipyard in Geoje under a contract worth KRW 738.3 billion ($503 million). While the shipbuilder initially referred to the buyer only as an “Oceania-based shipper,” Alpha Gas later confirmed. The two LNG carriers are scheduled for delivery in 2029 and will feature the latest fuel-efficient and emissions-reducing technologies, reflecting shipowners’ continued interest in modern, environmentally compliant tonnage aligned with long-term LNG trade growth.