The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has launched a suite of digital initiatives at the “IT Conclave 2025” to modernise India’s maritime governance, enhance transparency, and align with national visions like Digital India, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Highlights
- Event: IT Conclave 2025 – Leveraging Technology in Maritime, hosted by DGS, MoPSW.
- Inaugurated by: Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal & Shantanu Thakur.
- Major Launches:
- Revamped GIGW 3.0-compliant DG Shipping website (multilingual, mobile-friendly).
- Phase-1 of e-Samudra platform unifying 60+ maritime services.
- Vision document on maritime digital transformation.
- Key Modules: Chartering permissions, Ship Building Financial Assistance (SBFA), Multi-Modal Transport Operator (MTO) registration, Visitor Access Management System.
- Other Initiatives: AI-based exam system at MMD Noida, digital archival, LMS, ERP for seafarers’ welfare, cybersecurity frameworks.
- Future Plans: AI, IoT, blockchain, and geospatial tools for autonomous maritime operations by 2030.
Taking a significant stride in India’s maritime digital transformation, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways hosted the “IT Conclave 2025 – Leveraging Technology in Maritime” today. Inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal with Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, the event introduced pioneering initiatives for a smart, secure, and transparent maritime ecosystem.
Held in collaboration with the Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI), the conclave supports the goals of Digital India, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Key announcements included the launch of a GIGW 3.0-compliant, mobile-friendly DG Shipping website and the Phase-1 rollout of e-Samudra—a cloud-native platform integrating over 60 maritime services. Its initial modules simplify chartering approvals, shipbuilding financial assistance, MTO registrations, and visitor access management.
The conclave unveiled a pilot AI-powered digital examination system at MMD Noida and launched the “Leveraging Technology in Maritime” vision booklet. The roadmap outlines initiatives such as Learning Management Systems, digital archival solutions, ERP platforms for seafarers’ welfare organisations, and a cybersecurity framework aligned with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Highlighting the significance, Minister Sonowal called these efforts a “paradigm shift in maritime governance,” reinforcing India’s goal of becoming a global leader in maritime digitalisation. Minister Thakur emphasised the mission to boost ease of doing business and enhance service delivery.
Looking forward, the DGS plans to harness AI, IoT, blockchain, and geospatial technologies to enable autonomous operations, predictive analytics, and advanced maritime services by 2030. These initiatives will propel India’s maritime sector towards a smarter, more resilient, and future-ready blue economy.
