Mumbai, August 8: The central government launched an integrated digital platform named ‘E-Samudra’ on Saturday. This initiative aims to accelerate digital transformation in the maritime sector and strengthen the welfare of sailors. The platform will provide various services to sailors, shipping companies, ports, and other stakeholders within a single digital framework.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the platform, emphasizing that sailors will be at the heart of India’s maritime development strategy. He affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring their safety, dignity, and welfare.
“Every Indian sailor deserves to be safe, respected, and protected. This is our priority,” Sonowal stated. He highlighted that India has become the second-largest supplier of sailors globally and expressed confidence that the country could achieve the top position in the future. Additionally, he noted that India is currently the leading ship recycling hub and is working towards becoming one of the top five shipbuilding nations worldwide.
Sonowal explained that E-Samudra is not just a technical platform but a significant step towards making maritime administration simpler, more transparent, and stakeholder-centric.
Vijay Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, mentioned that E-Samudra will function as a single digital window for maritime services. It will offer features such as online applications, digital payments, real-time tracking, and digital certificates.
“E-Samudra will provide a fully digital format for maritime services with end-to-end digital workflows, online payments, real-time tracking, and digital certificates,” he added.
According to government data, the number of active sailors in India rose from approximately 103,000 in 2013 to over 323,000 in 2025. Given this rapid increase, strengthening digital services and welfare measures has become essential.
Director General of Maritime Administration, Shyam Jagannathan, stated that the E-Samudra platform will transition maritime administration from a traditional office-based system to a digital-first and faceless governance model.
He noted that this shift will expedite service delivery, enhance transparency, and provide greater convenience to stakeholders in the maritime sector.
The ministry reported that during recent geopolitical tensions, Indian maritime administration continuously monitored global shipping activities, overseeing over 16,000 calls and managing more than 40,000 communication activities.
The government also revealed that, with the help of the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian embassies, the Indian Navy, and other agencies, over 4,000 Indian sailors stranded in crisis areas were safely repatriated.
Notably, E-Samudra and other digital initiatives are part of the government’s strategy to bring significant changes to the maritime sector under the ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’ and ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.’
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