- Major international shipping lines, including Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC, are increasingly re-registering vessels under the Indian flag, reflecting confidence in India’s maritime governance.
- The reflagging movement, initiated by CMA CGM earlier this year, has gained traction with multiple vessels joining the Indian registry.
- India’s merchant fleet now totals about 1,600 vessels, yet the country still spends heavily on chartering foreign ships — a gap reflagging aims to reduce.
- Expanding India’s ship registry strengthens domestic cargo carriage, boosts port and ship management activities, and creates more opportunities for Indian seafarers.
Global shipping leaders are increasingly re-registering their vessels under the Indian flag, reflecting growing trust in the country’s maritime governance and regulatory environment. The recent decision by Denmark-based A.P. Moller–Maersk to reflag two of its container ships from Hong Kong to India highlights this shift in sentiment. Similar moves by other global operators further emphasize the renewed confidence in India’s ship registry, according to a report by Maritime Gateway.
Global Reflagging Momentum Strengthens India’s Maritime Position
The trend of reflagging to India, which began earlier this year, has gained notable momentum. French shipping major CMA CGM initiated the wave in April by transferring its vessel CMA CGM Vitoria from the Maltese registry to India following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the company’s headquarters in France. Since then, CMA CGM has added more vessels to the Indian registry, with another expected soon. In a similar development, Switzerland-based MSC is reportedly preparing to follow suit, with formal announcements likely during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.
India’s merchant fleet currently comprises around 1,600 vessels totaling 14 million GT, yet the nation still spends about $75 billion annually on chartering foreign ships while owning only 2% of global tonnage. Reflagging initiatives help address this imbalance by expanding India’s fleet of domestically registered ships, which are eligible to carry national cargo and access government contracts. The move enhances supply chain resilience, retains freight revenues within the country, and creates fresh opportunities for Indian ports, ship management companies, and seafarers. Maersk’s establishment of Maersk Bharat IFC Pvt Ltd at GIFT City to facilitate reflagging, along with its ongoing investment in green-fuel vessels, further reinforces India’s growing maritime significance. DG Shipping officials note that several more vessels are expected to join the Indian registry in the coming months, solidifying India’s position as a trusted maritime hub.
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Source: Maritime Gateway
