The shipping ministry on Saturday launched its flagship e-Samudra platform, as part of a push to modernise India's maritime ecosystem in line with its larger aims under the Make in India and Maritime India Vision 2030 initiatives.
The full-scale version of the cloud-native system was launched by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, during a national stakeholder interaction at Mumbai.
”E-Samudra is not merely a technology platform—it is a significant step towards making maritime governance simpler, more transparent and more stakeholder-centric. Through E-Samudra, we are ensuring ease of living for our seafarers and the ease of doing business for the maritime sector," he said at the Mumbai event, titled 'Seafarer Security, Safety and Welfare and Inauguration of E-Samudra', and organised by the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA).
Alongside E-Samudra, the DGMA also showcased India's other platforms and initiatives aimed at revamping maritime administration and improving seafarer welfare.
These included the recently launched e-NAVIK 24x7 grievance redressal system, the upcoming Seafarer Tracking Dashboard, the Digital Seafarers Employment Agreement (d-SEA), and enhanced welfare measures under the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS).
The event also underscored the DGMA's response to recent geopolitical disruptions affecting global shipping, just weeks after India was revealed to be the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers.
According to the MoPSW, the DGMA has, in recent months, monitored more than 16,000 calls, handled over 40,000 communications, and coordinated the safe repatriation of more than 4,000 stranded Indian seafarers via joint efforts with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian missions, the Indian Navy, ship owners, and other maritime stakeholders.
What exactly is the e-Samudra platform?
The e-Samudra portal, launched in 2025, is cloud-native system that aims to unify more than 60 maritime services under one digital roof.
Developed by CMS Computers in partnership with the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), it is designed as a single digital window for stakeholders to manage regulatory and operational functions.
The first phase of e-Samudra, launched in 2025, included modules for chartering permissions and licenses, streamlining the process for vessel chartering approvals; the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) module to facilitate access to financial support and incentives; the Multi-Modal Transport Operator (MTO) module enabling digital registration and regulatory compliance; and a Visitor Access Management System to enhance security through automation of access to DGS offices.
Cybersecurity has been prioritised for the e-Samudra, given the scale of its operations, and the critical data within them.
Technologies such as geospatial mapping, predictive analytics, and AI-powered dashboards embedded into the platform will also help with not just assist real-time monitoring and decision-making, but also environmental compliance, in line with global sustainability norms in the maritime sector.
"Our objective is not merely to put processes online, but to make them predictable, transparent and time-bound," said Secretary, MoPSW, Vijay Kumar on Saturday.
