Global Shipping majors choose Indian Flag as maritime prospects soar
NEW DELHI : In a major boost to India’s maritime credentials, the world’s top container shipping lines — CMA CGM, Maersk, and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) — are reflagging vessels under the Indian register. The move underscores India’s growing prominence as a global maritime hub and the strengthening of its cabotage and coastal trade framework.
Marseille based CMA CGM was the first to signal this shift earlier this year, registering four vessels under the Indian flag soon after Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to the company’s Marseille headquarters. The carrier has since announced plans to build containerships in India — a milestone development that could redefine the nation’s shipbuilding ambitions.
Following suit, Danish shipping giant Maersk has begun transferring vessels to the Indian register. Data from Equasis confirms that Maersk Vilnius now sails under the Indian flag, while Maersk Vigo is reportedly in the process of reflagging.
Industry sources indicate that MSC, the world’s largest container carrier, may soon join the trend. The company is expected to formalize its reflagging plans during the upcoming India Maritime Week, marking another pivotal moment in India’s emergence as a preferred destination for global shipping operations.
Dr. Asha Pillai, Chief Strategy Officer at Kochi-based port automation firm Docker Vision, described the reflagging wave as a development of deep strategic importance. “This is far more than symbolic,” she noted. “Each vessel that joins the Indian register strengthens our national tonnage, channels freight earnings back into the country, and opens up opportunities for Indian seafarers, ports, and ship management companies. Sustained momentum in this direction could transform India’s global maritime standing — translating policy ambition into measurable tonnage and a stronger presence at sea.”
This growing trend dovetails seamlessly with the Maritime India Vision 2030, the Modi government’s flagship blueprint for the sector, which seeks to modernize ports, expand coastal and inland shipping, and drive investment in shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime services.
With the world’s leading shipping lines increasingly steering their fleets toward the Indian flag, India’s maritime ecosystem is entering a new phase of strategic consolidation — one that enhances not only its economic potential but also its influence across the global shipping map.