‘Maritime Reform Utsav’: SCI expands VLGC Fleet to strengthen India’s energy supply chain

MUMBAI : As part of the ongoing Maritime Reform Utsav commemorating 12 Years of Naya Bharat Nirman, Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has highlighted key milestones that are reinforcing India’s maritime capabilities and supporting the nation’s energy security objectives.

In a significant move to enhance the transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), SCI has inducted two Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs) — SAHYADRI and SHIVALIK — each with a carrying capacity of 82,000 cubic metres (CBM).

The addition of these vessels is expected to strengthen the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of critical energy cargo to India, further bolstering the country’s energy supply chain amid growing domestic demand.

With the induction of SAHYADRI and SHIVALIK, SCI now operates a fleet of three VLGCs, taking its overall fleet strength to 58 vessels.

The expansion aligns with the objectives outlined in Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which aim to enhance India’s maritime capabilities, increase the share of Indian-flagged vessels, and strengthen the country’s position in global shipping.

Industry experts note that expanding the Indian-flagged gas carrier fleet is crucial for ensuring greater control over strategic energy logistics while reducing dependence on foreign shipping capacity.

The induction of the new VLGCs marks another important step in building a resilient, self-reliant, and future-ready maritime ecosystem, supporting India’s broader vision of becoming a global maritime powerhouse.