International Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Ports,Shipping and Waterways deals with maritime engagements with foreign maritime nations, including signing of Agreements/ MoUfor bilateral cooperation in the Maritime sector, holding of regular Joint Working Group meetings and negotiations with ASEAN, EU, BIMSTEC and EFTA for Maritime Transport Agreement. All matter related to International Maritime Organization (IMO), the primer regulatory UN body, in which India is a member, is also dealt in this Division, including deputation of officers for attending the IMO meetings and finalizing India’s stand on various agenda for discussion during the meetings of IMO. Further, this Division compiles inputs on issues relating to shipping sector for high- level officials meetings with foreign countries at Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- A. Cooperation with Multilateral Organizations
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India became a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1959, which is the global standard setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of shipping and ensures that such standards are fair and effective and are universally adopted and implemented. India has been an active participant at the IMO. In fact, participation of India in the functioning of IMO has helped India to voice its developmental concerns to the international maritime community. India has been a member of the IMO Council and has got re-elected as Member of the IMO Council under Category ‘B’, representing nations with the largest interest in international seaborne trade, for biennial 2018-19 by securing second highest number of votes during the IMO Council election held on December 2, 2017. IMO adopts and implements various treaties in the form of conventions/protocols. From time to time, keeping in mind our national interests and the international standards evolved by IMO through its treaties, India has been becoming a party to the treaties adopted by IMO. As on date IMO has adopted 67 treaties, which are open for countries to become parties. Out of these 67 treaties, India is a party to 33 treaties (conventions/protocols), which have been suitably incorporated into the Indian domestic legislation i.e. the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
Currently, there are three IMO Conventions namely,
(a) International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001;
(b) International Convention for the Control and management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004; and
(c) the Hong Kong Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009, which have been taken up by the Ministry for India becoming a party to The legislative proposals incorporating the provisions of these Conventions are in progress and upon enactment of these legislations, India’s accession/ratification to these conventions will be communicated to the IMO.
Besides this, India is also a party to two important Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), meant for welfare of seafarers, namely the Maritime Labour Convention and the Seafarer’s Identity Document Convention. India contributes approximately 6 to 7 percent of the total workforce in the shipping industry. India is home to the second largest number of seafarers after the Philippines. ILO too has mandated standards for the maritime industry. The Maritime Labour Convention is a single, coherent instrument which replaces and consolidates 37 separate ILO maritime labour conventions adopted since 1920.
Apart from IMO, India has been contributing significantly to the other multilateral organizations/agreements such as ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations); Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC); Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation(IORA); International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), etc.
- B. Maritime Transport Cooperation Instruments/Arrangements
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Bilateral cooperation arrangements
India has entered into cooperation instruments/arrangements with other maritime countries and regional groupings by way of Agreements or MoUs to foster growth of Indian maritime sector as well as to safeguard India’s maritime interests. Following is a list and status of these cooperation arrangements:
To check the List Please follow the Link:- List of MoUs on Maritime Cooperation
- C. 41 MoUs on CoCs (Agreement on recognition of certificates pursuant to Regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers, 1978, as amended):
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Bilateral Agreements for Recognition of Certificate of Competency for Seafarers
India has signed the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competence (CoC) of Seafarers with Malaysia,UAE and Republic of Korea.
Unilateral Agreements for Recognition of Certificate of Competency for Seafarers
India’s CoC is recognized by the following countries:
To check Follow the Link :- List of 41 MoUs on CoCs (Agreement on recognition of certificates pursuant to Regulation I/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers, 1978, as amended)
- D. Multilateral Cooperation arrangements
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i) BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation
A landmark achievement in 2025 was the finalization and adoption of the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation, aimed at strengthening connectivity among Member States. The Agreement focuses on simplifying maritime transport, promoting sustainable shipping, and developing harmonized practices across the region. This Agreement is expected to become a cornerstone for regional economic integration by enabling smoother movement of goods and improving logistics efficiency in the Bay of Bengal.
ii) Trilateral Cooperation arrangements
Trilateral Agreement concerning Merchant Shipping and other Maritime Transport related matters with Brazil South Africa IBSA signed on 13th September 2006
- E. Joint Working Group (JWG) Meetings held during the year 2018-19
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The first meeting of the Joint Working Group on Ports and Shipping between India and Denmark was held in Copenhagen, Denmark May 29, 2018 during the visit of Secretary (Ports,Shipping and waterways). The first meeting of the India- Jordan Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) was held through Video Conferencing on December 5, 2018. The 4th meeting of India- Japan Shipping Policy Forum was held in New Delhi on January 15, 2019
- F. Joint Working Group Meetings (JWG) Meetings held since April 2024
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i. The Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting with Myanmar was held on 23rd July, 2025, wherein discussions were held on the Agreement and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Coastal Shipping, introduction of a Direct Shipping Service on a commercial basis between India and Myanmar, collaboration in Maritime Education and Training, cooperation for the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, and joint efforts for advancing Sittwe Port as a transshipment hub.
ii. Pursuant to the decisions of the 25th meeting of the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the IGC), the second meeting of the WG was held on July 3, 2025 in Murmansk, Russian Federation.
The Russian side of the JWG was headed by V.A. Panov, the special representative of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation on Arctic development issues, the Indian side of the JWG was headed by R.K. Sinha, the Special Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of the Republic of India.
iii. The 1st Joint Working Group (JWG) between India and Malta was held in a virtual (VC) mode on November 26, 2024. This was established following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime Cooperation signed between the two countries in 2018. The JWG meeting provides a platform for both nations to discuss current proposals and arrangements related to their ongoing maritime partnership. The goal is to enhance maritime safety, protect against marine pollution, and facilitate more opportunities for joint research and training.
iv. The 1st Joint Working Group (JWG) on the Northern Sea Route (NSR) between India and Russia was held in New Delhi in 10th October 2024 to discuss and develop cooperation on cargo transit, joint Arctic shipbuilding projects, and training of Indian seafarers for polar navigation. The meeting drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize this partnership, building on momentum from the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 where Russia first invited Indian interest in the NSR and the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor.
v. The 9th India-Norway Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting was held in Oslo on May 13, 2024. Discussions focused on deepening bilateral maritime cooperation, promoting green maritime technologies and sustainable shipping, exploring a joint feasibility study for operationalizing the Northern Sea Route (NSR), and enhancing efforts in Arctic navigation and port infrastructure. The meeting, co-chaired by Indian and Norwegian officials, aimed to translate talks into actionable initiatives for a sustainable global maritime order.
vi. The 5th India-Denmark JWG on Shipping was held on May 8, 2024, to discuss setting up an Indo-Danish Centre of Excellence in Green Shipping and other bilateral maritime issues. A recent development in June 2025 saw the Ministers reaffirming the Green Strategic Partnership and the importance of a maritime MoU from 2024 that established the Centre of Excellence for Green Shipping to promote India's green transition and position it as a global green shipping hub.
- G. Major achievements
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1. BIMSTEC Ports Conclave (2025)
The 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave was successfully organized in Visakhapatnam in July 2025 by MoPS&W in coordination with the MEA and BIMSTEC Secretariat. Centre for Maritime Economy & Connectivity (CMEC) was the knowledge partner. The Conclave brought together Ministers, senior officials, and industry leaders from BIMSTEC Member States to deliberate on critical areas such as multimodal connectivity, harmonization of customs procedures, digital platforms for trade facilitation, cruise tourism opportunities, and workforce up skilling. The Conclave produced forward-looking action points, recommending a BIMSTEC Port Network, adoption of digital platforms for logistics, customs harmonization, and joint training initiatives, setting the stage for stronger regional maritime integration.
2. Nor-Shipping 2025 (Norway): India established a national pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 (2-6 June 2025), one of the world’s prestigious maritime exhibitions. The Pavilion highlighted India’s initiatives in shipbuilding, ship repair, and decarbonization of shipping. B2B meetings, industry interactions, and high-level government consultations were organized, further strengthening India’s maritime partnership with Nordic countries, which are global leaders in maritime innovation and green technologies. Indian maritime companies signed several cooperation agreements with global players. The highlights of the visit included, GRSE, Kolkata, MoU with Germany’s Carsten Rehder for the construction of four additional hybrid-propulsion vessels, GRSE also inked MoUs with UAE-based Aries Marine and a global engine manufacturer for offshore and technological collaborations. Larsen & Toubro also signed an MoU with Norway’s DNV covering cooperation in shipbuilding, offshore infrastructure, smart ports, sustainability, and digital solutions.
3. Singapore Maritime Week (SMW 2025): India participated in Singapore Maritime Week 2025 (24–28 March 2025) with a dedicated Indian Pavilion led by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW). The pavilion highlighted India’s maritime growth, focusing on port modernization, green transition, digitalization of port operations, and opportunities for foreign investment in port infrastructure. A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between MoPSW and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore to establish a Green & Digital Shipping Corridor. The delegation, led by India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sh Sarbananda Sonowal, engaged with senior ministers and industry leaders, strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation and investment linkages.
4. Sagarmanthan : The Great Ocean Dialogue
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation (ORF) has organized the inaugural event of “Sagarmanthan : The Great Oceans Dialogue” from 18-19 November, 2024 in New Delhi. The Curtain Raiser event of the dialogue was organized on 3rd September, 2024 by the Hon’ble Minister of PS&W. The initiative of this event has brought together global policymakers, maritime experts, industry leaders, and scholars to deliberate on advancing sustainable and innovative maritime practices. The two-day forum’s agenda included sessions on maritime connectivity, sustainable development, technological innovation, and global maritime governance. A separate session with youth was also organized by Hon’ble Minister of PS&W.
The Ministry also showcased India’s advancements in port digitisation, renewable energy integration, and decarbonised shipping, reflecting the nation's vision of becoming a global maritime hub. The Dialogue featured participants from 60 countries across the globe with more than 1700 participants including Ministers, former Heads of State and Government, journalists, and experts. The dialogue underscores India’s strategic role in global trade, with vast coastline and strategic islands that bolster its maritime potential. The event also highlights the nation’s commitment to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector through green initiatives such as the Harit Sagar Guidelines and the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
5. Ferry services
The India-Sri Lanka passenger ferry service, connecting Nagapattinam in India to Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka, launched on October 14, 2023. This high-speed service, aims to strengthen people-to-people ties, promote tourism, and provide a low-cost travel option between the two countries. The cargo shipping service between India and Maldives is being run by Shipping Corporation of India with the approval of Ministry of External Affairs and under the guidance of this Ministry. Since inception of the service, the grant in aid is being given by this Ministry directly to SCI. Efforts are also underway to make the service self sustainable