Shipping Corporation of India
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIndia's government-owned merchant shipping company, operating vessels on national and international routes.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is an Indian public-sector shipping enterprise headquartered in Mumbai and administratively controlled by the Government of India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The company operates and manages merchant vessels serving both domestic and international trade. Its activities have historically covered liner shipping, bulk transportation, crude-oil and product tankers, gas carriers, chemical tankers, passenger services, offshore support and coastal or inland transportation. SCI was created on 2 October 1961 through the merger of Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation. It began operations with 19 vessels and subsequently expanded through the integration of other Indian shipping businesses. Jayanti Shipping Company was merged into SCI in 1973, followed by Mogul Line Limited in 1986. These combinations helped establish SCI as a broad-based national carrier rather than a company focused on a single cargo category. At its historical peak, SCI's fleet exceeded 120 vessels and included liners, oil tankers, gas carriers, chemical tankers, passenger ships and offshore vessels. The company has served the logistical requirements of India's energy, manufacturing, commodities and infrastructure sectors, including the movement of petroleum products, bulk materials, containers and specialized cargo. Its customer base and commercial relationships have included Indian state-owned energy and industrial companies as well as international oil and gas businesses, although the precise customer portfolio changes over time. SCI also has a role in national maritime capability. The company provides seagoing employment and training, supports India's merchant-marine presence and participates in sectors regarded as strategically important to national energy and trade security. In 2003, it recruited its first female cadet group, an institutional milestone in its seafarer training history. In 2016, its wholly owned subsidiary Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd. was incorporated to develop transportation services through inland waterways and coastal shipping. The Government of India approved a privatization process in 2019, but the proposed transaction was delayed and did not result in a completed transfer of ownership in the supplied reference material. More recent policy direction has instead emphasized fleet renewal and expansion. Plans described in the reference material envisage a substantial increase in Indian-owned tonnage, including tankers, gas carriers, container ships, product tankers and offshore vessels. The stated objective is to strengthen domestic shipping capacity, support energy-security requirements and increase the share of Indian-flagged or Indian-controlled tonnage in national trade. SCI remains an active state-owned merchant carrier with a diversified maritime mandate. Its present identity combines commercial shipping operations with public-policy objectives: maintaining national transport capacity, supporting domestic shipbuilding and expanding India's participation in international maritime trade. Fleet size and vessel composition are subject to ongoing renewal and procurement programs.
History
Shipping Corporation of India was established on 2 October 1961 through the amalgamation of Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation. The new enterprise was created as India's national merchant shipping company and started with 19 vessels. Its initial mandate was broader than that of a specialist carrier: SCI was expected to provide shipping capacity for Indian trade while developing a national fleet able to serve different cargo and route requirements. The company expanded through consolidation. Jayanti Shipping Company became part of SCI in 1973, and Mogul Line Limited was merged into the organization in 1986. These transactions added vessels, personnel and operating capabilities and contributed to SCI's development as a diversified shipping group. Over time, the fleet included liner vessels, bulk carriers, crude-oil and product tankers, gas carriers, chemical tankers, passenger vessels and offshore support ships. SCI's growth reflected India's expanding industrial and energy economy. The company transported cargo for domestic and international customers and developed exposure to several major maritime segments rather than relying exclusively on one trade. At its historical high point, the fleet exceeded 120 vessels. The company has also supported India's merchant-marine ecosystem through seafarer employment, cadet training and the operation of vessels serving national commercial and strategic needs. In 2003, SCI recruited its first female cadet group, marking an important development in the company's training and crewing history. The enterprise later broadened its role in domestic transport. Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd. was incorporated in 2016 as a wholly owned SCI subsidiary following the Maritime India Summit. The subsidiary was intended to undertake or provide transportation through inland waterways and coastal shipping, areas aligned with India's efforts to shift some freight from roads and railways to water-based transport. SCI has remained under the ownership of the Government of India and under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. It is publicly listed, while its state ownership gives it a dual commercial and strategic character. In November 2019, the government approved privatization of the company. The transaction did not proceed in the period described by the supplied material, and the process was delayed in 2022 amid the effects of the Russo-Ukrainian war and wider market uncertainty. Subsequent policy emphasis shifted toward strengthening Indian shipping capacity. In 2025, the government announced plans involving the acquisition of more than 200 vessels through a joint-venture structure involving SCI and other predominantly state-owned stakeholders. The proposed fleet program included tankers, gas carriers, container ships, product tankers and offshore vessels. The policy rationale included supporting India's energy requirements, increasing domestic ownership or control of shipping capacity and encouraging Indian shipyards. The reference material describes additional procurement initiatives involving very large gas carriers, dual-fuel medium-range product tankers, methanol-fueled platform supply vessels and methanol-fueled feeder container ships. These initiatives indicate a transition from maintaining a legacy fleet toward adding larger, more fuel-efficient and strategically relevant tonnage. Because several of the described procurement events are future-dated or presented as planned tenders, their completion and delivery status should be verified independently. SCI's historical importance therefore rests on three connected roles: it is a commercial carrier serving cargo owners in India and abroad; a national institution that preserves merchant-shipping capability; and a vehicle through which the Indian government can pursue maritime, energy-security, fleet-renewal and shipbuilding objectives.
- 2019
Privatization approved
[1]The Government of India approved a privatization process for SCI.
- 2016
Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd. incorporated
[1]SCI established the wholly owned subsidiary to support inland-waterway and coastal transportation.
- 2003
First female cadet group recruited
[1]SCI recruited its first group of female cadets, an important milestone in its seafarer training history.
- 1986
Mogul Line Limited merged into SCI
[1]The integration further consolidated India's state-linked merchant shipping operations under SCI.
- 1973
Jayanti Shipping Company merged into SCI
[1]The merger expanded SCI's fleet and operating base.
- 1961
SCI established
[1]Eastern Shipping Corporation and Western Shipping Corporation were amalgamated to create Shipping Corporation of India on 2 October 1961.
Products and positioning
State-owned national merchant carrier and diversified maritime transport provider
Container shipping
Liner and container shipping
SCI has historically operated liner and container services connecting Indian trade with international routes. The business involves the movement of packaged and unitized cargo in containers, supported by vessels, port calls and associated cargo-management arrangements. Planned procurement described in the reference material includes methanol dual-fuel feeder container ships and larger cellular container ships, although delivery and operational status require verification.
Dry bulk shipping
Bulk carrier services
Bulk carrier operations transport unpackaged commodities such as industrial raw materials and other dry bulk cargoes. This capability supports India's manufacturing, infrastructure and resource sectors and forms part of SCI's traditional diversified fleet portfolio.
Liquid bulk shipping
Tanker services
SCI operates tanker services for energy and liquid-bulk movements, including crude oil and petroleum products. Tankers are strategically important to India's energy supply chain, and the company's fleet-expansion plans place particular emphasis on adding product tankers and other energy-related vessels.
Specialized shipping
Gas and chemical carrier services
The historical SCI fleet has included gas carriers and chemical tankers. These vessels serve specialized cargo markets requiring dedicated containment, safety procedures and technical operating expertise. A proposed program for very large gas carriers reflects the company's continuing interest in expanding this segment.
Passenger maritime transport
Passenger and cruise services
Passenger vessels and cruise-related services have formed part of SCI's historical operating scope. The company has also been associated with domestic passenger and cruise activity, although the current scale and exact offerings should be confirmed from the latest corporate disclosures.
Offshore maritime support
Offshore services
SCI's offshore segment uses specialized vessels to support offshore energy and maritime operations. The reference material identifies offshore vessels as part of the historical fleet and describes planned acquisition of a methanol dual-fuel platform supply vessel.
Domestic water transport · 2016
Coastal and inland shipping
Through its Inland & Coastal Shipping Ltd. subsidiary, SCI participates in the development of freight movement along India's coast and inland waterways. This offering aligns with national efforts to increase waterborne logistics and complement ocean-going merchant shipping.
Brand decisions
2025
National fleet expansion strategyStrategyBackground
India sought to increase domestic shipping capacity and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled tonnage for energy and other essential trade.
Action taken
The government announced a plan involving SCI and other predominantly state-owned stakeholders to acquire more than 200 vessels across multiple categories, including tankers.
Aftermath
The program was presented as a long-term fleet-renewal and energy-security initiative, with potential benefits for Indian shipyards and maritime capability. Implementation and final vessel counts require ongoing verification.
2019
Government approved SCI privatization processM&ABackground
The Government of India sought to reduce or change its ownership role in SCI through a privatization transaction.
Action taken
A privatization process was approved, but the supplied material indicates that it was later delayed and did not result in a completed ownership transfer.
Aftermath
The process was delayed in 2022 amid the Russo-Ukrainian war and subsequent policy emphasis moved toward expanding national merchant-shipping capacity.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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