A quiet but significant transformation is underway in global shipping. Major international shipping lines including Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC are increasingly re-registering their vessels under the Indian flag, reflecting growing confidence in India’s maritime governance, regulatory reforms, and emerging role as a global maritime hub.
Global Reflagging Momentum Strengthens India’s Maritime Position
The trend of reflagging to India, which began earlier this year, has gained notable momentum. French shipping major CMA CGM initiated the wave in April by transferring its vessel CMA CGM Vitoria from the Maltese registry to India a move that came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the company’s headquarters in France.
Since then, CMA CGM has reportedly added more vessels to the Indian registry, with another expected to follow soon. In a similar development, Switzerland-based Mediterranean Shipping Company is preparing to reflag select vessels under the Indian flag, with formal announcements anticipated during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.
This growing list of reflagging initiatives underscores India’s rising profile as a maritime center capable of attracting the world’s largest carriers.
Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC Lead the Way
Following CMA CGM’s lead, Denmark-based Maersk reflagged two of its container ships, Maersk Vilnius and Maersk Vigo from Hong Kong to India earlier this month. The reflagging was conducted through the company’s Indian subsidiary, Maersk Bharat IFSC Pvt Ltd, established in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City
Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has also joined the movement, with more than ten vessels now flying the Indian flag. Collectively, these transitions have contributed to a steady expansion of India’s ship registry, which currently comprises around 1,600 vessels with a combined gross tonnage of approximately 14 million tons.
Bridging the Tonnage Gap
Despite this growth, India continues to rely heavily on foreign flagged ships to carry its trade spending an estimated USD 75 billion annually on chartering foreign vessels. The reflagging drive aims to narrow this gap by incentivizing both Indian and international operators to register their ships domestically.
Expanding the Indian registry not only enhances the country’s capacity for domestic cargo carriage but also strengthens port operations, ship management, and employment opportunities for Indian seafarers.
“Each vessel that joins the Indian flag not only boosts our maritime capacity but also creates value and jobs across the shipping ecosystem,” said a senior official at the Directorate General of Shipping.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the trend is promising, sustaining momentum will require continuous policy support, enhanced ship repair capacity, and faster regulatory processes. Competing registries in Singapore, Malta, and Panama still offer advantages in cost and convenience, which India will need to address through modernization and digitalization.
Nevertheless, the growing interest from major carriers like Maersk, CMA CGM, and MSC signals a structural shift in global shipping patterns one that places India firmly on the world’s maritime map.
A New Maritime Chapter
As more vessels adopt the Indian flag, the country is transitioning from a major trade hub to an emerging maritime power. The reflagging wave represents not just a logistical change, but a symbolic endorsement of India’s credibility and ambitions in global shipping.
“This is more than a reflagging exercise,” noted an industry observer. “It’s a statement of confidence in India’s maritime governance, in its growing economic influence, and in its vision to become a leading seafaring nation.”
