India launches E-Samudra digital platform for maritime services

India has launched E-Samudra, an integrated digital platform designed to modernize maritime governance and streamline services for seafarers, shipping companies, and ports. Inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Mumbai, the platform serves as a single digital window featuring end-to-end workflows, real-time tracking, online payments, and digital certification to increase transparency and reduce compliance burdens.

The initiative arrives as India's active seafarer workforce has grown from approximately 103,000 in 2013 to over 323,000 in 2025. As the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers, India aims to become the largest.

Complementary welfare initiatives were also introduced, including the e-NAVIK 24/7 grievance redressal system, a forthcoming Seafarer Tracking Dashboard, and the Digital Seafarers Employment Agreement (d-SEA). Other programs like 'Sagar Mein Yog' and 'Sagar Mein Samman' focus on the physical, mental, and gender-specific well-being of maritime workers.