<p data-path-to-node="2" id="p-rc_20e44d2cdcfe641c-37"><span data-path-to-node="2,0"><b data-path-to-node="2,0" data-index-in-node="0">MUMBAI —</b> In a defining structural initiative to assert maritime sovereignty and curb India’s heavy fiscal outgo to foreign shipping lines, the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has finalized plans for a ₹12,000-crore commercial container fleet acquisition program under the aegis of the newly formed Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) consortium</span><span data-path-to-node="2,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="2,2">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2387643082=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="3" id="p-rc_20e44d2cdcfe641c-38"><span data-path-to-node="3,0">The fleet expansion program represents the first large-scale capital deployment executed through the BCSL joint framework, which unites SCI with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Sagarmala Development Company, and major port authorities</span><span data-path-to-node="3,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,2">. Under the multi-year blueprint, the consortium aims to order and acquire a modern cellular containership fleet comprising feeder and mid-sized post-Panamax vessels ranging from 2,500 TEUs to 8,000 TEUs</span><span data-path-to-node="3,3"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,4">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2387643082=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_20e44d2cdcfe641c-39"><span data-path-to-node="4,0">The primary strategic objective is to overturn domestic trade's long-standing reliance on foreign-flagged carriers, which currently handle more than 90% of India’s containerized sea trade and siphon away an estimated $75 billion annually in foreign freight outgo</span><span data-path-to-node="4,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,2">. By deploying Indian-flagged tonnage across critical trade lanes linking western and southern gateways—such as JNPA, Mundra, Cochin, and Tuticorin—to hubs across the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and Europe, BCSL will provide price stability, eliminate arbitrary equipment repositioning fees, and guarantee container slot availability for domestic exporters</span><span data-path-to-node="4,3"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,4">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2387643082=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_20e44d2cdcfe641c-40"><span data-path-to-node="5,0">The procurement plan directly leverages fiscal mechanisms provided under the Union Government's maritime revitalization roadmap, including access to low-cost debt via the ₹25,000-crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF) and subsidies under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS)</span><span data-path-to-node="5,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,2">. Under the Right of First Refusal (RoFR) and <i data-path-to-node="5,2" data-index-in-node="46">Make in India</i> public procurement mandates, domestic shipbuilders—led by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)—will retain preferential rights to match lowest bids and construct designated tranches of the fleet</span><span data-path-to-node="5,3"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="5,4">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2387643082=""><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_20e44d2cdcfe641c-41"><span data-path-to-node="6,0">Operational integration will see SCI manage blue-water crewing, safety audits, and technical ship maintenance, while CONCOR aligns inland container depots (ICDs) and high-speed rail express loops to feed sovereign tonnage directly under unified single-window through-bills-of-lading</span><span data-path-to-node="6,1"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,2">. The vessels will also be paired with indigenous boxes fabricated under the ₹10,000-crore container manufacturing scheme, building an end-to-end national logistics loop</span><span data-path-to-node="6,3"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c1832190780="" class="ng-star-inserted"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c1832190780="" class="superscript"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="6,4">.</span></p>