National Shipping Board holds first 'Sagar Samvad'; India plans 100 new ships
At the National Shipping Board's first 'Sagar Samvad' in New Delhi on 25 August 2026, Sarbananda Sonowal said India plans to add 100 vessels in five years to cut a $75 billion foreign freight bill.
Summary
The National Shipping Board (NSB) held its first 'Sagar Samvad' dialogue in New Delhi on 25 August 2026, chaired by Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Sonowal said India aims to add 100 vessels to its merchant fleet over five years to cut a foreign freight bill of about $75 billion. An NSB panel noted that Indian-flagged ships are 16â20% costlier to run than foreign ones and proposed a five-point roadmap of fiscal reform, assured cargo support, competitive financing, regulatory streamlining and ease of doing business. The NSB, a statutory body set up in 1958 and reconstituted in May 2025 under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, also launched its website and submitted its 2025-26 annual report.
Key facts
- Event
- First Sagar Samvad, 25 Aug 2026, New Delhi
- Chaired by
- Sarbananda Sonowal
- Target
- 100 new vessels in 5 years
- Freight bill
- About $75 billion paid to foreign ships
- Cost gap
- Indian-flagged ships 16â20% costlier
- NSB
- Statutory body set up 1958; reconstituted May 2025
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The National Shipping Board, which held its first 'Sagar Samvad' in August 2026, was originally constituted as a statutory body in which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: C â 1958
Sonowal noted that the NSB is a statutory body constituted in 1958, older than the shipping ministry it advises; it was reconstituted in May 2025.
At the first Sagar Samvad on 25 August 2026, how many new vessels did the Shipping Minister say India plans to add over five years?
Show answer
Correct answer: A â 100
Sonowal said India plans to add 100 vessels to its merchant fleet over five years to cut a $75 billion foreign freight bill.