Key Highlights
- The Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) was launched as a national yardstick to gauge and boost the efficiency of Indian ports.
- Four new digital platforms—e‑Navik grievance hub, e‑Samudra ship‑registration, medical practitioner portal, and a unified ship‑recycling credit system—were inaugurated.
- LPPI aligns with PM Gati Shakti, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aiming to catapult India into the top tier of global maritime nations.
- Top‑ranked ports for FY 2024‑25: Paradip (dry bulk), Sikka (liquid bulk) and Mundra (container).
- India’s overall standing in the World Bank’s logistics indices improved markedly, climbing to 22nd place in shipment performance.
Detailed Insights
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways introduced the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) under the broader Sagar Aankalan Framework. By assigning scores to cargo‑handling volumes, vessel turnaround, berth idle periods, pre‑berthing waits, container dwell times and ship‑day outputs, the index delivers a transparent, performance‑driven view of port operations. Equal weight is given to current results and year‑on‑year progress, urging continuous refinement.
Simultaneously, the Directorate General of Shipping rolled out four digital initiatives aimed at streamlining maritime governance. The 24×7 e‑Navik grievance redressal system lets seafarers lodge complaints via portal, helpline, WhatsApp or email, enhancing welfare in line with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. The e‑Samudra ship‑registration module digitizes vessel enrolment, cutting processing times and bolstering transparency. A dedicated medical practitioner module curtails fraudulent health certifications and standardises crew medical assessments. Finally, a unified ship‑recycling portal under the Ship Recycling Credit Scheme offers ship owners credit notes worth 40 % of scrap value when vessels are recycled at Indian yards complying with the Hong Kong Convention, thereby supporting domestic shipbuilding.
In its inaugural edition, LPPI identified the leading ports by cargo type: Paradip for dry bulk, Sikka for liquid bulk, and Mundra for container traffic. Jawaharlal Nehru Port secured the runner‑up spot among major container hubs. The Ministry highlighted India’s leap from 44th to 22nd in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (shipments) and the presence of seven Indian ports in the top‑100 of the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index 2024, underscoring the impact of recent infrastructural and policy measures.
Key Concepts
- Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI): A quantitative framework that evaluates Indian ports on operational metrics such as cargo throughput and turnaround efficiency.
- Sagar Aankalan Framework: The overarching monitoring system that promotes transparency, competition, and continual improvement across India’s maritime infrastructure.
- e‑Navik Grievance Redressal: A round‑the‑clock digital platform allowing seafarers to submit and track complaints through multiple channels.
- e‑Samudra Ship Registration: An online portal that streamlines vessel registration, reducing paperwork and processing delays.
- Ship Recycling Credit Scheme: A fiscal incentive that grants credit notes to owners recycling vessels at compliant Indian facilities, encouraging domestic shipbuilding.