Indian government partners with LR on maritime decarbonisation and digital reform

The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), Government of India, has appointed Lloyd’s Register (LR) Advisory as its Technical Support Unit (TSU) to assist in the modernisation and decarbonisation of the national maritime sector.

The TSU will provide strategic and technical guidance as India seeks to align its regulatory frameworks with international conventions and environmental standards.

The collaboration involves an assessment of existing governance structures to identify gaps and recommend policy reforms. A primary focus of the partnership is the development of a Green Port Index, which will benchmark the environmental performance of Indian ports.

“This appointment reflects India’s ambition to work with partners who can bring a depth of technical expertise and international perspective to national maritime reforms,” said Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, Government of India.

“LR’s experience in policy development, decarbonisation pathways and digital modernisation were cited as key factors in the selection.”

The agreement also covers the refinement of India’s Integrated Shipping Policy and the creation of frameworks for onshore power supply. Additionally, LR Advisory will support the advancement of green shipbuilding and green recycling practices, alongside the digital transformation of various regulatory processes.

“India is rapidly expanding its port infrastructure and maritime connectivity,” said Ambrish Bansal, Global Head – Management Consulting & Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Advisory at LR Advisory.

“Our role is to turn policy ambition into practical, scalable regulation. By leveraging global expertise and benchmarking, we support implementation at pace — accelerating India’s transition to lower-emission shipping while reinforcing long-term resilience and investor confidence.”

The initial contract is for one year, with a framework established to potentially extend the partnership for up to five years.

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