Challenge

To address India’s decarbonisation and sustainability challenges in its maritime sector, the aim was to develop the country’s first National Green Shipping Policy (NGSP); and design a framework for a new Mumbai-based Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE–SMarT) to support the BIMST-EC region (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).

Solution

Lloyd’s Register (LR) Advisory was commissioned to deliver a comprehensive, actionable framework under a tight timeline and within a complex, multi stakeholder environment. Working under the guidance of the Director General of Shipping, India, LR Advisory applied a five-step methodology and delivered two parallel workstreams:

  • A detailed NGSP, building on the outcomes of the 2022 Green Conclave, to support environmental impact reduction, promote stakeholder collaboration, enable innovation and align with evolving regulatory standards
  • A strategic framework for the IOCE–SMarT, designed to advance regional maritime sustainability through innovation, capacity-building, digital transformation, research and global cooperation.

Both initiatives were designed with a long-term view toward decarbonisation, practical implementation and  regional leadership, and were grounded in technical evidence and cross-sector engagement.

Approach taken

LR Advisory’s delivery approach involved extensive stakeholder consultation, benchmarking, infrastructure  reviews and financial modelling, with coordinatedinput from their technical and decarbonisation teams.  Close collaboration with senior Indian government stakeholders ensured that the w ork remained strategically aligned and adaptable under changing timelines. Preparedness, flexibility and internal coordination were key to delivering impact at pace.

Key activities and outpouts: NGSP

  • Ongoing consultation with senior officials
  • Assessment of decarbonisation barriers, commitments, progress and gaps
  • Policy scope covering shipbuilding, ports, ship recycling, logistics and finance
  • Scenario analysis exploring trade-offs, risks and opportunities under different decarbonisation pathways
  • Benchmarking of global green shipping policies
  • A two-pronged policy approach with
    • Driving instruments to set firm emissions reduction targets
    • Supportive instruments to incentivise sustainable practices across the maritime value chain
  • A high-level roadmap with interim milestones to support India’s maritime net-zero target by 2070.

Key activities and outpouts: IOCE–SMART

  • Ongoing consultation with senior officials
  • Strategic review of existing Indian policies and BIMST-EC initiatives
  • Global benchmarking of leading maritime centres of excellence
  • Development of proposed verticals to promote innovation, policy development, collaboration, digital transformation and human capital
  • High-level roadmap for institutionalisation of IOCE–SMarT, including infrastructure planning and industry alignment

Key customer benefits

  • Strategic guidance for national maritime decarbonisation
  • Framework to lead regional sustainability efforts
  • Rapid delivery under pressure and shifting timelines
  • High visibility at national and ministerial level
  • Trusted partner support with multidisciplinary expertise
  • Regional cooperation and leadership through BIMST-EC
  • Economic benefits via trade facilitation and innovation
  • Human capital development through skills and knowledge sharing
  • Enhanced international positioning through targeted partnerships

Project outcome

Both the NGSP and IOCE–SMarT strategies were unveiled on stage at the 2025 Green Conclave by the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, alongside other senior government officials and LR Advisory’s Global Head of Management Consulting, Ambrish Bansal. Since then, the NGSP has entered formal consultation and has already begun influencing maritime sustainability discourse in other regions. The IOCESMarT strategy is now set for phased implementation, and LR Advisory has opened conversations with other national governments pursuing similar goals.

Impact on customer's business & operations

The NGSP provides India with a unified, forward-looking framework to support decarbonisation in its maritime sector. It enhances India’s leadership role in global sustainability efforts, strengthens long-term infrastructure planning, and creates new opportunities for capacity-building through the IOCE–SMarT platform.

Conclusion

The NGSP and IOCE-SMarT have created a coordinated foundation for accelerating green maritime progress in India. By supporting practical implementation, stakeholder alignment and capacity building, they help turn strategy into action. Delivered under tight timelines, the project has reinforced LR Advisory’s role as a trusted partner in national maritime transformation and stands as a benchmark for future public sector engagements.