The Andaman and Nicobar Islands took center stage at India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, where Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the national event celebrating India’s maritime growth and vision. Admiral D.K. Joshi (Retd.), Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency (IDA), led the Andaman & Nicobar UT Session, underscoring the islands’ pivotal role in advancing the Viksit Bharat and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat missions. Emphasizing that ports development and coastal shipping are critical to achieving India’s $5 trillion economy goal, he described the archipelago as India’s maritime hub and rising Blue Economy powerhouse.
Admiral Joshi highlighted the islands’ strategic positioning along vital Indo-Pacific shipping lanes, crucial to both defence preparedness and maritime domain awareness. He reaffirmed the vision of transforming the Andaman & Nicobar Islands into a regional shipbuilding and repair hub and strengthening their role in India’s maritime strategy. Among flagship projects, he cited the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) at Galathea Bay, which has been notified as a major port and is expected to be among India’s top three container-handling ports with a capacity of 16.5 million TEUs. Port Meadows has been designated the first ship-to-ship transshipment and Customs port for exports and imports. The holistic development of Great Nicobar Island will boost tourism and infrastructure, positioning the islands as a vital gateway to Southeast Asia.
Highlighting digital transformation, the Lieutenant Governor said that the CANI Submarine Cable project now connects over 100 islands, enabling robust communication and e-governance. The Islands Development Agency is advancing sustainable growth through fisheries, marine biodiversity, and renewable energy, with new initiatives like cruise tourism to Barren Island, government e-ticketing for ships, Water Metro integration, and new passenger vessels to enhance connectivity and services.
A special session on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands was held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai, to deliberate on the potential opportunities in the maritime sector. The event saw participation from Chief Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chanchal Yadav, IAS (Fisheries), Smt. J.P. Irene Cynthia, IAS (KPL), and Purva Garg, IAS (Shipping), along with maritime industry representatives. The Chief Secretary highlighted the pivotal role of key sectors such as shipping, tourism, and fisheries in shaping the maritime domain of the islands.
During the session on tourism, the A&N Administration presented a plan titled “Potential and Opportunities of Maritime Tourism in Andaman & Nicobar Islands,” showcasing a diverse strategy encompassing beach, cruise, heritage, eco-, astro-, and adventure tourism. New cruise circuits connecting Sri Vijaya Puram, Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, Barren Island, Little Andaman, and the Nicobar group are being developed, alongside seaplane connectivity between Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep, and Long Island. The administration aims to position the islands as a global scuba diving destination, recognizing dive sites like South Button, Dixon’s Pinnacle, and Jackson Bar. Diving standards will align with WRSTC international norms, with plans to establish hyperbaric chambers, international dive schools, and underwater maritime heritage parks around World War-II shipwrecks. The islands’ unique Sport Fishing Rule gives them an edge in promoting sport fishing as a new tourism stream. Eco- and astro-tourism are being promoted through birdwatching trails and dark-sky stargazing hubs, while heritage sites like Cellular Jail, NSCB Dweep, Viper Island, and Chatham are being transformed into interactive attractions narrating the journey from “Colonial Sin to Tourism Paradise to Investor Paradise.”
The UT’s first-ever Houseboat Tourism Policy and planned Guinness World Record attempts, including the world’s largest underwater flag and human chain in March 2026, underline its global ambitions for sustainable, adventure-led tourism. These multi-faceted initiatives reflect a strategic push toward sustainable, inclusive, and investor-friendly tourism, positioning the islands as a vibrant maritime tourism hub and global tourism powerhouse.
In the session on fisheries, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Fisheries) Chanchal Yadav led a discussion on “Fisheries as a Driver of the Blue Economy,” focusing on the immense potential of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in tuna development, mariculture, and aquaculture. Key projects include the development of the Tuna Cluster, Commercial Mariculture and Brackishwater Aquaculture, and the Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder. The administration has invited applications for leasing sea areas to promote mariculture ventures like open sea cage culture, seaweed cultivation, and pearl farming. Amendments to the A&N Marine Fishing Rules, 2004, now enable registration of fishing vessels up to 24 metres OAL. Development of tsunami-inundated lands for aquaculture and implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana are ongoing. An interactive session followed, with stakeholders sharing insights and suggestions, and an exhibition stall showcased opportunities in mariculture, fisheries, and sport fishing sectors.
In the session on shipping, Secretary (Shipping) Purva Garg, IAS, presented transformative maritime initiatives aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, highlighting the Andaman & Nicobar Islands’ role in India’s eastern maritime frontier. The Directorate of Shipping Services currently operates 66 vessels, carrying 7.5 million passengers and handling 2 million MT of cargo annually. With 70% of short-route passenger movement already managed by private operators, the administration is encouraging greater private participation in shipping services. Major projects include the International Container Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay near the Malacca Strait, the deep-water port at Atlanta Bay, Diglipur for shipbuilding and repair, and the Water Metro Project at Sri Vijaya Puram in collaboration with Kochi Water Metro. The Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships is implementing a Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) at Sri Vijaya Puram for enhanced maritime safety.
The islands are also witnessing a revival in cruise and yacht tourism, with four international cruise calls confirmed between December 2025 and March 2026, reflecting renewed confidence among cruise operators. Plans are underway to develop yacht marinas at Mithakadi (Sri Vijaya Puram) and Campbell Bay, while new cruise circuit itineraries covering eight islands and two anchorage ports are being explored to promote responsible, eco-sensitive tourism. The continued development of cruise and yacht tourism infrastructure is expected to substantially enhance connectivity, generate employment, and position the islands as a key maritime tourism hub.
Further developments include declaring eleven routes within the islands as National Waterways under the Inland Vessels Act 2021, establishing a Centre of Excellence for Maritime Training, and improving digital integration through the Chennai–Andaman–Nicobar Submarine Cable and Digital Bharat Network. The islands also aim to attract investment from the ₹70,000 crore Ship Construction and Repair Mission, leveraging their strategic Indo-Pacific location.
The Andaman & Nicobar delegation reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Cochin Shipyard Limited, and private stakeholders to realize the Maritime Amrit Vision 2047 through sustainable shipping growth, infrastructure modernization, and employment generation. From digital transformation to deep-sea development, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are positioning themselves not merely as remote territories, but as India’s strategic maritime frontier and emerging Blue Economy hub in the Indo-Pacific.
