Oceanic Routes

India’s coastline is vast — approximately 7,517 km, including the islands. This long coast is the backbone of the country’s oceanic transport network. Twelve major ports and over 200 minor ports provide the necessary infrastructure to support shipping along these routes.

Oceanic routes are not just an alternative to land transport; they are the dominant channel for India’s external trade. A staggering 95 per cent of India’s foreign trade by volume and 70 per cent by value moves through ocean routes. This means that almost everything India buys from or sells to the rest of the world — from crude oil and machinery to food grains and textiles — travels by sea. …