DP World has acquired DP World Indus, a container vessel of more than 2,500 TEUs, to strengthen its coastal shipping network in India. The ship joins the company’s Shipping Solutions fleet, which now covers 14 Indian ports and handled more than 473,000 TEUs through coastal operations in 2025.
The vessel is designed to move cargo between key Indian ports, offering an alternative to long-haul road transport and easing pressure on the country’s overland freight network. DP World says coastal shipping also reduces carbon emissions compared with equivalent land routes.
“India’s coastal shipping sector presents a significant opportunity to improve supply chain efficiency and support sustainable economic growth. We documented this opportunity gap in our ‘Enhancing India’s Ship Registry: Pathways to Global Competitiveness’ report in 2025, and the acquisition of India-flagged DP World Indus, reflects our commitment to strengthening domestic maritime connectivity and providing customers with reliable, high-quality services that connect businesses and markets across the country,” Ganesh Raj, Global Chief Operating Officer, Marine Services, DP World said in a statement.
DP World Indus made its maiden call at Jeddah South Container Terminal, which is operated by DP World, as part of an effort to link the company’s ports and marine services more closely.
The acquisition follows a memorandum of understanding DP World signed last year with Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to develop coastal and shortsea shipping services across the country. Both moves sit within DP World’s stated strategy to invest in India’s maritime infrastructure ahead of the country’s Maritime Vision 2030.
