global shipping leader CMA CGM welcomed its first Indian-flagged vessel, CMA CGM Vitoria, at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal on 28 April 2025. This significant step, witnessed by Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
marks the beginning of deeper foreign investment into India’s shipping sector, aligning with the nation’s vision for sustainable, equitable global trade connectivity.
Registered under the Indian flag, CMA CGM Vitoria, with a capacity of 2,592 TEUs, is now operational on the company’s BIGEX service network, linking India directly to the Gulf and Red Sea regions. Performing weekly calls at Nhava Sheva and Mundra, the vessel will bolster India’s strategic role in global supply chains while enhancing domestic port throughput and efficiency.CMA CGM’s decision to register locally reflects growing international confidence in India’s maritime ecosystem and regulatory frameworks. Notably, the company becomes the first foreign shipping line to register a containerised vessel at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in GIFT City, Gujarat.
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This initiative resonates with India’s broader efforts to build eco-friendly and carbon-neutral maritime infrastructure, ensuring cities remain future-ready and globally competitive.With a 34-year presence in India and a workforce exceeding 17,000, CMA CGM has entrenched itself as a vital trade facilitator, offering 19 weekly maritime services connecting Indian ports to international destinations. Simultaneously, the Group is aggressively expanding its investment footprint in India’s port infrastructure, with notable developments at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal and Mundra Port, thereby contributing to urban sustainability and economic resilience.
Complementing its shipping operations, CMA CGM’s logistics arm, CEVA Logistics, operates across 105 sites in 31 cities, managing approximately 900,000 square metres of warehousing. The strategic acquisition of Stellar VCS in 2023 fortified CEVA’s capabilities in India’s contract logistics sector, empowering industries with agile, efficient supply chain solutions.The arrival of CMA CGM Vitoria is seen not merely as an operational milestone but as a reaffirmation of India’s evolving role as a global maritime powerhouse.
It brings with it the promise of greener logistics practices, greater gender-neutral employment opportunities within the sector, and stronger compliance with sustainable development goals. As Indian ports gear up for higher traffic and larger responsibilities, initiatives like these are vital in scripting a resilient and environmentally responsible future for the nation’s coastal cities.In an era when economic growth must harmonise with ecological responsibility, CMA CGM’s commitment to strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure, while championing low-carbon and sustainable practices, sets a precedent that industry stakeholders will be keen to follow.
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