Tokenising the tides: Unlocking India’s $1 trillion blue economy vision

Aligned with Amrit Kaal 2047, recent reforms encourage private participation, address funding gaps, and strengthen India’s shipbuilding competitiveness.

Maritime, as a business option, is often characterised by legacy-based enterprises. Entry points for new enthusiasts are relatively low. Tokenisation seems to create a door within this wall, making it easier to permeate the boundaries and enter the market.

Tokenisation is a viable option not only for the industry but also for the individuals who operate within it. It breaks down large maritime assets into small, fungible digital tokens. Each token represents a fractional share of

the asset and entitles its holder to corresponding rights, such as dividends from charter revenues or voting privileges within the asset’s governance structure. Blockchain technology ensures that all transactions and ownership records are transparent, tamper-proof, and accessible to all participants.

Investors can now participate in the maritime industry at much lower entry costs and secure a position for themselves. Shipowners gain new funding channels without giving up operational control. All these features point towards a better pace towards Amrit Kaal 2047, and the country’s $1 trillion blue economy vision. Tokenisation helps open avenues for private sector collaboration across various facets, making it easier for the country to achieve 500 million DWT (deadweight tonnage) of new capacity by 2047, from the current standing of 18 million DWT.

In order to achieve these, tokenisation needs to be imbued within the ecosystem. The government has already laid the road map, and with the new Merchant Shipping and Bills of Lading Bills (2025), the road ahead looks promising for new investors and prestige businesses.

These reforms, especially the Bills of Lading Bills Act, can reduce transaction costs by 30 per cent and unlock $80–$100 billion in trade value through blockchain based tokenized documentation.

The announcement of a ₹250 billion ($2.9 billion) Maritime Development Fund in the 2025 Union Budget guaranteed long-term financing for shipbuilding and repair, both crucial in token-based funding models.

Tokenisation cannot withstand the industry’s heritage on its own, and it comes with a set of challenges that need to be fixed prior to any kind of onboarding.

We need a framework that encompasses finance, maritime, and fintech, all in one, so that the regulations are made clear lest any compromises arise later on. Since it is a matter of trading in digital tokens, there should be a handbook for managing the transactions and any potential security breaches. If a framework is set up within the country that can serve as a singular platform for the vendors and the investors in all their concerns, Tokenisation in the maritime industry can help propel it ahead.

It should also be noted that companies that are established empires still depend on the traditional methods of syndicated loans and vessel charters in the old-school manner, and need to be convinced, which can be a significant roadblock for a while.

Anything new in the market has to prove itself, and the same stands true in the case of Tokenisation. However, the numbers do speak for themselves, which is a good sign. The international asset Tokenisation market is valued at $1.47 trillion in 2025. It is predicted to touch $5.45 trillion by 2029, growing at over 38 per cent CAGR. India is expected to capture at least $100 billion of this market domestically through real-world asset Tokenisation by 2030.

By allowing fractional involvement in ship finance and infrastructure projects, Tokenisation could aid in the unlocking of such resources by avoiding the conventional reliance on banks and government funding.

Tokenised maritime finance has the ability to fill in the capital gap, give a way to sustainable fleet growth, and place India among the top five shipbuilding nations, as is the government’s aim.