Unifeeder, Sagarmala Finance Corp sign pact for green coastal shipping push

Unifeeder, a DP World company, has signed an agreement with Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd (SMFCL) to develop and expand commercially sustainable coastal shipping services across India.

SMFCL, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, will collaborate with Unifeeder to advance projects that help decongest roads, reduce logistics costs, and support India’s decarbonisation goals.

According to DP World, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sets up a framework for joint action to design and finance coastal shipping corridors. SMFCL will use its Maritime Development Fund to create low-cost financing and credit-enhancement instruments, while Unifeeder will provide operational expertise, multimodal infrastructure, and digital capabilities.

The MoU was exchanged in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and DP World Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.

The initiative seeks to establish a scalable model for shifting cargo transport from road to sea, reducing emissions and improving multimodal connectivity across India’s supply chains.