3 year old Chennai Vladivostok shipping line proposal being revived?

India and Russia Joint Maritime Commission is expected to meet soon to give a big push to Maritime connectivity in the Indo-Pacific Region through the Chennai-Vladivostok shipping link, strengthen joint shipbuilding project and cooperate in the inland waterways sector. The commission, which will feed into bilateral projects in the Russian Far East, plans to meet in the near future according to media reports.

The issue was discussed at a virtual meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov during their joint commission earlier this week.

 The Chennai-Vladivostok maritime route has been revived and contributed to the growth in bilateral trade last year as part of PM Narendra Modi’s Act Far East Policy.

In 2021, Mazagaon Dock Ltd and Zvezda Shipyard of Russia signed an agreement for commercial shipping and building ships.

India had also sought partnership with Russia to improve navigation in India’s inland waterways, according to people aware of the matter. Last year Russia released its new maritime doctrine, which put India at the centre stage of its Indian Ocean Region strategy which involves jointly exploring offshore hydrocarbons and laying underwater.