Ahoy! THE WEEK maritime microsite is here: Union Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches exclusive maritime and shipping news portal

Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) of India, launched an exciting new chapter in the industry’s news coverage as he unveiled the ‘Maritime, Ahoy!’ microsite of THE WEEK today.

 

Sonowal was the chief guest and the keynote speaker at the finale day of THE WEEK Maritime Conclave 2025 at the Crown Plaza, Kochi.

 

The union minister was joined by Riyad Mathew, the Chief Associate Editor and Director, THE WEEK, The Malayala Manorama Group, during the launch of the microsite.

 

Mathew welcomed Sonowal to the dias by adorning him with a kavani, a traditional Kerala symbol of reverence and respect.

 

They were joined by Divya Iyer IAS, MD of the Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd, and Madhu Nair, Chairman and Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on the stage.

 

Riyad Mathew hailed Sonowal’s commitment to India’s maritime sector, “The honourable minister took an early morning flight to Kochi just to be here with you!”

 

Mathew recalled how a few weeks ago, Sonowal met with THE WEEK team to discuss the Maritime Conclave 2025, “He wanted every detail of the summit… He is so devoted to the sector.”

 

The latest Maritime microsite joins THE WEEK’s dedicated coverage, which began with the launch of the dedicated Health microsite last year, and then the Middle East and Defence microsites earlier in 2025. 

 

“Namaskaram, ellavarkum sukhamalle? (Greetings, hope everyone is keeping well)” Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal greeted the Conclave attendees in Malayalam to a cheering encore.

 

He went on to hail how Kerala is a critical state for the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and how he loves coming to the southern states—he has already been in Kerala over 15 times in his tenure in the Union Cabinet.

Maritime