What does the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) do and why is it a public authority under the RTI Act?

The Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) is a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) established in 1961 and incorporated under the Companies Act. It operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. SCI is India's largest shipping company by fleet size and manages a diverse fleet of vessels engaged in coastal and deep-sea trade, covering segments such as crude oil tankers, product tankers, dry bulk carriers, container ships, and offshore support vessels. Because the Government of India holds a majority equity stake in SCI and SCI was established to discharge a public function in the national shipping sector, it is a public authority within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. This means any citizen can file an RTI application with SCI's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) and is entitled to receive information held by SCI within the timelines prescribed by the Act.

Can RTI be used to access SCI employee service records, including promotion disputes and disciplinary proceedings?

Yes, subject to the privacy exemption under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. SCI employees and other affected persons can file RTI applications to obtain: seniority lists for specific cadres (such as deck officers, engineering officers, or shore-based staff), the composition and decisions of Departmental Promotion Committees, the criteria applied for promotion to a higher rank or grade, the status and outcome of a specific service matter complaint or appeal, and — in a departmental inquiry — the orders issued and the authority that issued them. Information that would intrude on the personal privacy of a third party (such as confidential medical records of another employee or personal financial details not relevant to the matter) may be withheld by the CPIO under Section 8(1)(j). However, procedural information — dates, committee decisions, criteria applied, and orders issued — is routinely disclosable and the CIC has consistently upheld such requests.

Are SCI tenders, contracts, and procurement records accessible under RTI?

Yes. SCI, as a public authority, is obligated to disclose information about tenders awarded, contracts entered into, and the basis on which procurement decisions were made. You can seek: the list of tenders awarded above a specified value for a given financial year, the names of successful bidders and the awarded amounts, whether a tender was awarded through open competitive bidding or through limited/single-source procurement and the recorded justification, and whether any contract is under dispute or arbitration. Commercial confidence under Section 8(1)(d) is a limited exemption — it protects genuinely proprietary trade secrets of third-party vendors where disclosure would harm their competitive position, but it does not protect the award price, the name of the awardee, or the procurement method used by SCI itself. The CIC has consistently held that the outcome of a public procurement process is not a trade secret.

What maritime training information is available through RTI for SCI's training institutes?

SCI is associated with the Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research (LBSCAMSAR) in Mumbai and has connections with other maritime training institutions. Through RTI, you can obtain: the list of training courses offered, their eligibility criteria, intake capacity, and admission process; admission statistics for a specific batch (applications received, shortlisted, admitted, and reservation policy applied); fee structures and available scholarships or fee-waiver schemes; course syllabi and examination patterns; and pass/fail outcomes for specific trainees where the information seeker has a legitimate interest (such as the trainee themselves or a sponsoring employer). Admission criteria and seat allocation are matters of public interest and are not exempt under any provision of the RTI Act.

What happens if SCI denies my RTI application or does not respond within 30 days?

If the CPIO of SCI does not respond within 30 days of receipt of your application, or provides an incomplete, incorrect, or inadequately reasoned reply, you have two levels of appeal. First, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at SCI — this must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If the FAA's response is also absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act with the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi, within 90 days. SCI is a Central Government CPSE under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — the second appeal body is the CIC, not any State Information Commission. The CIC has authority under Section 20 to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the CPIO for unjustified delay or denial in furnishing information.

Home/Guides/RTI for Shipping Corporation of India: Cargo Freight, Vessel Operations & Employment Records

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RTI for Shipping Corporation of India: Cargo Freight, Vessel Operations & Employment Records

File RTI with the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) to access cargo freight rate information, vessel operation records, employee service matters, tenders and contracts, maritime training admissions, and SCI financial performance data.

Updated 1 Jun 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways

Address RTI ToCentral Public Information Officer, Shipping Corporation of India, Mumbai

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days (48 hours for life/liberty matters)

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) is India's largest government-owned shipping company and a Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE). Incorporated in 1961 and operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, SCI manages a diverse fleet spanning crude oil tankers, product tankers, dry bulk carriers, container vessels, and offshore support vessels engaged in both coastal and international deep-sea trade.

Because the Government of India holds a majority equity stake in SCI and the company was established to discharge a public function in the national shipping sector, it is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. Any citizen can therefore file an RTI application with SCI's Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) to obtain information from SCI's records — including cargo freight details, vessel operation data, employee service matter outcomes, tender awards, maritime training admissions, and the company's financial performance as a PSU.

What Citizens Can Obtain Through RTI with SCI

RTI applications to the Shipping Corporation of India are useful across several distinct categories of information, covering both SCI's commercial operations and its internal administrative processes.

Tenders and contracts

SCI procures goods, services, and vessel-related contracts worth significant sums each year. As a public authority, SCI is obligated to disclose the details of tenders awarded, the basis for the award, and whether the procurement method was competitive or otherwise. You can seek the list of contracts awarded above a specified threshold in a given financial year, the names of successful bidders and contract values, the procurement route followed (open tender, limited tender, or single-source), and the recorded justification where open competitive bidding was not used. Commercial confidence under Section 8(1)(d) does not shield the award price, the name of the awardee, or the procurement method — these are outcomes of a public procurement process and are routinely disclosable.

Vessel operations and fleet information

SCI's fleet composition, flag of registration, and operational deployment are matters of significant public and commercial interest — for seafarers, port communities, cargo shippers, and maritime researchers alike. Through RTI, you can obtain a current list of vessels owned or operated by SCI, their type and tonnage, flag of registration, and primary trade route or sector. You can also seek information on vessels chartered to third parties, and — where SCI vessels are flagged outside India — the justification for non-Indian flagging.

Employee service matters and cadre information

SCI employs seafaring personnel (deck officers, engineering officers, and ratings) as well as a large shore-based workforce. Disputes over promotion, seniority, and disciplinary outcomes are common in any large organisation. Under RTI, an affected employee or an interested party can seek the seniority list for a specific cadre, the composition and decisions of Departmental Promotion Committees, the criteria applied for promotion to a higher rank, and the orders issued in a specific service matter complaint or disciplinary proceeding. The CIC has consistently held that seniority lists, DPC decisions, and the criteria for promotion are not exempt under any provision of the RTI Act. Only genuinely personal information about third parties — such as confidential medical or financial records not relevant to the matter — may be withheld under Section 8(1)(j).

Maritime training admissions and institute records

SCI is associated with the Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research (LBSCAMSAR) in Mumbai and has connections with other maritime training facilities. For any aspiring seafarer or enrolled trainee, RTI can retrieve: the list of training courses with eligibility criteria and intake capacity, admission statistics for a specific batch including the reservation policy applied, fee structures and scholarship schemes, and pass or fail outcomes where the applicant has a legitimate interest. Admission criteria and seat allocation in publicly funded maritime institutions are matters of public interest and are not exempt under the RTI Act.

Financial performance of SCI as a PSU

SCI's annual report, audited financial statements, segment-wise revenue, and outstanding liabilities to the Government or public financial institutions are all accessible under RTI. As a CPSE in which taxpayer-owned capital is deployed, the company's financial performance is a matter of public accountability. You can seek a copy or extract of the annual report, the net profit or loss broken down by business segment, and information about any outstanding dues to the Government, port trusts, or financial institutions.

How to File Your RTI Application with SCI

SCI is listed on rtionline.gov.in under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Step-by-step:

Go to rtionline.gov.in and log in or register with your mobile number or email address
Select Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Select Public Authority: Shipping Corporation of India Limited
Draft your application in the text box, or attach a PDF for a longer or multi-part query
Pay the fee of ₹10 online (net banking, debit card, or UPI). BPL cardholders are fully exempt from this fee — attach a copy of the BPL card with your application
Submit and save the registration number generated by the portal for tracking purposes

Postal filing: You may also send a written application by registered post to the CPIO at Shipping House, 245, Madame Cama Road, Mumbai – 400021, enclosing an Indian Postal Order of ₹10 drawn in favour of the accounts officer of SCI. Keep a copy of your application and the postal tracking receipt.

What to include in your application: Specify the category of information as precisely as possible — for tenders, mention the financial year and a value threshold; for vessel information, mention the reference date; for employee matters, include the employee number or name (as applicable) and the period; for training admissions, mention the course name and batch year. Precise requests lead to faster and more complete responses, and reduce the likelihood of the CPIO citing vagueness as a basis for partial denial.

RTI Act Provisions You Should Know

Every RTI application to SCI is governed by the Right to Information Act, 2005. The key provisions are:

Section 2(h): Defines "public authority" — SCI qualifies as it is substantially owned and financed by the Central Government
Section 6: Authorises any citizen to file an information request with the CPIO in writing or through the online portal, along with the prescribed fee
Section 7(1): Requires the CPIO to furnish information within 30 days of receipt. The proviso to Section 7(1) requires information to be furnished within 48 hours where it concerns the life or liberty of a person
Section 19(1): First Appeal — to be filed with the First Appellate Authority within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable
Section 19(3): Second Appeal — to be filed with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the appeal period
Section 20: Empowers the CIC to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on a CPIO who, without reasonable cause, denies information, gives incorrect or incomplete information, or obstructs the furnishing of information

Appeals

First Appeal — Section 19(1)

If the CPIO does not respond within 30 days of receipt, or if the response is incomplete, incorrect, or inadequately reasoned, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at SCI within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA is typically a senior officer at SCI's corporate office designated for this purpose. For matters involving the life or liberty of a person, the CPIO is required under the proviso to Section 7(1) to furnish information within 48 hours — any delay in such a case is a serious violation warranting immediate appeal.

Second Appeal — Section 19(3)

If the FAA's response is absent or unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act within 90 days. SCI is a Central Government CPSE under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — the second appeal body is the CIC in New Delhi, not any State Information Commission, regardless of where the SCI office that handled your application is located. The CIC can impose a penalty under Section 20 on the CPIO for unjustified denial or delay, and can also recommend disciplinary action in cases of persistent non-compliance.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
Shipping Corporation of India Limited,
Shipping House, 245, Madame Cama Road,
Mumbai – 400021

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — [Tender Awards / Vessel Operations / Employee Service Matter / Maritime Training Admissions / Financial Performance — select as applicable]

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, and request the following information from the Shipping Corporation of India Limited:

1. Details of tenders awarded by SCI in FY 2024-25 above ₹1 crore:
   (a) List of all tenders/contracts awarded by the Shipping Corporation of India during the financial year 2024-25 with a contract value exceeding ₹1 crore — specifying for each: the tender reference number, subject/scope of the tender, name and address of the successful bidder, the awarded contract value, and the date of award;
   (b) Whether each of the above contracts was awarded through open competitive bidding, limited tender, or single-source/nomination basis — and if not through open bidding, the justification recorded for the method used;
   (c) Whether any tender from the above list is currently under dispute, arbitration, or subject to a complaint from any other bidder — and if so, the reference and current status.

2. List of vessels operated by SCI with their flag status and route:
   (a) A current list of all vessels owned and/or operated by the Shipping Corporation of India as on [DD/MM/YYYY], specifying for each vessel: the vessel name, IMO number, type (bulk carrier, tanker, container, passenger, etc.), gross tonnage, year of build, and flag of registration;
   (b) The primary trade route or sector (e.g., coastal, international deep-sea, crude oil, dry bulk) assigned to each vessel, and whether the vessel is currently in active service, laid up, or under charter to a third party;
   (c) For any vessel flagged outside India in the above list, the justification for non-Indian flagging and the regulatory or commercial basis for the same.

3. Employee promotion and seniority list for a specific cadre (deck officers):
   (a) The current seniority list of Deck Officers (specify the relevant rank — e.g., Chief Officers or Second Officers) employed with SCI as on [DD/MM/YYYY];
   (b) Whether a Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) or equivalent committee was constituted for the cadre of [Rank, e.g., Chief Officer to Master] during the period [DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY] — and if so, the date of the committee meeting, the number of officers considered, and the number recommended for promotion;
   (c) The criteria applied for promotion in the above cadre — including minimum sea service requirement, mandatory certificates/endorsements, and performance appraisal criteria used.

4. Outcome of service matter complaint/appeal for a specific employee:
   (a) The current status and final outcome of the service matter complaint/appeal filed by [Employee Name / Employee Number] on or around [DD/MM/YYYY] regarding [brief description of the matter — e.g., wrongful non-promotion, disciplinary action, pay fixation];
   (b) Whether a departmental inquiry was ordered in connection with the above matter — and if so, the date of initiation, the name and designation of the inquiring officer, and the findings recorded;
   (c) The order/decision issued by SCI management in the above matter, including the date of the order and the authority that issued it. (Personal data of third parties not essential to the answer may be withheld under Section 8(1)(j).)

5. Maritime training programme admission criteria and seats at SCI's training institutes:
   (a) The list of maritime training courses/programmes currently offered at the SCI's training institutes (including the Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime Studies and Research, Mumbai, or any other SCI-affiliated training facility), specifying for each course: the course name, duration, eligibility criteria, intake capacity (total seats), and the selection/admission process;
   (b) For the most recent admission cycle (specify the year/batch), the number of applications received, the number of candidates shortlisted for each stage, the final number admitted, and whether any reservation/quota policy was applied;
   (c) The fee structure for each training programme and whether any scholarship, sponsorship, or fee-waiver scheme is available to candidates from economically weaker backgrounds or reserved categories.

6. Annual report and financial highlights for FY 2024-25:
   (a) A copy of (or extract from) SCI's Annual Report for the financial year 2024-25, including the audited financial statements (balance sheet, profit and loss account, and cash flow statement) as approved by the Board of Directors;
   (b) Total revenue earned by SCI during FY 2024-25, broken down by business segment (bulk carrier, tanker, liner, offshore, and any other segment), and the net profit/loss reported for each segment;
   (c) Whether any dues or liabilities of SCI to the Government of India, any public financial institution, or any port trust are outstanding as on 31 March 2025 — and if so, the aggregate amount outstanding and the nature of the obligation.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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