Government Advances Rule Making For New Maritime Laws

18 Feb 2026 CW Team

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) constituted 12 technical committees with nodal officers and subject matter representatives to finalise draft rules under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, while two technical committees work on rules for the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025. Legal consultants were engaged to assist in drafting a clear rule framework and a legal vertical was created in the DGS to expedite the legal process. Four consultative meetings were held for rule making under the Indian Ports Act, 2025.

For comprehensive consultations the DGS formed 14 technical committees involving industry experts and nodal officers to address rule making under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025. The directorate consulted stakeholders including shipowners, operators, seafarers associations, training and education bodies, classification societies, ports and state maritime boards and legal experts. This inclusive process informed the drafting and ensured that varied operational and legal perspectives were considered.

The draft Merchant Shipping Rules were placed on the DGS website on 12 December 2025 and on the ministry website in December 2025 and January 2026 for public comment. In compliance with the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 the draft Coastal Shipping rules were published in the Gazette of India on 19 December 2025 and placed on the ministry website for observations. The Bills of Lading Act, 2025 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 came into force from 10 September 2025 as no rules were required, and review of laws will continue on the basis of stakeholder inputs and expert recommendations. The ministry provided this information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has undertaken a comprehensive rule making exercise to implement the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Indian Ports Act, 2025 following extensive stakeholder consultation. The exercise was conducted to ensure participation of relevant stakeholders at the drafting stage. The ministry has emphasised capacity building and institutional preparedness to facilitate timely implementation of the new legislation. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) constituted 12 technical committees with nodal officers and subject matter representatives to finalise draft rules under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, while two technical committees work on rules for the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025. Legal consultants were engaged to assist in drafting a clear rule framework and a legal vertical was created in the DGS to expedite the legal process. Four consultative meetings were held for rule making under the Indian Ports Act, 2025. For comprehensive consultations the DGS formed 14 technical committees involving industry experts and nodal officers to address rule making under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025. The directorate consulted stakeholders including shipowners, operators, seafarers associations, training and education bodies, classification societies, ports and state maritime boards and legal experts. This inclusive process informed the drafting and ensured that varied operational and legal perspectives were considered. The draft Merchant Shipping Rules were placed on the DGS website on 12 December 2025 and on the ministry website in December 2025 and January 2026 for public comment. In compliance with the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 the draft Coastal Shipping rules were published in the Gazette of India on 19 December 2025 and placed on the ministry website for observations. The Bills of Lading Act, 2025 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 came into force from 10 September 2025 as no rules were required, and review of laws will continue on the basis of stakeholder inputs and expert recommendations. The ministry provided this information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

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