As the Winter Session of Parliament opens, three shipping bills are among those scheduled for passage. These include the merchant shipping bill, the coastal shipping bill, and the Indian ports bill. The Merchant Shipping Bill, a new draft law proposed by the Centre, aims to ensure compliance with India’s obligations under the international marine treaty to which New Delhi is a signatory. The measure aims to modernize the regulatory framework controlling merchant shipping in the country, stimulate growth, and improve compliance with international norms.
The Coastal Shipping Bill seeks to eliminate the requirement for Indian-flagged vessels engaging in coastal trade to obtain a general trading license. With this, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways hopes to eliminate license requirements in coastal shipping and revitalize the industry by streamlining operations and aligning it with international standards. It also aims to connect coastal maritime transport to inland waterways.
The Coastal Shipping Bill is projected to assist Indian ship owners and shipyards, non-vessel operating common carriers, and cargo owners in addition to seafarers. The Indian Ports measure is the third measure nominated for introduction. It aims to modernize and replace the antiquated Indian Ports Act of 1908. The bill’s proposed objectives include promoting integrated planning between states inter-se and Centre-states through a purely consultative and recommendatory framework; ensuring pollution prevention measures for all ports in India while incorporating India’s obligations under international treaties; addressing the gaps in the dispute resolution framework required for the burgeoning ports sector; and ushering in transparency and cooperation in development and other.
