India Passes Five Key Maritime Bills 2025
India’s Parliament passed five landmark maritime bills in the Monsoon Session of 2025. These laws overhaul colonial-era regulations and aim to modernise the blue economy. The reforms focus on improving trade efficiency, environmental safeguards, and coastal shipping. They align India’s maritime sector with global standards under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
Overview of the Five Maritime Bills
- The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, replaces outdated laws with modern, standardised documentation. It simplifies trade logistics and reduces disputes.
- The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, updates maritime operations with clearer regulations and global compliance.
- The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, adopts international rules like the Hague-Visby Rules to streamline processes and reduce litigation.
- The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, replaces a century-old law with modern governance, environmental safeguards, and unified port management.
- The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, simplifies licensing, regulates foreign vessels, and promotes sustainable coastal transport.
Economic and Trade Impact
These laws reduce regulatory friction and administrative burdens. Digitisation of documents and processes boosts ease of doing business. Coastal shipping reforms aim to increase modal share from 6%, saving approximately Rs 10,000 crore annually in logistics costs. Enhanced port governance and infrastructure planning will attract investments and improve trade competitiveness globally.
Environmental and Safety Provisions
The new bills embed environmental safeguards and resilience standards. They mandate ecological protection in port operations and shipping activities. The Merchant Shipping Bill emphasises seafarer welfare, ship safety, and marine environmental protection. The Indian Ports Bill enforces sustainability and digital monitoring to ensure compliance with environmental norms.
Governance and Institutional Changes
The Indian Ports Bill establishes a Maritime State Development Council for national maritime planning. It empowers state maritime boards to manage smaller ports and resolve disputes locally. The Coastal Shipping Bill introduces a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan to guide future infrastructure and policy. These reforms promote decentralised, transparent, and accountable governance.
Alignment with Global Maritime Standards
The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill aligns India’s legal framework with international conventions, facilitating smoother trade relations. The Merchant Shipping Bill adopts global safety and environmental protocols. These changes enhance India’s position in international maritime trade and support agreements like the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Vision for Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047
These reforms reflect India’s ambition to become a global maritime power by 2047. The legislative overhaul supports PM Narendra Modi’s Sagarmala initiative, unlocking over 11,000 km of coastline for sustainable transport and community development. The focus is on creating a robust, green, and competitive blue economy.
| Related | |
|---|---|
