The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways addressed concerns regarding age-based restrictions on Indian flagged vessels. Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) Order No. 6 of 2023 introduced age-based cutoff norms for registration into the Indian flag, such as 25 years for gas carriers, chemical tankers etc., and 20 years for oil tankers, bulk carriers etc. The policy aims to phase out older, less efficient vessels, aligning with fleet modernization, maritime safety, and decarbonization goals. The policy does not mandate the scrapping of vessels but discourages the prolonged operation of aging vessels through registration restrictions, to be implemented in a phased manner. Registered Indian flagged vessels can continue operations based on compliance with specified qualitative parameters. The government asserts that this policy is not a threat to the maritime ecosystem but rather an effort to improve the efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability of the Indian fleet in accordance with global safety and environmental policies.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for ports, shipping, and waterways.
SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the unstarred question No. 2233.
Indian flagged vessels: Vessels registered under the Indian flag.
International Maritime Federation: An organization that raised concerns about the age-based restrictions on ships and RPSL penalties.
SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL: Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways who answered the question.
Directorate General of Shipping: The Indian regulatory authority that issued Order No. 6 of 2023.
Order No. 6 of 2023: Order issued by the Directorate General of Shipping introducing age-based cutoff norms for registration into the Indian flag.
India: The country to which the policy and maritime regulations apply.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2233
ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
AGE BASED RESTRICTIONS ON INDIAN FLAGGED VESSELS
2233. SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन एवं जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ालय
(a) whether it is a fact that over 700 Indian flagged vessels, mostly operating in coastal
and near shore routes, are expected to retire prematurely on age based restrictions being
imposed by the Government, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is also true that this would render 20,000 seafarers jobless and impact
the livelihood of more than one lakh people, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that according to the International Maritime Federation, the
blanket ban on age of the ship and disproportionate RPSL penalties are not only
operational hurdles, but also they are existential threats to India’s maritime ecosystem, if
so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether it is a fact that a comprehensive global dataset of over 1.3 lakh commercial
vessels and 3.7 lakh inspections found older vessels, especially those that have operated
sagely during last twenty five years, often demonstrate better safety records than newer
ships, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) to (d) The Government continuously reviews maritime regulations with the
objective of enhancing safety, environmental compliance, and alignment with
international standards. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) had issued Order No.
6 of 2023, introducing age-based cut-off norms for registration into Indian flag, such as
25 years for gas carriers, chemical tankers etc., 20 years for oil tankers, bulk carriers etc.
The policy does not mandate scrapping but discourages prolonged operation of aging,
less efficient vessels through registration restrictions, with implementation proposed in aphased manner. The Order further allowed continued operation of registered Indian-
flagged vessels based on compliance with specified qualitative parameters.
This regulatory measure aims to gradually phase out older, less efficient, and
environmentally substandard vessels in alignment with India's commitment to fleet
modernization, maritime safety, and global decarbonization goals. The aim of the policy
is to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the Indian fleet to become sustainable
with respect to the global safety and environmental policies, and cannot be treated as
threat to maritime ecosystem.
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