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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 477
ANSWERED ON 03.02.2026
ENACTMENT OF NEW MARITIME LAWS
477. SHRI SUBHASH BARALA:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the measures taken for capacity-building, rule-making and institutional preparedness
to ensure timely and effective implementation of the newly enacted legislations, namely the
Bills of Lading Act, 2025, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025, the Coastal Shipping Act,
2025, the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Indian Ports Act, 2025; and
(b) the details of stakeholder consultations, model rules or standard operating procedures
issued under the newly enacted maritime laws to ensure uniform adoption by States, port
authorities and shipping stakeholders?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) In order to ensure effective implementation of the newly enacted legislations, the rule-
making exercise has been undertaken in respect of the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, the
Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Indian Ports Act, 2025. The exercise has been
undertaken through a comprehensive consultative process involving all relevant stakeholders
to ensure their participation at the drafting stage itself.
The following measures have been taken for capacity building, rule making and
institutional preparedness to ensure timely implementation of new legislation;
(i) Twelve (12) Technical committees with Nodal Officers from the Directorate
General of Shipping (DGS) and representatives from stakeholders having
knowledge and expertise on subject matters of rules to be framed have been
constituted and these committees are working on finalisation of draft rules under
Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
(ii) Two (02)Technical committees have been constituted for drafting of rules under
Coastal Shipping Act, 2025.
(iii) Legal Consultants have been engaged for assisting in drafting of the rules so as to
have rule framework with simple legal language.
(iv) A Legal vertical has been created in the Directorate General of Shipping to ensure
timely legal process and implementation of new legislations.
(v) Four (4) Consultative meetings were conducted with stakeholders for rule making
in respect of Indian Ports Act, 2025.As no rules were required to be framed under the Bills of Lading Act, 2025 and the
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025, these Acts have come into force with effect from 10th
September, 2025.
(b) For comprehensive stakeholder consultations, Fourteen (14) Technical committees
involving industry experts and nodal officers from the Directorate General of Shipping were
constituted in respect of rule-making under Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and Coastal
Shipping Act, 2025.Various groups of stakeholders have been consulted while drafting the
rules by the Directorate General of Shipping. The major stakeholders include Shipowners,
Operators, Seafarers’ Associations, Training & Education Bodies, Classification Societies,
Ports & State Maritime Boards, Ship Management & Offshore Services, Coastal, Inland &
Sailing Vessel Sector associations, Legal experts and related Government Departments.
The draft Merchant Shipping Rules were placed on the website of DGS on
12.12.2025as well as on the Ministry’s website on24.12.2025, 26.12.2025and 22.01.2026 for
public and stakeholders comments.
In compliance of Section 39(1) of Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, Draft Coastal Shipping
(Licencing of Foreign Vessels) Rules, 2026 and Draft Coastal Shipping (Strategy and
National Database) Rules, 2026 were published in the Gazette of India on 19.12.2025 for
information and observations/suggestions from the stakeholders. These rules were also placed
on Ministry’s website on 26.12.2025 for public and stakeholders comments.
Draft Indian Ports Rules as mandated under section 76 and 78 of the Indian Ports Act,
2025 were published in the Gazette of India on 23.01.2026.For rules making exercise under
the Indian Ports Act, 2025 the Ministry engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including
Major Port Authorities, State Maritime Boards, and industry bodies.
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