Lok Sabha Question No. 4135 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-24
Subject: Ban on Old Oil Tankers
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shrirang Appa Barne, Sudheer Gupta, Prataprao  Jadhav

## GOVERNMENT  OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4135

ANSWERED ON24IO3I2O23

## BAN ON OLD OIL TANKERS

4135. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL  SAMBHAJIRAO  MANE:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SHRIRANG  APPA BARNE:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI PRATAPRAO  JADHAV:

Will the Minister  of PORTS,  SHIPPING  AND WATERWAYS be pteased to state:

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- (a) whether the Government has decided  to ban 25 years old oil tankers, bulk carriers and general  cargo vessels, if so, the details  thereof and the reasons  therefor along with the action taken in this regard;
- (b) the details of criteria other than age followed/likely  to be followed by the Government for banning lndian and foreign flag vessels;
- (c) whether certain carriers and vessels have been kept out of the ambit of age limit for operations;
- (d) if so, the details  thereof along with the reasons  therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government  has given any winding-up period to tankers,  carriers and vessels older than 25 years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (sHRt SARBANANDA  SONOWAL)

- (a) to (e) The Directorate  General  of Shipping  has issued  "DGS Order No. 06 of 2023" dated 24.02.2023 regarding  the Age Norms  and other Qualitative parameters  for registration/  operation of vessels  under  lndian flag and for foreign flagged vessels that are required to apply for licence  under Sections 406 & 407 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

The average  age of lndian fleet is higher than that of the world fleet in most of the vessel categories. Further,  to achieve the goal under lnternational  Maritime OrganizatlonSustainability  Development  Goals, embracing technological  innovation along with transition to low- and zero-carbon  fuels and to alternative energy  sources  will be required to achieve  these modernization  of lndian fleet is pertinent.

ln addition to the above,  the order dated 24.02.2023  is expected to foster the growth of quality lndian Tonnage, as the order creates  an entry age criterion for registration. This would be applicable to foreign flag vessels that are required to apply for licence under Sections 406 & 407 of the MS Act, 1958. However, an lndian Flag vessel would continue  to enioy the cabotage after entry age until the prescribed exit age. No foreign flag vessel can compete under the same age category, thus, creating more demand for flagging of vessel under lndian flag.

overall, this order  would address  the Tonnage and the quality simultaneously,  of the vessels  operating under  lndian Flag and in Indian coastal waters'

This order is not applicable to Passenger  vessels, FSRU (Floating Storage Regasification  Unit), FPSO (Floating Production storage  and offloading), and Drilling/Production  units certified  under MODU  (Mobile Offshore  Drilling  Units)/SPS (special  Purpose  ships) code. The average age of the above vessels is high across the global fleet. FSRU,  FPSO, and Drilling/Production  units certified under MoDU/SPS Code are in general designed to operate for 30 to 50 years and are stationed at one place for most of their respective life. For these reasons,  this category of vessels has been kept out of the ambit of this age norms order'

However, the 'Existing  vessels' regardless  of age on the date of issuance  of this order, affected  by the maximum  age  prescribed  in the order, have been allowed to operate upto three years from the date of the issue of this Order in order to give sufficient  time for transition. Similar  provisions have been made for foreign flag vessels under existing  charter  as on the date of the said order.