Lok Sabha Question No. 1173 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Implementation of New Maritime Laws
Ministry: PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
Asked by: Shri Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel, Shri Miteshbhai Rameshbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1173

ANSWERED ON 06/02/2026

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW MARITIME LAWS

## †1173. SHRI HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI PATEL:

SHRI MITESHBHAI RAMESHBHAI PATEL:

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

## पȅन , पोत पįरवहन और जलमागŊ मंũी

- (a)  the steps taken for capacity building, rule-making and institutional preparedness to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the new Acts (Bills of Lading Act,  2025,  Carriage  of  Goods  by  Sea  Act,  2025,  Coastal  Shipping  Act,  2025 Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and Indian Ports Act, 2025);
- (b)  the  details  of  stakeholder  consultations,  model  rule  or  Standard  Operating Procedures  (SOPs)  issued  to  ensure  uniform  adoption  of  these  new  maritime laws across States, port authorities and shipping stakeholders; and
- (c)  the monitoring or review mechanisms set up to assess the progress and initial outcomes of the implementation of these Acts?

## 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 legislations;

- (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  (04)  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 10 th September, 2025.

(b)& (c) 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.

The review of acts/laws/rules is a continuous and ongoing process based on inputs/suggestions/complaints from stakeholders as well as based on the recommendations of researchers, analysts and experts in the field.

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