India passes Marchant Shipping Bill to advance its maritime sector

The Indian Parliament has passed the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, replacing the outdated Merchant Shipping Act of 1958.

The Rajya Sabha approved the legislation on August 11, 2025, following its passage in the Lok Sabha on August 6, 2025. The new law is designed to bring India’s maritime sector in line with global standards, enhance safety, improve seafarer welfare, and simplify regulatory procedures for ship ownership and registration.

Spanning 16 Parts and 325 clauses, the Bill incorporates several key international conventions, including SOLAS, MARPOL, the Ballast Water Management Convention, and the Wreck Removal Convention.

It introduces stringent safety protocols, pollution prevention measures, and comprehensive waste management requirements for ships. The legislation also emphasizes seafarer welfare, strengthening training, certification, and dispute resolution in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

The Bill also aims to make it easier for various entities to register ships. It allows early registration under bareboat charters, facilitating the growth of Indian tonnage.

Additionally, the law promotes digitalization through e-registration and electronic documentation and implements risk-based inspections at ports to streamline compliance and enhance efficiency.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the Bill as a “decisive step” positioning India as a global maritime hub. The legislation complements other recent reforms, such as the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, and the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, marking one of the most substantial overhauls of India’s maritime legal framework in decades.

With the enactment of the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, India aims to foster a globally competitive, sustainable, and efficient maritime sector, reinforcing the country’s vision of a developed India.

source : safety4sea