India’s Parliament passed two key maritime bills, the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, which aim to modernize the country’s maritime legal framework, aligning it with global standards and promoting ease of doing business. The two bills replace outdated, colonial-era laws and are seen as a major step in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a modern and globally competitive shipping sector.
Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025
This bill, which replaces the Merchant Shipping Act of 1958, is designed to create a more efficient and globally compliant maritime policy. The previous act, with its 561 sections, had become bulky and fragmented, failing to address modern challenges or align with India’s obligations under several international maritime conventions.
Key features of the new bill include:
- Alignment with International Conventions: The bill updates India’s maritime legal framework to conform with international standards.
- Safety and Environment: It enhances safety at sea, improves emergency response capabilities, and strengthens environmental protection measures.
- Reduced Compliance Burden: The legislation seeks to reduce the administrative and compliance burdens for stakeholders, making it easier to operate.
- Welfare and Safety: The bill prioritizes the welfare of seafarers and ship safety.
Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025
This new law repeals the nearly century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. It is part of a broader government initiative to remove outdated colonial-era laws and simplify the legal framework to promote ease of doing business.
Key features of this legislation:
- Adoption of Hague-Visby Rules: The bill adopts the globally recognized Hague-Visby Rules, which are also followed by countries like the United Kingdom.
- Clarity and Efficiency: By replacing complex language with clear provisions, the bill is expected to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, and enhance commercial efficiency in cargo transport by sea.
- Modern Governance Philosophy: The bill is presented as a reflection of a governance philosophy focused on replacing “complexity with clarity” and “colonial remnants with forward-looking laws.”
The bills received broad bipartisan support in both houses of Parliament, signifying a unified commitment to strengthening India’s maritime sector.
This video from Sansad TV provides a look into the remarks by Minister Shantanu Thakur on the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 as it was passed in the Rajya Sabha.
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Source: Marine Insight
