Director General Of Shipping To Be Renamed As Director General Of Maritime Administration

The Indian government is set to bring a new Merchant Shipping Bill in the Lok Sabha, which aims to repeal and re-enact the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

One of the major changes proposed under the Bill is the renaming of the Director General of Shipping to Director General of Maritime Administration. This change is aimed at better representing the responsibilities of the office, which include supervising maritime affairs beyond commercial port activities and ensuring ports comply with international conventions.

The Bill also proposes the formation of a regulatory body that will take care of security aspects related to vessels and port facilities. Officials say India’s long coastline and growing number of private ports make it urgent to address security threats and vulnerabilities.

Another key feature of the Bill is the restructuring of the National Shipping Board. The proposed board will consist of six Members of Parliament, and not more than sixteen other members. Out of these, at least four members will be women. These members will be appointed by the Central government and will represent the government, ship owners, seafarers, and other stakeholders.

The Bill ensures that ship owners and seafarers will have equal representation on the board. It also clarifies that Members of Parliament serving on the board, or as its Chairperson, will not be treated as holding an office of profit under Article 102(1)(a) of the Constitution of India.

The new legislation seeks to introduce digital processes to improve efficiency and attract investment in the maritime sector.

In addition, the Bill also proposes to establish a Seafarer’s Welfare Board. This advisory board will guide the Central government on steps to be taken for the welfare of seafarers under the new Act.

The new Merchant Shipping Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha soon.

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