In A Historic First, India Passes Two Landmark Maritime Bills In A Single Day

In a historic first for India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Parliament passed two major maritime bills on the same day, September 3.

The Lok Sabha approved the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, replacing the outdated Merchant Shipping Act of 1958. The new law aims to streamline maritime governance, align India with global standards, and improve safety, environmental protection, and seafarer welfare.

The bill contains 16 Parts and 325 clauses, easing compliance while encouraging Indian shipping and strengthening the country’s global competitiveness.

The Rajya Sabha cleared the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, repealing the century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. The updated legislation incorporates the globally recognised Hague-Visby Rules, simplifying maritime trade laws, reducing litigation risks, and improving transparency in cargo movement.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, called the day historic, saying the bills show the government’s commitment to modernising India’s shipping sector.

Sonowal explained that the new Merchant Shipping Bill replaces an outdated, fragmented law with a modern framework based on international standards.

Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur, said the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill aims to replace colonial-era laws, simplify rules, and make India’s maritime sector more business-friendly.

Thakur added that the law will also strengthen India’s role in global trade agreements, including the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK.

Both bills passed with broad support in Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, some members raised concerns about maritime security and smuggling, which the government said are being addressed with legal and operational safeguards.

Reference: PIB