Indian coastal vessels may not need trading licence for ops

Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, gets Cabinet nod; foreign vessel rules from 2018 proposed to be revoked

- DHRUVAKSH SAHA

The Union Cabinet has approved the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, which will remove the requirement for Indian-flagged vessels to acquire a general trading licence to operate on coastal waters once it gets Parliament nod.

“In view of the strategic nature of coastal shipping to the domestic economy and efforts to give impetus to the sector, it was felt necessary to give due weight to coastal shipping provisions and make them easily accessible to the industry,” officials aware of the developments said. “The Bill removes any licensing requirement for Indian vessels to participate in coastal trade. The licence conditions for foreign ships have been made statutory through this Bill,” an official said.