The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 is an Act of the Parliament of India that serves to consolidate and amend the law relating to merchant shipping. Its creation was driven by the need to replace the outdated Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, which had become inconsistent with contemporary international shipping practices and conventions. The new Act was passed by Parliament in August 2025, receiving the President of India's assent on August 18, 2025. It also repeals the Coasting Vessels Act of 1838.
The Act's primary mechanism is to modernize India's maritime legal framework, aligning domestic law with International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions like MARPOL and the Salvage Convention. It streamlines the law into 16 parts and 325 clauses, a reduction from the 561 sections of the 1958 Act. Key provisions include unifying all categories of ships under a single registration framework, regardless of size or propulsion, and expanding ownership criteria to include Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) for registering vessels under the Indian flag. The Act mandates stronger safety and environmental protections, incorporating provisions for pollution prevention and ballast water treatment systems. It also redefines the role of the Director General of Shipping as the Director General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), expanding statutory responsibilities. The overall goal is to enhance the ease of doing business, boost Indian tonnage, and ensure compliance with international obligations.