Two Landmark Maritime Bills Passed—Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 & Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025

Lawxpertsmv India
Aug 8
2 min read

Concept | These two legislative measures modernize India’s maritime governance framework, replacing outdated laws to align with contemporary global maritime standards.

Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 focuses on vessel registration, ownership rules, pollution control, seafarer welfare, and maritime administration reforms.
Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 updates cargo transport law, adopting Hague-Visby Rules to standardize carrier liabilities and cargo documentation.

CONTENTS OF THE BILL : The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 - replaces the outdated Merchant Shipping Act of 1958.

The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 had become bulky, fragmented, and outdated with 561 sections, failing to address contemporary maritime challenges or fully implement India’s obligations under several key International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions.

“The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, with 16 Parts and 325 clauses

enhancing safety at sea,
improving emergency response, and
ensuring environmental protection.
It reduces compliance burdens, promotes Indian tonnage, and prioritises seafarer welfare and ship safety.
The Bill aims to make India a globally respected maritime jurisdiction and unlock sustainable growth, investment, and innovation in the sector

On the other hand, in Rajya Sabha, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, was passed that repealed a century-old Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.

The bill adopts the Hague-Visby Rules, a globally accepted maritime standard also followed by countries like the United Kingdom. By replacing complexity with clarity, the legislation is expected to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, and enhance transparency and commercial efficiency in cargo movement by sea.

Together, they:

Facilitate ease of doing business in shipping.
Enhance environmental compliance at sea.
Ensure legal certainty in shipping contracts.
Improve India’s adherence to international maritime obligations.

International Law Relevance

1. Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025
- MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) – The Bill mandates pollution certification for all vessels, directly implementing MARPOL’s pollution prevention standards.
- Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 – Provisions on wreck removal align India’s law with obligations under this convention.
- UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) – By expanding the definition of vessels and regulating offshore units/submersibles, the Bill ensures compliance with UNCLOS provisions on flag state responsibilities and maritime safety.
- ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 – Seafarer welfare, social security, and work agreements in the Bill mirror global seafarer rights under the MLC.

2. Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025
- Hague-Visby Rules, 1924 – Fully incorporates these rules, which set international standards for carrier liability, limitation periods, and obligations regarding cargo carriage.
- Hamburg Rules (1978) – While India adopts Hague-Visby, it indirectly harmonizes with Hamburg’s cargo damage/loss liability standards for greater predictability in trade disputes.
- UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Contracts – Standardizes bills of lading provisions to align with best practices in international shipping contracts.
- WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement – By streamlining shipping documentation and government rule-making, the Bill aids smoother global trade flows.