Vidhi Codex

The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025

The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025

Infrastructure202542 sections6 chapters

The Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, regulates the commercial carriage of passengers and cargo along India's coastlines. It applies to all foreign vessels engaged in coastal trade, chartered ships operated by domestic entities, and operators utilizing Indian coastal waters. The law mandates formal licensing through the maritime administration and establishes a national strategic plan and database to monitor routes. This legislative reform matters because it protects India's maritime borders, streamlines shipping, and seeks to transform coastal and inland waterways into a highly cost-efficient transportation network while actively promoting domestic shipbuilders and shipping operations under clear safety, security, and environmental guidelines.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, application and commencement
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II PROHIBITION AND LICENCE FOR COASTING TRADE →

  1. 3Prohibition on coasting trade
  2. 4Licence for coasting trade
  3. 6Reporting requirements
  4. 7Licence to be produced for port clearance

Chapter III NATIONAL COASTAL AND INLAND SHIPPING STRATEGIC PLAN AND NATIONAL DATABASE OF →

  1. 8National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan
  2. 9National Database of Coastal Shipping

Chapter IV LICENCING OF CHARTERED VESSELS OTHER THAN FOR COASTING TRADE →

  1. 10Application of Chapter
  2. 11Requirement of licence by chartered vessels
  3. 12Suspension, revocation or modification of licence granted to chartered vessels
  4. 13Licence granted to chartered vessel to be returned when ceases to be valid
  5. 14No port clearance without production of licence

Chapter V OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 15Punishment for participating in coasting trade in contravention of section 3
  2. 16Punishment for participating in coasting trade after licence ceases to be valid
  3. 17Punishment for taking vessel to sea in contravention of section 11
  4. 18Punishment for failure to furnish information or furnishing false information after notice
  5. 19Punishment for violation of order of detention
  6. 20Punishment for illegally detaining person authorised to detain vessel
  7. 21Penalty for reporting false or misleading information
  8. 22Penalty for violation of conditions of licence
  9. 23Penalty for non-compliance of direction of Director-General
  10. 24Penalty for non-compliance with order of Central Government
  11. 25General provision for contravention or non-compliance
  12. 26Compounding of certain offences
  13. 27Special provision regarding punishment
  14. 28Offences by companies
  15. 29Power to enforce detention of vessel
  16. 30Adjudicating officer for imposition of penalty, appeal and procedure therefor
  17. 31Notice in respect of foreign vessel
  18. 32Place of trial and jurisdiction of court
  19. 33Service of documents

Chapter VI MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 34Power to delegate
  2. 35Power of Director-General to give directions and seek information
  3. 36Power of Central Government to issue directions
  4. 37Power to exempt
  5. 38Protection of action taken in good faith
  6. 39Power of Central Government to make rules
  7. 40Laying of rules and notifications before Parliament
  8. 41Power to remove difficulties
  9. 42Repeal and savings

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