The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Friday.
The Bill, proposed by Union Minister of Ports, Sarbananda Sonowal, is set to unlock India’s 11,098-kilometre-long strategic coastline, spanning nine coastal states and four Union Territories (UTs).
The Bill, which was earlier passed by the Lok Sabha on April 3, 2025, seeks to simplify and modernise the legal framework governing coastal shipping.
Introducing the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister Sonowal stated that the law is key to India’s ambition of “increasing its coastal cargo share to 230 million metric tonnes by 2030 while strengthening the maritime sector’s contribution.”
“This is not merely a legal reform but a path to economic growth, employment, and logistics efficiency. The Bill reduces regulatory burdens, enhances competitiveness of Indian vessels, and aligns with the long-term vision to make India a global maritime hub,” the Union Minister said.
The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025, introduces a simplified licensing system for coastal shipping and lays down the framework for regulating foreign vessels engaged in coasting trade.
Under this legislation, a National Database for Coastal Shipping will be created, which will provide real-time access to authentic and regularly updated data.
Once implemented, the Bill is expected to significantly enhance supply-chain security by increasing the participation of Indian ships in domestic cargo movement.
“This bill aims to reduce India’s dependence on foreign vessels, thereby preventing the outflow of foreign exchange. In doing so, it will catalyse local economic development, generate employment opportunities across coastal regions, and strengthen ease of doing business for Indian shipping operators”, Union Minister Sonowal further added.
“It’s a decisive step towards building a seamless, efficient, and globally competitive coastal and inland shipping ecosystem. It will unlock the immense potential of our coastline, enhance supply chain resilience, and drive economic growth,” the Minister said.
With the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, the Parliament gave its nod to all three critical marine legislations — the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, and the Coastal Shipping Act — paving the way for the country’s modern, efficient, and self-reliant maritime ecosystem.
“Our ministry has undertaken legislative reforms to modernise India’s maritime sector. With the passage of all three landmark bills — the Merchant Shipping Bill, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, and the Coastal Shipping Act — we are laying a strong foundation for a future-ready maritime ecosystem,” said Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
