Govt taken several legislative reforms to make India a Top Maritime Nation

Key to this strategy is developing new ports with deeper drafts, increasing draft of the existing ports, establishing port clusters and transshipment hubs, developing automated ports, increasing private sector involvement, and enhancing policy support. Central Government has introduced several legislative reforms to enhance India’s maritime capabilities, including the Major Port Authorities Act, 2021, Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021, Inland Vessels Act, 2021, Relaxation of Cabotage Rules, 2018, Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, National Waterways Act, 2016, the Policy for the Award of Waterfront and Associated Land to Port-Dependent Industries (Captive Policy), 2016, and Guidelines for Dealing with Stressed Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects at Major Ports.

Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) has launched the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) which aims to reduce carbon emissions and minimize environmental impact by encouraging adoption of environmentally sustainable tugboat operations. Additionally, Government has launched HaritSagar Guideline for Major Ports and Harit Nauka guidelines for inland vessels which aim to promote the adoption of greener technologies.

MoPSW aligns maritime policies with international best practices through high-level events like the Global Maritime India Summit, Sagarmathan, Chintan Shivir, Post-Budget Industry Meets, and stakeholder consultations, fostering dialogue among policymakers, industry, and grassroots communities. Regular engagements with global maritime leaders and participation in international forums ensure that India’s policies meet global standards, positioning the country as a key player in the maritime sector.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to a Question in the Lok Sabha.