A landmark Bill the Coastal Shipping Bill has just been brought on the table. It takes an important step to ensure improvements in safety and regulatory standards on India’s coasts for shipping activities. Foreign flagged non-propelled vessels including accommodation barges and mobile offshore drilling units are slated to need a license for operating within the India’s coastal trade waters when approved by the Parliament. It tries to fill the regulatory void that has been there in regards to non-propelled vessels for a long time, especially after the tragic incident involving a sinking barge in 2021.
The article discusses the new law in detail and how it can impact the maritime sector.
The Need for Licensing Non-Propelled Vessels
There are no particular regulatory requirements for non-propelled vessels operating in India’s coastal trade currently. These include vessels such as accommodation barges, which do not have their own propulsion systems and are usually towed or pushed by other ships. The lack of regulation has raised concerns about safety, pollution control, and overall operational efficiency. The new Coastal Shipping Bill aims to close this gap by mandating that foreign-flagged non-propelled vessels secure a license to operate along India’s coast.
The tragic sinking of the Indian-registered accommodation barge, off the coast of Mumbai in May 2021, during Cyclone Tauktae, triggered this incident. Such tragic incidents led to losses with 86 lives perished, making it clearer to all concerned that some aspect of safety and environmentally prudent practices is lacking to risk such tragedies in operationalization of non-propelled vessels in Indian waters after this incident.
Key Features of the Coastal Shipping Bill
The Coastal Shipping Bill is aimed at bringing in both safety as well as operational efficiency towards India’s coastal trade. Here are some of its key provisions:
Licensing Requirement for Foreign Flagged Non-Propelled Vessels: The new bill will require foreign-flagged non-propelled vessels to get a license from India’s maritime regulator before engaging in coastal trade. Thus, these vessels will be made to meet stringent safety, security, and pollution prevention standards.
Safety and Compliance Certificate: All the non-propelled vessels are to be surveyed and certified for receiving a license. In this regard, it minimizes the incidence of accidents and also contributes to enhancing general safety standards of maritime activities in Indian waters.
Indian flagged Non Propelled Vessels shall not be required to take any license; that again like the government effort towards streamlining the process will facilitate the ease of operations for domestic shipping companies, which will again enhance competitiveness in the maritime sector for Indian firms.
Regulatory Framework Updates: The new bill modernizes the obsolete regulations that are governing non-mechanized vessels. It is at present given under the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838. Mechanized vessels are given under the Merchant Shipping Act, while the non-propelled vessels were out of the regulatory frame, and a change comes with this new bill in that respect.
Coastal Trade and Safety
This is a step toward guaranteeing that all ships whether propelled or not, the equal standards of safety, safety, and environmental care are met. The following new regulation will:
Reduce accidents: The government would seek to reduce the risk of mishap by making all non-propelled vessels survey-certified; proper certification ensures that they are seaworthy and can also endure adverse weather conditions in cases like Cyclone Tauktae.
Boost Operational Efficiency: It’s bound to improve operational efficiency in the coastal shipping industry in India with the clarified board regulations. The government is of the view that placing foreign-flagged, non-propelled vessels within regulatory parameters will enhance competition among those, and they should be operating on full efficiency.
Promote Environmental Protection: This, therefore, focuses on prevention of pollution by ensuring that the non-propelled vessels, while operating in Indian waters, adhere to environmental standards for the protection of Indian coastlines from potential hazards.
Conclusion
The Coastal Shipping Bill marks a big change in the regulation of non-propelled vessels in India’s coastal trade. By forcing foreign-flagged vessels to get a license and pass through certification, the government will seek to ensure safety, prevent accidents, and protect the environment. Although the bill aims at making operations for Indian-flagged vessels less complicated, it makes sure that all types of vessels have to comply with the same stringent standards of safety and pollution prevention. With the impending bill on Coastal Shipping becoming operational, Indian maritime sectors shall be one of the more competitive and efficient for some time ahead.
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