India Reviews Controversial Relaxation of Coastal Shipping Cabotage Rules
India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is reviewing a 2018 policy that relaxed cabotage rules for coastal shipping. This liberalisation allowed foreign-flagged vessels to carry cargo between Indian ports, a move designed to make domestic ports more competitive transhipment hubs. However, the review comes after significant lobbying from Indian shipowners, who claim the policy has created unfair competition and harmed the domestic industry. These local operators argue that foreign carriers benefit from more favourable tax and operational cost structures. The government's assessment will evaluate the policy's impact on the domestic fleet and the 'Make in India' initiative.
Official Source: https://theloadstar.com/india-reviews-controversial-relaxed-costal-shipping-cabotage-rules/