Officials from the International Maritime Federation (IMF) warn that over 700 Indian-flagged vessels, primarily operating in coastal areas, may face premature retirement due to new age-based restrictions from the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping). This decision could lead to over 20,000 seafarers losing their jobs and impact the livelihoods of more than 100,000 people.
The IMF, along with industry leaders and advocates, is urging immediate policy reforms to protect the maritime sector. They oppose DG Shipping’s Order 6/2023, which mandates the scrapping of ships older than 20 years and imposes severe penalties on Recruitment and Placement Services Licence (RPSL) companies. Capt. Nalin Pandey, CMD of Pentagon Marine, emphasized that these regulations are existential threats to India’s maritime ecosystem.
IMF officials highlighted that a global dataset shows older vessels, particularly those over 25 years old, often have better safety records due to rigorous maintenance. Capt. Ramji S. Krishnan argued that ship fitness should be based on condition rather than age. The IMF is advocating for a shift from age-based norms to safety and maintenance standards, along with a revised penalty system for RPSL firms and a centralized grievance mechanism.
