<p data-path-to-node="5">The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) are reviewing proposed revisions to relax maximum ship age restrictions for vessels operating in Indian waters, following extensive representations from domestic shipowners and industry associations.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">The move comes as maritime stakeholders highlighted that rigid age caps could abruptly shrink Indian-flagged tonnage, inflate coastal shipping freight costs, and create severe vessel shortages across offshore support, dredging, and bulk coastal transport segments.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Policy Reassessment</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9"><li><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Balancing Fleet Modernization &amp; Tonnage Availability:</b> While the initial guidelines aimed to phase out aging tonnage to improve safety and environmental performance, shipowners argued that vessel seaworthiness, strict class maintenance, and Port State Control compliance are more effective indicators of safety than arbitrary chronological age limits.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Impact on Coastal &amp; Offshore Sectors:</b> Domestic operators underscored that offshore supply vessels (OSVs), tugs, dredgers, and specialized coastal dry bulk carriers frequently maintain long operational lifespans under rigorous survey regimes, and sudden age disqualifications would force heavy dependence on expensive foreign-flag chartering.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Protecting Indian-Flag Competitiveness:</b> Easing age norms provides Indian shipowners with operational flexibility to expand national tonnage under the "Make in India" and Right of First Refusal (ROFR) frameworks without facing immediate capital write-downs.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Focus on Condition-Based Quality Audits:</b> The revised regulatory framework is expected to emphasize enhanced periodic surveys, mandatory dry-docking intervals, and strict decarbonization emission standards in place of blanket age cut-offs.</p></li></ul>