India’s proposed changes to vessel age norms have drawn strong opposition from shipbuilders and other maritime stakeholders, who warn that relaxing the rules could undermine the government’s efforts to expand domestic shipbuilding and modernise the Indian-flag fleet.
The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued a draft order on August 14 proposing significant changes to the age restrictions introduced in January 2026. The draft would raise the entry age for container vessels and cement carriers from 20 years to 25 years and, more significantly, remove the maximum operating age for ships after they enter the Indian registry.
Shipbuilders argue that the proposed relaxation could weaken demand for new vessels built in India. The Shipyards Association of India has warned that the changes could undermine fleet renewal plans and put thousands of crores of planned shipbuilding investments at risk.
The concerns come as the government seeks to significantly expand India’s domestic shipbuilding capacity. A government demand-aggregation plan envisages 437 vessels worth around ₹2.2 lakh crore being built over the next two decades, including 62 vessels expected to be ordered from Indian shipyards within the next 12 months.
Industry representatives also fear that removing the upper age limit could encourage older vessels to enter the Indian registry, potentially increasing safety, environmental and insurance risks. Critics have also questioned the proposed removal of the Sustainability Indexing of Ships mechanism.
The original January 2026 rules established entry and exit age limits for different vessel categories, with most major ship types generally subject to entry limits of 20–25 years and operating limits of 25–30 years. The DGMA has extended the deadline for stakeholder comments on the revised draft to August 28, 2026.
The debate highlights a policy challenge for India: balancing the availability of second-hand tonnage and fleet expansion with the government’s longer-term objective of building a younger, safer and more competitive domestic shipping fleet.