The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), on May 13, 2026, notified the Coastal Shipping (Strategic Plan and National Database) Rules, 2026 under the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025. The rules establish a regulatory framework for voyage reporting, creation of a national coastal shipping database, and preparation of a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan to strengthen coastal trade operations and maritime data management.
The rules mandate that every vessel engaged in coasting trade must submit voyage commencement and completion reports through a designated electronic portal within prescribed timelines. The reporting framework also requires disclosure of navigational incidents, compliance details, and route amendments. Operators must rectify errors in submitted voyage reports within specified timelines, subject to approval conditions for delayed revisions.
Further, the rules provide for constitution and functioning of a committee for preparation and revision of the Strategic Plan, including infrastructure development, digital integration, multimodal connectivity, and efficiency enhancement in coastal shipping operations. The rules also prescribe nomination, tenure, resignation, and removal provisions for committee members and make the strategic plan publicly accessible through official portals.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 361(E)]
