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Fleet owners get more time to modernise vessels as the regulator delays the sustainability framework pending consultations.

DG Shipping Extends Compliance Timeline for Ship Age Norms, Defers Sustainability Indexing Plan.                                                                                                                                       

The Directorate General of Shipping has extended the compliance deadline for age norms governing existing vessels, granting fleet owners an additional three years beyond the earlier February 2026 cutoff. Existing vessels of any age will now be allowed to operate until March 31, 2029, with a possible extension to March 31, 2031, subject to future sustainability indexing compliance. The sustainability indexing mechanism—originally linked to the revised norms—has been deferred pending wider stakeholder consultation to avoid delays. The age norms, first introduced in February 2023, aim to modernise India’s ageing fleet and are based on an IIM Indore study supporting age-based entry and exit rules. Revised norms specify entry and exit limits for various vessel categories, including 20–25 years for tankers, bulk carriers, and offshore vessels, and 20–30 years for container and cement carriers. Several specialised vessels remain exempt. The regulator emphasised the need for fleet renewal as Indian tonnage continues to age.