Govt Plans to Relax Ship Age Norms for Indian Registry.

Older ships may get a longer route to sail under the Indian flag.

India’s maritime administration is reportedly planning to reverse recently introduced age restrictions for ships entering the Indian registry, following strong opposition from a section of fleet owners. Under the proposed changes, the entry age for container vessels would increase from 20 to 25 years, while the existing upper operating limit of 30 years would be removed. The move could benefit shipping companies such as MSC, the world’s largest container carrier, which had announced plans to flag around a dozen vessels in India but has reportedly faced delays due to the age restrictions introduced in January 2026. The earlier rules prohibited the acquisition of container vessels older than 20 years and imposed conditions on operating ships older than 30 years. The proposed reversal would allow vessels entering the Indian registry to continue operating without a fixed exit age. Fleet owners have argued that a ship’s age alone does not determine its quality or safety. However, critics warn that removing the upper age limit could weaken efforts to improve the quality and modernisation of India’s shipping fleet.