Lloyd's List reports that India's Shipping Ministry is understood to be re-examining the government’s recent order banning foreign flag vessels over 25 years of age from entering Indian waters.
Loss Prevention Bulletin
583, published 06 June 2008, alerted Members to a circular issued by the Director General of Shipping of India advising that the Government of India has amended the guidelines for chartering of ships under Sections 406 and 407 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The amended guidelines prohibit Indian organisations from chartering cargo ships beyond twenty-five years old and gas carriers beyond thirty years old.
According to Lloyd's List (22 July 2008) the policy review follows strong protest from explorer-producers such as thestate-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp and the private sector Reliance Industries. Both companies have made a representation to the ministry stating that the rules will severely hurt their operations, especially in the gas-rich Krishna-Godavari basin.
