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Industry urges strong policy action to protect shipyards and modernise India’s coastal fleet.

Shipbuilders Push for Ban on Old Vessel Imports, Seek Scrapping Policy to Boost Indian Shipbuilding.                                                                                                             

Indian shipbuilders are urging the government to introduce strict measures—including a ban on importing second-hand vessels below 6,000 GT, higher import duties, and a dedicated vessel scrapping policy—to protect domestic shipyards and support long-term growth. The demand comes as the Directorate General of Shipping works on revised age norms based on a sustainability index that scores ships on 17 parameters, allowing continued operation only if minimum thresholds are met. The Shipyards Association of India (SAI) warns that unchecked imports of older, cheaper vessels are turning India into a “dumping ground,” undermining new ship orders, green technology adoption, and MSME shipyard growth. They argue that despite schemes like the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy and Maritime Development Fund, progress will remain limited without restricting old vessel imports. With India aiming to expand shipbuilding capacity to 10 million GT by 2047, SAI stresses immediate intervention to protect domestic yards and ensure fleet modernisation ahead of global emission norms.