India cabotage
Merchant Shipping Act 1958, Chapter XIV + DG Shipping Coastal Trading Rules
- Citizenship requirement
- Indian-flag preference (Right of First Refusal for Indian-flag) + Indian-national officer quota
- Vessel flag required
- Indian flag preferred; foreign-flag vessels can operate under General Trading Licence with priority-to-Indian-flag rules
- Officer quota
- Master + Chief Engineer + 2 officers must be Indian on Indian-flag vessels
- Wage effect
- Indian domestic-flag wages competitive with international; SCI + Great Eastern + Shipping Corp of India CBAs
Notes
The 'Right of First Refusal' rule requires Indian-flag operators to be offered domestic trades first. Foreign-flag vessels can operate but must show no Indian-flag alternative available. Substantial coastal + inland waterway trade.