Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024 : Passed In Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha recently passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, paving the way for the enactment of modern maritime law in the country.
- Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024 will replace the colonial-era Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925.
- The Act establishes the responsibilities, liabilities, rights, and immunities in case of goods carried from a port in India to another port in India or any other port in the world.
- The Act is in conformance with the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Bills of Lading of August 1924 (Hague Rules) and subsequent amendments to it.
- The bill retains all provisions of the act.
- The bill is aimed at consolidating laws related to port management, promoting integrated port development, and enhancing the ease of doing business in the maritime sector.
- It seeks to optimize the utilisation of India’s vast coastline by establishing and empowering State Maritime Boards to ensure effective management of ports other than major ports.
- It also proposes the formation of the Maritime State Development Council to foster structured growth and development of the port sector.
- It also addresses critical aspects such as pollution control, disaster management, emergency response, security, safety, navigation and data management at ports.
- It seeks to ensure India’s compliance with international obligations and maritime conventions.
- This bill includes provisions for port conservation and introduces adjudicatory mechanisms for resolving port-related disputes efficiently.
