The Government of India has enacted the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025, repealing the nearly century-old Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. The new legislation provides a modernised legal framework governing contracts for the carriage of goods by sea and aligns Indian law with present-day international shipping conventions.

Key Provisions Added under the 2025 Act

• Electronic Documentation – Recognition of electronic bills of lading and other digital shipping documents, enabling paperless trade and legal enforceability of digital records.
• Expanded Carrier Liabilities – Clear obligations on carriers for seaworthiness of vessels, proper handling, loading, stowage, and delivery of cargo, with defined limits on liability.
• Shipper Responsibilities – New obligations on shippers to declare accurate details of goods, particularly in the case of dangerous or hazardous cargo, with penalties for misdeclaration.
• Multimodal Transport Integration – Provisions to coordinate sea carriage with road, rail, and air segments, reflecting current logistics practices.
• Limitation of Liability – Modernised limits of liability for loss or damage to goods, in line with international norms, with exceptions for wilful misconduct or gross negligence.
• Dispute Resolution – Statutory recognition of arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution methods, allowing faster settlement of cargo disputes.
• International Conventions – Incorporation of principles from updated international maritime conventions (such as Hague-Visby and Hamburg Rules), ensuring India’s compliance with global trade standards.
• Indian Shipping Interests – Provisions to safeguard the participation of Indian shipping lines and to promote the domestic maritime sector in contracts involving carriage of goods by sea.