Technical Circular No: 001/2026
1. Reference is made to DGS Order No. 06 of 2023 stipulating age norms and other qualitative parameters for registration and operation of Indian flagged vessels.
2. To ensure efficient maintenance of Indian mercantile marine and to promote acquisition of quality tonnage and enhance the safety of life at sea, Indian Administration has now issued DGS Order 01 of 2026 stipulating the revised Age Norms and other Qualitative Parameters for Registration/ Operation of Vessels under Indian Flag and, the foreign flag vessels required to apply for License under Sec 406 & 407 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
3. The requirement specified under the Order comes into force from the date of issue of the Order (21 January 2026) and accordingly amends the conditions indicated in the previous DGS Orders in this regard.
4. DGS Order No. 01 of 2026 is not applicable to Passenger vessels, FSRU, FPSO, Highly Specialized vessels (inter alia, Heavy Lift Installation Barge, Crane Barge, Pipe Laying Vessels, Cable Laying Vessels, Research Vessels and Floating Docks), Dredgers, DP2 Diving Support Vessels, DP2 Well Stimulation Vessels and Drilling/ Production units certified under MODU/ SPS Code, as applicable.
5. The age of the vessel as specified in this Order is to be computed from the ‘date of Delivery” as mentioned in the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or any other statutory certificate issued under IMO Convention / Code.
6. For the purpose of application of this Order, an ‘Existing Vessel’ means a vessel already registered under the Indian Flag on or before 21/01/2026. Vessels acquired/ to be acquired under Indian Control Tonnage regime would also be treated in the same line with Indian Flag vessel.
7. The ‘Existing Vessels’ regardless of its age as on 21/01/2026, affected by the maximum age prescribed in this Order, are allowed to operate until 31.03.2029, and an extension up to two years till 03.2031 may be considered by the Administration subject to a review of the compliance to “Sustainability Indexing of ships” to be issued by the DGS in due course, after two years from 21/01/2026.
8. The general cargo carrying ships falling under the category “Other Cargo Ships” engaged in the transportation of cargo of forty years and above and Special Trade Passenger ships of forty years and above will be allowed to operate only during the fair-weather seasons and favourable weather conditions only.
9. Annexure-I of DGS Order No. 01 of 2026 provides the compliance requirements in respect of maximum age and other qualitative parameters for registration and operation of Indian flagged vessels.
10. The age and other qualitative parameters, as specified in the Annexure-I will also apply to:
a. Vessels of similar kind acquired under 'Indian Controlled Tonnage' regime (put in place vide DGS order l0 of 2014 dated 23.07.2014) carrying coastal cargo or providing services within the Exclusive Economic Zone of India.
b. All foreign flagged vessels of similar kind requiring license under Sec 406 and 407 of M S Act 1958, for operating within the Exclusive Economic Zone of India" whether chartered by an Indian entity or otherwise.
11. Ship Owners / Managers are advised to be guided by above and ensure compliance to the applicable requirements.
12. IRS HO may be contacted for the conduct of vessel evaluations under equivalent rating methodology as mentioned in Annexure-I of the DGS Order 01 of 2026.
Enclosure:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.