India's new government may chart fresh course on coastal cargo transport policy

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Cabotage laws in India have long been debated – as many things are in the world’s largest democracy. But, under the new government, it seems as if there may be a relaxation in laws preventing foreign-owned ships from engaging in domestic shipping. The rule has already been relaxed at DP World’s Vallarpadam terminal at Cochin, but pressure from other ports and a potential boost to Indian port business looks likely to convince the government to act. Not least, perhaps, because two ports in the new prime minister’s state of Gujurat are leading the charge.