Gujarat clears six new maritime policies to boost port competitiveness and coastal infrastructure

The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is set to roll out a comprehensive suite of six maritime policies and regulatory frameworks after receiving final approval from the state government. The new measures are designed to modernize port operations, streamline land governance and strengthen vessel safety across Gujarat’s extensive coastline.

The policy package spans several priority areas: a dedicated shipbuilding and ship-repair policy, unified land-management rules, a land-reclamation framework, new guidelines for operating a Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) in the Gulf of Khambhat, and two separate rulebooks for implementing the Gujarat Inland Vessels Act—one for Category A/B vessels and another for Category C vessels, including pleasure craft below 10 metres.

The shipbuilding and repair policy is expected to attract investment into new yards, dry docks, fabrication units and marine component manufacturing, reinforcing Gujarat’s position as a major hub for the maritime industry. Consolidated land-management rules bring together multiple earlier circulars into one coherent regulation governing all land held, acquired or administered by GMB.

The land-reclamation policy introduces a structured approach for regulating, leasing and managing reclaimed coastal areas, a segment that has grown in importance as port capacity expands. The VTMS rules will outline operational responsibility, maintenance protocols and manpower standards for vessel-monitoring systems in the strategically sensitive Gulf of Khambhat.

Meanwhile, the two sets of inland-vessel rules will guide procedures for vessel registration, surveys, certification, detention, and pollution prevention across different vessel classes. These rules also harmonise the state’s practices with national norms while accommodating Gujarat-specific operational requirements.

Together, the six policies aim to enhance safety, improve regulatory clarity and attract fresh investment into the state’s maritime sector.