The Indian Sub-continent is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east. India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers. Since the period of the Indus Valley Civilization, India has a maritime history. Primarily, the maritime links have developed owing to the maritime trade and maritime journeys. During the 17th Century, Portugal had established colonies in Goa and Bombay and other European countries like France, Sweden, and the Netherlands were already actively trading with India. With the advent of the British East India Company in India for trade purposes, the maritime trade and journey received another impetus. By the end of the 17th century, the British Empire had acquired effective authority over the three principal ports in India, Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta. After the complete colonization of India, the British government has enacted several laws to regulate the various aspects of the Shipping Industry. The Bombay Coasting Vessels Act, 1838
(See http://shipping.gov.in/writereaddata/linkimages/coastingvessels1560069767.htm) is the first law on the subject. The restrictive British laws on Shipping and Navigation impeded the growth of the Indian Shipping Industry because of its preferential treatment to British shipping. The provisions of the International Conventions with respect to Load Lines, 1930 and SOLAS, 1948, were ratified by India and were incorporated through Indian Merchant Shipping Amendment Acts of 1933 and 1953. After independence, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 was passed by the Indian Parliament in order to remove the deficiencies in the earlier laws regarding the provision for registration of Indian Ships.
