Amid the escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India on Saturday banned ships bearing the flag of Pakistan to any of the Indian ports.
As per the order issued by the Mumbai-headquartered Directorate General of Shipping (DG-Shipping) under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, any ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port, while any Indian flag ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan
The DG-Shipping’s order comes close on the heels of sealing of the Attari-Wagah border and closing down of the airspace for Pakistani flights. “The order comes into force with immediate effect and remains in force till further orders,” the DG Shipping said in its one-page order.
“…Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 empowers the Director General of Shipping, Government of India, to issue directions to ships, for meeting the objective of national interest or the interest of Indian shipping, now, therefore, in exercise of power conferred by section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, read with objectives as enshrined under Preamble of the said Act, keeping in view of the present situation, the directions are issued,” the DG Shipping said.
“This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping. Any exemption or dispensation from this order shall be examined and decided on case to case basis,” the order stated.