India Bans Maritime Port Access to Pakistani Ships Under Merchant Shipping Act [READ OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION]

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Mumbai, has issued a formal order prohibiting Pakistani ships from entering Indian ports and reciprocally banning Indian flag ships from visiting ports in Pakistan.

Citing the powers vested under Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, the order underscores the need to protect “Indian assets, cargo, and connected infrastructure,” while reinforcing the strategic priorities of Indian shipping. The directive comes into immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice.

Read More: India Bans All Trade With Pakistan [READ OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION]

According to the order (F. No. 27-19/10/2025-INT-COOP-DGS), the following directives have been issued:

• No ship bearing the flag of Pakistan will be permitted to call at any Indian port.
• Indian flag ships are prohibited from visiting any Pakistani ports.

The DGS order emphasizes that any exemption or dispensation from the directive will be examined on a case-by-case basis. The communication has been sent to all port chairpersons, principal officers of Mercantile Marine Departments (MMDs), and relevant stakeholders through the DGS website.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has taken this step in view of the current geopolitical scenario and in alignment with the national interest and maritime security considerations.

This development may impact bilateral maritime trade and shipping logistics between the two countries and signals a tightening of maritime protocol amid broader regional tensions.