The Union Shipping Ministry is seriously considering relaxation in Cabotage law, which now regulates delivery of coastal cargo at Indian ports by foreign flag vessels.

Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K. V. Thomas said on Wednesday that Shipping Minister G. K. Vasan assured him that amendments for relaxation in the cabotage law would be brought before the Cabinet at the earliest. Relaxation in cabotage law will free coastal cargo for being delivered by foreign flag vessels once they are shipped to any transshipment destination in India. A lack of this facility has now resulted in containers being stranded in Kochi International Container Transshipment Terminal. For example, cargo headed for Tuticorin and which landed here nearly a month ago, continues to be held up for lack of schedules by Indian flag vessels delivering coastal cargo, shipping industry sources have said.