NEW DELIH: In a first, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha simultaneously took up two bills of the same ministry – shipping – on the same day and passed both. The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025, were passed after brief debate, amid opposition protest to demand a discussion on the special intensive revision of Bihar’s electoral rolls.While LS on Wednesday afternoon passed the Merchant Shipping Bill, which seeks to expand eligibility criteria for ownership of merchant shipping vessels and provide for investigation and enquiries on marine casualties, RS passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill to replace a century-old colonial-era law with an updated legislation designed to promote ease of doing business and make the shipping sector future ready.LS and RS couldn’t transact much business due to protest. When the Houses reconvened after lunch, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal introduced the Merchant Shipping Bill in LS, saying it “represents a decisive step towards positioning India as a global leader in maritime trade and governance” and is up to date with international maritime conventions, enhancing safety at sea, improving emergency response and ensuring environmental protection. It reduces compliance burdens, promotes Indian tonnage and prioritises seafarer welfare and ship safety, he said.In RS, MoS for shipping Shantanu Thakur introduced the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, which adopts the Hague-Visby Rules, a globally accepted maritime standard. It is expected to simplify maritime trade laws, reduce litigation risks, and enhance transparency and commercial efficiency in cargo movement by sea.