New government rules will make it tough going for Indian offshore fleet – 29 May 2025

FOR INDIA’S OILFIELDS, IT’S SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT—OFFSHORE MARINE VESSELS MUST PROVE THEY BELONG India’s DGS draft sets the tone for a post-2028 offshore regime where emissions, inspection records, and engine data decide whether E&P vessels can even stay in the game.

Rigs Must Go Green: MODUs Now Need Carbon Index Score to Stay Afloat Even rigs certified under MODU or SPS Code—previously exempt—must now pass the DGS’s Sustainability Indexing Score by March 2028. No scorecard, no Indian flag.

DP2 or Not, Age Alone Won’t Save Offshore Workboats After 2028 India’s draft norms give DP2 vessels a path to operate till 30—but only if they pass annual OVID audits and achieve a sustainability score of 80+. The bar is higher than it looks.

E&P Marine Units Face Hard Cap: No AHT, Tug, or Barge Allowed Past 25 Without Green Score Anchor-handling tugs, tow vessels, and dumb barges used in oilfield development must now meet strict age limits—or prove their efficiency through carbon and safety audits.

Pipe-Lay and Seismic Vessels Now Need Annual Audits to Remain Licensed Even specialized offshore units must now undergo yearly inspections and meet DGS-approved green vetting standards. Compliance failure means GTL withdrawal.

Indian EEZ Tightens Access: Foreign-Flagged OSVs for E&P Face Age and Audit Barriers Foreign OSVs used in Indian exploration blocks must meet the same sustainability and age cut-offs as Indian vessels. No more backdoor chartering of old tonnage.

March 2028 Is Final Cutoff for Legacy E&P Vessels Without SIS Scores Older E&P support vessels will be de-flagged unless they cross minimum green thresholds under DGS’s new 125-point index. Operators must retrofit or retire.

Annual Carbon Scoring Comes to the Oil Patch: E&P Fleet Must Quantify Emissions Main engine CO? output, auxiliary fuel burn, shore power readiness, and methane slip are now license factors. Offshore operators must show measurable green performance.

Sustainability Index Will Split Winners from Losers in India’s E&P Marine Market Only vessels scoring 90+ on DGS’s carbon, audit, and safety matrix will get 5-year operating extensions. Others must exit or reflag—reshaping India’s offshore logistics landscape.

Green Capex Now Inevitable: Offshore Fleet Owners Must Retrofit for Carbon and Vetting Compliance VFDs, silicone coatings, SCR systems, and class-audited vetting scores are no longer optional for offshore fleet operators. The sustainability index makes them core to licensing.

For India’s Oilfields, It’s Shape Up or Ship Out—Offshore Marine Vessels Must Prove They Belong India’s DGS draft sets the tone for a post-2028 offshore regime where emissions, inspection records, and engine data decide whether E&P vessels can even stay in the game.