MS Act 1958 PDF

MANUAL OF
MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958
Commentary
by
Vivek Joy.Kaliyadan
LL B., LL M., M. Phil
Maritime Lawyer - Corpus Droit
A CD version accompanied with this book
2013
BHANDARKAR PUBLICATIONS
MUMBAI
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January 2008
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LIST OF AMENDING ACTS
w.e.f
1. The Repealing and Amending Act, 1960 (58 of 1960). (by notification)
2. The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1966 (21 of 1966). 28/05/66
3. The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1970 (25 of 1970). (various dates)
5. The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1978 (1 of 1978).
9. The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1984 (41 of 1984). (by notification)
16. The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2002 (63 of 2002). (different dates)
Following words subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1976, wherever they occur

“special trade passanger ships”
“a special trade passanger ship”
“special trade passanger ship”
“special trade passangers”
“a special trade passanger”
“special trade passanger”
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED
Amend. for Amendment.
Cls. “ Clauses.
Expn. “ Expression
foll. “ following
incl. “ inclusive
Ins. “ Inserted.
Sec. “ Section.
Subs. “ Substituted.
MS “ Merchant Shipping
w.e.f. “ with effect from
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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
In our book Maritime Law of India, published in 1979, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 was reproduced ad
verbatim with a preface by Dr. Nagendra Singh at one time Director General of Shipping and then Judge of
the International Court of Justice, and Commentary by Mr. Gopalan Nair, Deputy Director General of Shipping
(retired). We have now the pleasure of making a new effort to project Maritime Law exclusively as limited by
the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 was at first modelled after the U.K Merchant Shiping Act, 1894 which was
replaced by Indian Merchant Shipping Act of 1923. After Independance, the new conditions were carefully
taken note of, and though late, a comprehensive piece of legislation was passed by the Indian Parliament in
1958. However, International shipping was itself in doldrums of technological, political and economic changes
in the world and made the “Inter Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation” an effective body to
regulate world shipping. Today, under the new name “International Maritime Organisation” known as IMO. It is
an organ of the United Nations and regulates Global Maritime Law.
India being a Maritime Nation, and a member of the IMO has to ratify the changes approved by IMO and
incorporate the same subsequently in its National Legislation. Therefore, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
has been modified 18 times till date and all the amendments have been incorporated in this volume. Currently
India being a signatory to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping of the IMO, has made
new Rules for examination of Deck Officers. Consequently, Part VI, of the Present Act has been amended in
this edition.
The most important changes that have been incorporated since 1980 pertain to ownership of the shares of a
ship which can now be held by a Co-operative Society which is dpuly registered in any of the States of India
under appropriate law made under the Central Act No. 12 of 1912. Similarly the Fishing vessels and Sailing
vessels have been given their due place in the Act. Marine pollution and its prevention has taken an important
place and fines have been very heavy in cases of violation of laws.
The 1981 Amendment Act enables the ownership to be shared by members of a Co-operative Society and
hence modifies Sections 21(b), 29, 45, 406, 407, 415, 431 and 441 suitably, 1983 Amendment Act mainly
fixes Civil Liability for oil pollution damage in terms of the international currency of the gold franc and sections
352G to R have been formulated. Similarly prevention and containment of pollution of the sea by oil has been
defined by new sections 356A to O. Certain protection is given to Indian ships by the new section 411A. In
view of the importance of fishing to the economic life of India, New part XVA has been formed (new sections
435A to X). Fines for violating provisions of the Act in terms of oil pollution have been heavy and deterrent. (see
Penalties Serial No. 115B etc.) The authority for trial for violations of sections of the MSA has now been vested
in “any Judicial Magistrate of the First Class or any Metropolitan Magistrate” by modifying sections 35, 132,
145, 146, 184, 187, 189, 233, 279, etc.1984 Amendment Act defines the concept of “family” of the seaman
and/or an apprentice and their nominees entitled to receive compensation by modifying Section 11, 102, 105,
108, 130, 132, 137, 141, 159, etc. However, the most significant change is to include the sailing vessel under
the preview of the MSA in terms of insurance and compensation of the Crew.
The views, if any, expressed in the Introduction and Interpretation of this book are of Shri J. S. Gill
were made during his tenure as Sr. Dy. Director of Shipping but do not necessarily represent those of the
Govt. of India or the department in which he was working. Similarly, Commentary and Case study by Vivek
Joy Kaliyadan, Maritime lawyer - Corpus Droit, has been provided for guidance of practicing Lawyers or
students alike.
Though every care is taken to ensure accuracy of the content of the matter, inadvertent errors may creep in.
If such errors are noticed, kindly advise us of the same. We are open to suggestions or even constructive
criticism.We will give due credit to whoever provides us with suggestions.
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INTRODUCTION
THE EVOLUTION OF THE INDIAN LAW OF MERCHANT SHIPPING
AND ITS CODIFICATION
The development of the Merchant Shipping Law in India has had a long history of over a century.
The first Act on the subject, passed by the British Parliament, was the Lascars Act, 1823 (4 Geo. 4,
c.80). This Act, which was partly repealed later, enabled rules to be made by the Indian Legislature
to be observed by Masters and Officers, Owners of ships and vessels trading under the authority of
the Act. There was further legislation enacted by the British Parliament e.g. 3 and 4 Vict. c. 56, under
the authority of which the Indian Registration of Ships Act of 1841 was passed in India. Similarly, in
1855, by virtue of a British Act (18 and 19 Vict. c.119), the Indian Sea Passengers Act of 1855 was
enacted. The next Statute, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c. 60) has been the most
important Act of the British Parliament relating to Merchant Shipping and this Act has consolidated
all the earlier Parliamentary legislation and also defined the application of the British Acts to India
and other parts of the British Empire. There is a long string of Acts passed subsequently now
constructed as part of the 1894 Act. It is noteworthy that legislation in India was only possible under
the authority conferred by the English Parliamentary Statutes. The U.K. Merchant Shipping Act,
1894 expressly states the various parts of the Empire to which the Act was made applicable. For
example, in Section 91 of the said Act where the application of Part I is considered, it is laid down
that it would apply to the whole of Her Majesty’s dominion and to all places where Her Majesty has
jurisdiction. The U.K. Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, therefore, applied to India ipso facto. It is for this
reason that the said Act has been described as an Imperial Statute. In accordance with Section
735(1) of the U.K. Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, no Act or Ordinance passed by the legislature of
any British possession overseas could take effect until the approval of Her Majesty had been proclaimed
in the possession and until such time thereafter as may be fixed by the Act or ordinance for this
purpose. These provisions did not apply to the Parliament of a Dominion in accordance with the
Statute of Westminster 1931 (22 Geo. 5, c.4). However, they were applicable to India and though in
the Government of India Act,1935, which prescribed a Federal Constitution, the federal legislature
was empowered to legislate on merchant shipping, it was unfortunate that as Part II of the Act never
came into force, the Central legislature did not have powers to enact merchant shipping laws as a
sovereign independent State until India’s independence in 1947. But it was not until 1958 that the first
genuine national enactment on merchant shipping was forthcoming.
However, among the several Acts passed in India under the authority conferred by the British
Parliamentary Statutes, the first enactment in India relating to Merchant Shipping was the Bombay
Coasting Vessels Act, 1838, which provided for a system of identification and registration of vessels
belonging to residents of the Presidency of Bombay and which were employed on the coasts of the
Presidency. The next Act was the Indian Registration of Ships Act, 1841, which provides for registration
of vessels built and trading within the limits of the East India Company’s charter. The Act conferred
the status of British ships on such ships but only as long as the ships were within the limits of the
charter. This Act was subsequently amended in 1850 so as to extend the privileges of British ships
to Indian ship which were on voyage from one part of the possessions of the East India Company to
another part. There were numerous other enactments in India in subsequent years, the most important
of which were : the Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1859, which dealt with examinations for Certificates
of Competency, engagement of seamen and their wages, etc.; the Indian Merchants Shipping Act,
1880, which dealt with detention of unseaworthy and unsafe ships; the Indian Merchant Shipping Act
of 1883 which dealt with casualties affecting ships, enquiries into casualties and charges against
ship’s officers; the Native Passenger Ships Act, 1887, which dealt with unberthed passenger traffic,
and the Pilgrim Ships Act of 1895 which dealt with the Haj Pilgrim traffic.
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The mass legislation applicable to shipping created considerable confusion and difficulty as it
was becoming increasingly difficult to refer to or establish the law applicable to particular matters
and it was accordingly realised that it was urgently necessary to codify the entire law on the subject
. The first such attempt was made in 1891-1892 when a draft Bill was prepared but it could not be
proceeded with owing to the objections of the U.K. Government who held that it overlapped and
conflicted with the provisions of the British Statute. Further attempts were made in 1898-1899 to deal
with certain portions of the previous Bill but they had also to be dropped. The main reasons for the
failure of these efforts arose from the fact that the British legislation on the subject was applicable
throughout the British Commonwealth (then Empire) including India, and the powers of the Indian
Legislature to legislate on the subject were restricted by internal constitutional limitation as well as
by the limitations of the powers conferred by the British Statutes which authorised such Indian
legislation. For instance, the Indian Legislature was not empowered to enact laws with extra-territorial
application except in respect of Indian subjects. The legislature in India had also no powers to make
laws affecting or repealing any Acts of Parliament. The British Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, also
imposed various restrictions. For instance, Sections 90, 125, 367, 478, 670, 711 of the said Act,
enabled the Indian Legislature to deal with certain matters by local legislation, but such legislation
could only be supplementary to the British law and could not either supplant it or be in conflict with
it. India’s repeated attempts to consolidate the law failed because it was found on every occasion
that the draft Bill trenched unduly on the British law and was objected to by the U.K. Board of Trade.
A fresh attempt was made in 1921-1922 to modify the law and the matter was dealt with by the
Statute Law Revision Committee. This Committee, after careful consideration, considered that a
possible cause of the failure of the previous attempts was the fact that both consolidation and
amendment of the law were attempted at the same time and held that they should only attempt to
consolidate the existing law in India and defer any attempt to revise it. The Committee accordingly
prepared a draft Bill which merely consolidated the existing Acts on the subject. This Bill was
subsequently passed by the Indian Legislature as the Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1923, which
was in force till 1958. This Act, however, had various defects and limitations. For instance, it did not
deal with the registration of ships, and the Statute Law Revision Committee stated that it was
questionable, in view of the application of Part I of the British Act of 1894 to India, whether the
existing Indian Registration Acts could be re-enacted, and that it would be impossible even to reproduce
their provisions in the consolidating Act. The Act did not deal with certain other matters like limitation
of shipowner’s liability and also suffered from the limitations of the earlier laws. The Indian law
relating to Merchant Shipping had, therefore, not been revised in substance ever since the original
Acts of 1859 to 1895 were passed; the only changes made were certain modifications relating to
pilgrim traffic safety, etc., which were enacted during recent years. One important amendment which
was made in 1949 provided that all ships registered in India should fly the Indian Ensign.
Thus in 1958, before the passing of the new Act, parts of the Indian Shipping Law were anything
from half a century to one century old and had not been modified to keep pace with subsequent
developments. Moreover, the entire constitutional position had undergone a change, since after the
passing of the India Independence Act, 1947, the Parliament of India was fully competent to, legislate
on all aspects of merchant shipping, including registration. In the absence of law relating to registration,
large sea-going Indian ships had continued to be registered under the British Act at Indian ports.
Thus as late as 1958, before the passing of the new Merchant Shipping Act, the British Merchant
Shipping Act, 1894, applied to most matters relating to Indian Ships and Indian seamen. There were
various parts of the British Act which required certain returns to be submitted to the authorities in the
U.K. and it was by executive orders only that their submission had been stopped. It was this lacuna
in Indian law and the anomaly in the application of British Acts to Indian ships even 10 years after the
attainment of independence, which made the existing legal position untenable as well as unsatisfactory.
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The Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, therefore, came in response to a long felt need.
The basis of the present Indian Law
In the light of the above historical background, it could be neither feasible nor desirable for India
to adopt a completely divergent path in regard to its merchant shipping laws after her Independence.
The British laws were basically sound in their technical application and merit and the I.M.S. Act of
1958 rightly takes its inspiration from the following two major sources :
(a) International Conventions : The merchant shipping law deals mainly with technical matters and
many of these are regulated by International Conventions like the Safety Pollution, Limitation of
Liability, Prevention of Collisions and Loadline Convention, the I.L.O. Conventions, etc.
(b) The U.K. law on Merchant Shipping : In 1931, the U.K. and the various Dominion Governments
entered into the Commonwealth Merchant Shipping Agreement which provided that for various
matters like registration, standards of safety, ship’s articles, certificates of officers, ship enquiries,
etc., the law throughout the Commonwealth should as far as possible, be uniform. Although India
was not a party to this Agreement as she was not a Dominion in 1931, she had adhered to the
Commonwealth arrangements to the extent that was possible and desirable.
The basic structure of the law as visualised by the 1958 Act has, therefore, been similar to that of the
Commonwealth countries with, of course, certain essential modifications where special arrangements
to suit Indian conditions were considered necessary. However, it would not be incorrect to state that
the provisions of the new Act do not register any radical departure from the existing British laws
except in respect of a couple of important matters. The most fundamental change introduced by the
I.M.S. Act, 1958, departing radically from the position created by the repealed British Act, relates to
the sphere of registration of ships. As such the English Court decisions in particular before the
coming into force of M.S. Act 1958 have material impact in India.
Competence of the Legislature under Constitution
It will be noticed that Article 372(1) provides for the continuance of the existing law only until it is
altered, repealed or amended by a competent Legislature . It is hardly necessary to point out that the
Legislatures of the sovereign Republic of India under the Constitution possess plenary powers to
amend or repeal British statutes relating to the subjects assigned to them by the Legislative Lists,
and are not subject to any of the limitations to which the Legislatures were subject under the Government
of India Acts. In fact, as has been pointed out, this legislative autonomy has been enjoyed by the
Indian Legislatures since the date of commencement of the Indian Independence Act, 1947.
The Indian Legislature has replaced the British statutes by enacting the Merchant Shipping Act,
1958. However, the Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act, 1878 and the Admiralty Court Jurisdiction Acts
of U.K. remain applicable to India as these have not been repealed.
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INTERPRETATION
1. Introductory
The terms interpretation and construction have often been used as identical but the two differ
from each other in the sense that interpretation is the art of finding out the true sense of the
words used by the authors whereas construction is drawing conclusions from words which are
not clear. The words of the statute are to be constructed so as to ascertain the mind of the
legislature from the natural and grammatical meaning of the words which it had used. But court
cannot fill the gaps or supply omissions.
2. Intention of Legislature
The primary duty of the courts is to give effect to the intention of the legislature as expressed in
the words used by it and no outside consideration can be called in aid to find that intention.
It is no doubt true that if on its true construction a statute leads to anomalous results, the
courts have no option but to give effect to it and leave it to the legislature to amend the law. But
when on a construction of a statute, two views are possible, one which results in anomaly and
the other not, it is the duty of the courts to adopt the one which does not lead to anomaly and
seek consolation in the thought that the law bristles with anomalies.
3. Notification to have force of law
Where an order is contained in a notification issued in exercise of power given by an Act, it shall
have the force of law. This is a well known rule of construction and interpretation.
4. Same meaning to be given to the same word
The same word appearing in the same section of the same Act or rules must be given the same
meaning unless there is anything to indicate to the contrary. Intention should be primarily
gathered from the Act. Unless there is any ambiguity, surrounding circumstances and
constitutional principles and practices are not to be examined. Where meaning of the words is
clear it is unnecessary to search for and select a particular meaning out of many given in
dictionary.
5. Amending and Consolidating Statute
On any point specifically dealt with in the Act, the law is to be ascertained by interpreting the
language used in its natural meaning, uninfluenced by considerations derived from the previous
state of law.
Reference to previous state of the law would be permissible only if any provision in the statute
is of doubtful interpretation.
Where new legislation, in re-enacting the statute, repeats the very words of the previous
legislation, it may fairly be inferred that the words were intended to be understood in their
accepted meanings.
If there has been an interpretation put upon the words in the original Acts, the same construction
must be applied in the consolidating Act.
Reference to previous legislation is permissible to interpret the terms in the statute.
It is permissible to refer to the history of legislation in the task of interpreting a statute.
Extraneous considerations like previous legislation, pertaining to the same topic, reports of the
committee of the legislature when the statute was in the bill stage, debates in the legislature
while it was a bill and generally the intention of the framers cannot be imported in the process
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of interpreting its provisions because (as Lord Halsbury said) the worst person to construe a
statute is the person who is responsible for its drafting.
6. Four principles to be considered
For the sure and true interpretation of all statutes in general (be they penal or beneficial, restricitive
or enlarging of the common law) four things are to be discerned and considered-
(i) What was the common law before the making of the Act.
(ii) What was the mischief and the defect for which the common law did not provide.
(iii) What remedy the parliament has resolved and appointed to cure the mischief.
(iv) The true reason of the remedy.
It is only legitimate but highly convenient to refer both to the former Act and to the ascertained
evils to which the former Act had given rise and to the later Act which provided the remedy.
7. Statute creating offence Mens-rea is essential ingredient
Mens-rea is an essential ingredient of a criminal offence. A Statute may exclude the element of
mens-rea but it is a sound rule of construction adopted in England and also accepted in India to
construe a statutory provision creating an offence in conformity with the common law rather
than against it unless the statute expressly or by necessary implication excludes mens-rea.
The nature to the mens-rea, that would be implied in a statute creating an offence would depend
on the object of the Act and the provisions thereof Such a construction would not rope in
innocent persons. When the existence of a particular intent or state of mind is a necessary
ingredient of the offence and prima facie proof of the existence of the intent or state of mind has
been given by prosecution, the defendant may excuse himself by disproving the existence in
him of any guilty intent or state of mind.
8. Preamble not to be used when words are clear
A preamble is a key to the interpretation of a statute but is not ordinarily an independent
enactment of conferring rights or taking them away and cannot restrict or widen the enacting
part which is clear and unambiguous. The motive for legislation is often reflected in the preamble
but the remedy may extend beyond the cure of the evil intended to be removed. No resort to the
preamble would be justified in interpreting the provision in the Act, when the words used in it are
clear and unambiguous.
The function of the preamble is to explain certain facts which are necessary to be explained
before the provisions contained in the Act can be followed. It is sort of introduction to the statute
and is many a times very helpful to understand the policy and legislative intent.
9. Principle of harmonious construction
The recognised rule of interpretation of statutes is that the expression used should ordinarily be
understood in a sense which harmonises with the object of the legislature. If an expression is
susceptible of a narrow or technical meaning, as well as popular meaning, the court would be
justified in assuming that the legislature used the expression in the sense which would carry
out its object and reject that sense which would render the exercise of its powers invalid. In
interpreting a statute a court cannot ignore its aims and objects.
10. Intention how to be determined
In construing an enactment and determining its true scope, it is permissible to have regard to all
such factors as can legitimately be taken into account to ascertain the intention of the legislature,
such as the history of the Act, the reasons which led to its passed, the mischief which had to
be cured as well as the cure as also the other provisions of the statute.
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LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS
11. Reports of drafting committee may be referred
While interpreting a constitutional provision the report of the drafting committee may be referred
to. But this report cannot be used to control the meaning of the particular provision but it may be
looked at in case of ambiguity.
12. Speech made in the course of debate not helpful
A speech made in the course of the debate on a bill cannot be of much help in the interpretation
of constitution. It could at best be indicative of the subjective intent of the speaker, but it cannot
reflect the inarticulate mental process lying behind the majority vote which carried the bill. It
could not be said that the minds of all those who voted were in accord with the speaker. The
count can only search for the objective intent of the legislature primarily in the enactment aided
by such historical material as reports of statutory committees, preambles etc. etc. Gopalan v.
State of Madras, A.I.R. 1950 S.C. 27,1960 SCR 88, 1950 SCJ 174.
13. Statement of objects and reasons
The statement of objects and reasons appended to a bill seeks only to explain what reasons
induced the mover to introduce the bill in the House and what objects he sought to achieve. But
these objects may or may not correspond with the reasons which impelled the majority to pass
the bill or which the majority had in view while passing it into law. The bill may have undergone
radical changes during its passage through the House or Houses and there is no guarantee that
the reasons which led to its introduction and the objects thereby sought to be achieved have
remained the same throughout till the Bill emerges from the House as an Act of the legislature,
for they do not form part of the bill and are not voted upon by the members.
14. Prior history may be looked at
The history which lies behind an enactment may be looked into and is admissible to find out the
meaning of law. The recourse to prior state of law, the evil sought to be eradicated, the process
by which the law was evolved are admissible to find out the meaning of the Act.
15. Report of Select Committee
The Act cannot be interpreted by any reference to the bill. The language of a Minister proposing
in parliament a measure which eventually becomes law is inadmissible. The report made by
some outsider is even more removed from the value of as aid to interpretation because it may
not be followed or accepted. The alterations made in the bill during its passage through the
committee, the statements and objects and report of select committee cannot be legitimately
taken into account. It would be wrong to say that every change in the phraseology introduced
by way of amendment necessarily implies a change in the content of the provision or in its
meaning for it entirely depends upon whether these words were merely meant to clarify or alter
the then existing meaning.
16. Statement of a Minister
Statute, as passed by Parliament is the expression of the collective intention of the legislature
as a whole and any statement made by an individual, albeit a minister, of the intention and
objects of the Act cannot be used to curtail the generality of words used in the statute. Like
statement of objects and reasons it can be used only to understand the antecedent state of
affairs leading upto the legislation.
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17. Marginal notes and headings of Chapters
Marginal notes and headings of a chapter cannot be used for the purpose of construing a
statute, if the intention is otherwise clear. These cannot be used to restrict the plain terms of an
enactment.
18. Title of statute
The title of a statute is an important part of the Act and can be very useful in ascertaining its
general scope and can be referred for the purpose of throwing light on its construction although
it cannot over-ride the clear meaning of the statute. It was held that reference may be made to
title and if possible the Court may deduce the policy of the legislature. But the title cannot
control the meaning.
19. Heading of sections
If there is any doubt while interpreting words in the section, the heading certainly helps to
resolve the doubt. The headings prefixed to sections or set of sections in some modern statutes
are regarded as preambles to those sections.
20. English decisions where statute is based on English law
Where an Indian Act is based on English statute or corresponds with it, the decisions given by
English court may be followed.
21. Shall when mandatory
The question whether a particular provision of a statute which on the face of it appears mandatory
in as much as it uses the word ‘shall’ or is directory cannot be resolved by laying down any
general rule and depends upon the facts of each case and for that purpose the object of the
statute in making the provision is the determining factor. The purpose for which the provision
has been made and its nature, the intention of the legislature in making that provision, the
serious or general inconvenience or injustice to persons resulting therefrom, whether the provision
is read one way or the other the relation of the particular provision to other provision dealing with
the same subject and other considerations which may arise on the facts of a particular case
including the language of the provision, have all to be taken into account in arriving at the
conclusion whether a particular provision is mandatory or not.
22. Use of word ‘may’, effect of
The use of the word ‘may’ is not conclusive or decisive for determining as to whether a statute
is mandatory or directory. The expression ‘may’ has a varying significance having regard to the
content in which this word appears. In some context it is purely permissive, in other it may
confer a power and make it obligatory upon person invested with the power to exercise it.
23. May-may mean shall
The word ‘may’ generally does not mean ‘shall’ or ‘must’ but if the context so requires it may
mean ‘shall’ or ‘must’. Where discretion is conferred upon a public authority coupled with an
obligation, the word ‘may’, which denotes discretion, should be constructed to mean a command.
Sometimes the legislature uses the word ‘may’ out of respect or deference to the high status of
the authority on whom the power or obligation is intended to be conferred or imposed. If a
construction, which is not obligatory, makes the word ‘may’ redundant the word may should be
interpreted as ‘shall’.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- vii
INTERPRETATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- x
INDEX --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- xv
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958
Preamble - Commentary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
PART I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 2
2. Application of Act ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
3. Definition --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
PART I - Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
PART II
NATIONAL SHIPPING BOARD

4. Establishment of National Shipping Board. -------------------------------------------------- 13
5. Function of National Shipping Board. ---------------------------------------------------------- 13
6. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this part. ----------------------------------- 13
PART II - Commentary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14
PART III
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
7. Director-General of Shipping --------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
8. Mercantile Marine Department ------------------------------------------------------------------ 15
9. Surveyors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
10. Radio inspectors. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16
11. Shipping offices. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16
12. Seamen’s employment offices. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 16
13. Seamen’s welfare officers. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
PART III - Commentary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18
Section Nos. 14 to 19 referring to Shipping Development Fund is
omitted as per MS (Amend.) Act 1986.
PART IV
SHIPPING DEVELOPMENT FUND
Part IV – Commentary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
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PART V
REGISTRATION OF INDIAN SHIPS
20. Application of Part Indian Ships ----------------------------------------------------------------- 22
21. Indian ships. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22
22. Obligation to register. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22
Part V1 - Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40
Procedure for registration
23. Ports of registry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22
24. Registrars of Indian ships. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
25. Register book. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
26. Application for registry. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
27. Survey and measurement of ships before registry. ----------------------------------------- 24
28. Marking of ship. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 24
29. Declaration of ownership on registry. ---------------------------------------------------------- 24
30. Evidence on first registry ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
31. Entry of particulars in register book. ----------------------------------------------------------- 25
32. Documents to be retained by registrar. -------------------------------------------------------- 26
33. Power of Central Government to inquire into title of Indian ship to be so registered. 26
Certificate of registry
34. Grant of certificate of registry. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 26
35. Custody and use of certificate. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 26
36. Power to grant new certificate when original certificate is
defaced lost, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27
37. Endorsement on certificate of change of master. ------------------------------------------- 27
38. Endorsement on certificate of change of ownership ---------------------------------------- 28
39. Delivery of certificate of ship lost or ceasing to be an Indian ship. ---------------------- 28
40. Provisional certificate for ships becoming Indian ships abroad. -------------------------- 29
41. Temporary pass in lieu of certificate of registry. --------------------------------------------- 29
Transfers of ships, shares, etc.
42. Transfer of ships or shares ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 29
43. Registry of transfer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
44. Transmission of property in Indian ship on death, insolvency, etc. ---------------------- 30
45. Order for sale where ship has ceased to be an Indian ship. ------------------------------ 31
46. Transfer of ship on sale by order of court. ---------------------------------------------------- 32
47. Mortgage of ship or share. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 32
48. Entry of discharge of mortgage. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 32
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49. Priority of mortgages ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 32
50. Mortgagee not deemed to be owner ----------------------------------------------------------- 32
51. Rights of mortgagee. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 32
52. Mortgage not affected by insolvency. ---------------------------------------------------------- 33
53. Transfer of mortgages. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33
54. Transmission of interest n mortgage in certain circumstances. ------------------------- 33
Name of Ship
55. Rules as to name of Ship ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 34
Registry of alterations, registry anew and transfer of registry
56. Registry of alterations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34
57. Regulations for registry of alterations. --------------------------------------------------------- 34
58. Provisional certificate and endorsement where ship is to be registered anew. ------- 35
59. Registry anew on change of ownership. ------------------------------------------------------ 35
60. Procedure for registry anew. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 35
61. Transfer of registry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35
62. Restrictions on re-registry of abandoned ships. --------------------------------------------- 36
National character and flag
63. National colours for Indian ships. --------------------------------------------------------------- 36
64. Unlawful assumption of Indian character. ----------------------------------------------------- 36
65. Concealment of Indian, or assumption of foreign, character. ----------------------------- 37
66. Indian ships to hoist proper national colours in certain cases. -------------------------- 37
67. National character of ship to be declared before clearance. ------------------------------ 37
Miscellaneous
68. Liabilities of ships not recognised as Indian ships. ----------------------------------------- 37
69. Proceedings on forfeiture of ship. --------------------------------------------------------------- 37
70. Notice of trust not received. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 38
71. Liability of owners. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38
72. Evidence of register book, certificate of registry and other documents. --------------- 38
73. Power to register Government ships under this Part. -------------------------------------- 38
74. Power to make rules in respect of matters in this Part. ----------------------------------- 39
Part V1 - Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40
PART VI
CERTIFICATES OF OFFICERS
Masters, mates, engineers, skippers, etc.
75. Application of Part. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44
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75A. Definitions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 44
76. Certificates of competency to be held by officers of ships. ------------------------------- 44
77. When officers deemed duly certificated. ------------------------------------------------------ 44
78. Grades of certificates of competency. --------------------------------------------------------- 44
79. Examinations for, and grant of, certificates. -------------------------------------------------- 46
80. Certificates of service of naval officers. -------------------------------------------------------- 46
81. Form of certificates. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47
82. Record of orders affecting certificates. -------------------------------------------------------- 47
83. Loss of certificates. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47
84. Production of certificates of competency to shipping master. ---------------------------- 47
85. Power to cancel or suspend certificates obtained on false
or erroneous information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 48
86. Recognition of certificates of competency or service granted countries. -------------- 48
86A. Foreign ships not to sail without certificated officers --------------------------------------- 49
87. Power to make rules. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 49
Part VI - Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 50
PART VI A
OBLIGATION OF CERTAIN CERTIFICATE HOLDERS TO SERVE

GOVERNMENT OR IN INDIAN SHIPS
87A. Definition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53
87B. Holders of certificates to serve the Government or in
Indian ships for a certain period. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 53
87C. Exemption from section 87B. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 54
87D. Particulars of certificate, etc., to be furnished ----------------------------------------------- 55
PART VI A –Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56
PART VII
SEAMEN AND APPRENTICES
Classification of seamen and prescription of minimum manning scale
88. Power to classify seamen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 57
Shipping masters
89. Duties of shipping masters. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 57
90. Feeds to be paid. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57
Apprenticeship to the sea service
91. Assistance for apprentices ship to sea service. --------------------------------------------- 58
92. Special provisions as to apprenticeship to the sea service. ------------------------------ 58
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93. Manner in which contract is to be recorded. ------------------------------------------------- 59
94. Production of contracts to authorised person before voyage in ships ------------------ 59
Seamen’s employment offices.
95. Business of Seamen’s employment offices. ------------------------------------------------- 59
96. Supply or engagement of seamen in contravention of Act prohibited. ------------------ 60
97. Receipt of remuneration from seamen for shipping them prohibited -------------------- 61
97A. Prohibition against discrimination -------------------------------------------------------------- 61
Engagement of seamen
98. Qualification for, and medical examination of, seamen. ----------------------------------- 61
99. Prohibition of engagement of seamen in Indian port without discharge certificate. -- 62
99A. Prohibition of engagement of seafarer without seafarer’s identity document ---------- 62
100. Agreements with crew. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 63
101. Form and contents of agreement. -------------------------------------------------------------- 63
102. Engagement of seaman where agreement is made out of India. ------------------------ 64
103. Special provisions with regard to agreements with crew of Indian ships. -------------- 64
104. Renewal of running agreements in certain cases. ------------------------------------------ 66
105. Changes in crew to be reported. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 66
106. Certificate as to agreement with crew. -------------------------------------------------------- 67
107. Copy of agreement to be made accessible to the crew. ----------------------------------- 67
108. Alteration in agreement with the crew. -------------------------------------------------------- 67
Employment of young persons
109. Employment of children. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 68
110. Engagement of young persons as trimmers or stokers. ----------------------------------- 68
111. Medical examination of young persons. ------------------------------------------------------ 68
112. Maintenance of list or register of young persons in a ship. ------------------------------- 69
113. Power to make rules respecting employment of young persons. ----------------------- 69
Engagement of seamen by masters of ships other than Indian ships
114. Maintenance of list or register of young person in a ship. --------------------------------- 69
115. Power to prohibit engagement of persons as seamen. ------------------------------------ 70
116. Engagement of seamen outside for Indian ships. ------------------------------------------- 70
117. Power to board ships and muster seamen. -------------------------------------------------- 71
Discharge of seamen
118. Discharge before shipping master. ------------------------------------------------------------- 71
119. Certificate of discharge. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 71
120. Certificate as to work of seamen. --------------------------------------------------------------- 71
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121. Discharge and leaving behind of seamen by masters of Indian ships. ----------------- 72
122. Wages and other property of seaman or apprentice left behind. ------------------------ 73
123. Repatriation of seamen on termination of service at foreign port. ------------------------ 73
124. Discharge of seamen on change of ownership. --------------------------------------------- 74
Payment of wages
125. Master to deliver account of wages. ----------------------------------------------------------- 74
126. Disrating of seamen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 74
127. Deductions from wages of seamen. ------------------------------------------------------------ 75
128. Payment of wages before shipping master. -------------------------------------------------- 75
129. Time of payment of wages. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 75
130. Settlement of wages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 75
130A. Certain undisbursed amounts to be utilised for welfare of seamen ---------------------- 76
131. Master to give facilities to seamen for remitting wages. ----------------------------------- 76
132. Decision of questions by shipping masters. ------------------------------------------------- 77
133. Power of shipping master to require production of ships papers. ------------------------ 77
134. Rule as to payment to seamen in foreign currency. ---------------------------------------- 77
Advance and allotment of wages
135. Advance of wages. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78
136. Allotment notes respecting seamen’s wages. ----------------------------------------------- 78
137. Commencement and payment of sums allotted. -------------------------------------------- 79
Rights of seamen in respect of wages
138. Right of wages and provisions. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 79
138A. Working hours of seamen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 80
139. Right to recover wages and salvage not to be forfeited. ----------------------------------- 80
140. Wages not to depend on freight. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 80
141. Wages on termination of service by wreck, illness, etc. ---------------------------------- 80
142. Wages not to accrue during absence without leave,
refusal to work or imprisonment. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 81
143. Compensation to seamen for premature discharge. ---------------------------------------- 81
144. Restriction on sale of and charge upon wages. --------------------------------------------- 82
Mode of recovering wages
145. Summary proceedings for wages. -------------------------------------------------------------- 82
146. Summary proceedings for wages. -------------------------------------------------------------- 83
147. Wages not recoverable outside India in certain cases. ------------------------------------ 83
148. Remedies of master for wages, disbursements, etc. -------------------------------------- 83
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Power of courts to rescind contracts
149. Power of court to rescind contract between master, owner
or agent and seamen or apprentice. ----------------------------------------------------------- 83
Disputes between seamen and employers
150. Power to refer disputes between seamen and their employers to tribunals. ---------- 84
151. Conditions of service, etc., to remain unchanged during pendency
of proceedings before tribunal. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 85
Property of deceased seamen and apprentices
152. Master to take charge of the effects of deceased seamen. ------------------------------ 85
153. Dealing with and account of property of seamen who die during voyage. ------------- 86
154. Master to pay and deliver property of deceased seamen. --------------------------------- 86
155. Property of deceased seamen left abroad but not on board ship. ----------------------- 87
156. Dealing with property with deceased seamen. ---------------------------------------------- 87
157. Recovery of wages, etc., of seamen lost with their ship. ---------------------------------- 87
158. Property of seamen dying in India. ------------------------------------------------------------- 88
159. Payment over or property of deceased seamen by shipping master. ------------------- 88
159A. Nomination ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 88
160. Disposal of unclaimed property of deceased seamen. ------------------------------------- 88
161. Relief and maintenance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89
162. Mode or providing for return of seamen to proper return port. ---------------------------- 90
163. Receiving distressed seamen on ships. ------------------------------------------------------ 91
164. Provisions as to taking distressed seamen on ships. ------------------------------------- 91
165. What shall be evidence of distress. ------------------------------------------------------------ 91
166. Indian consular officer to decide return port to which or route by
which the seaman is to be sent. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 91
167. Power to make rules with respect to distressed seamen. -------------------------------- 92
Provisions, health and accommodation
168. Ships to have sufficient provisions and water. ------------------------------------------------ 92
169. Allowances for short or bad provisions. ------------------------------------------------------- 92
170. Foreign going Indian ship to carry duly certificated cook. --------------------------------- 93
171. Weights and measures on board. -------------------------------------------------------------- 93
172. Beddings, towels, medicines, medical stores, etc., to be provided and kept
on board certain ships. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 93
173. Certain ships to carry medical officer. --------------------------------------------------------- 94
174. Expenses of medical attendance in case of illness. --------------------------------------- 94
175. Accommodation for seamen. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 95
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176. Inspection by shipping master, etc., of provisions, water,
weights and measures and accommodation. ------------------------------------------------ 96
177. Inspection by master of provisions, water, and accommodation at sea. --------------- 96
177A. Power to make rules to prevent accidents. --------------------------------------------------- 96
Special provisions for the protection of seamen in respect of litigation
178-183. Special provisions for the protection of seamen in respect of litigation --------------- 97
Special provisions for the protection of seamen in respect of other matters.
184. Facilities for making complaints. --------------------------------------------------------------- 99
185. Assignment or sale of salvage invalid. --------------------------------------------------------- 99
186. No debt recoverable till end of voyage. -------------------------------------------------------- 100
187. Seamen’s property not to be detained. -------------------------------------------------------- 100
188. Prohibition against solicitation by lodging housekeepers. -------------------------------- 100
189. Ship not to be boarded without permission before seamen leave. ---------------------- 100
Provisions as to discipline.
190. Misconduct endangering life or ship. ---------------------------------------------------------- 100
191. Desertion and absence without leave. --------------------------------------------------------- 101
192. Power to suspend deserter’s certificate of discharge, ------------------------------------- 101
193. Conveyance of deserter or imprisoned seamen on board ship. -------------------------- 101
194. General offences against discipline. ----------------------------------------------------------- 102
195 Smuggling of goods by seamen or apprentices. -------------------------------------------- 102
196. Entry of offences in official logs. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 103
197. Report of desertions and absences without leave. ------------------------------------------ 103
198. Entries and certificates of desertion abroad. ------------------------------------------------- 103
199. Facilities for proving desertion in proceedings for forfeiture of wages. ------------------ 104
200. Application of forfeitures. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 104
201. Decision of questions of forfeiture and deduction in suits for wages. ------------------- 104
202. Payment of fines imposed under agreement to shipping master. ----------------------- 104
203. Seaman or apprentice not to be enticed to desert. ----------------------------------------- 105
204. Deserters not to be harboured ------------------------------------------------------------------- 105
205. Stowaways and seamen carried under compulsion. --------------------------------------- 105
206. Procedure where seaman not shipped in India is imprisoned on complaint
of master or owner. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 106
207. Power to send on board seaman not shipped in India who is
under going imprisonment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 106
208. On change of master, documents to be handed over to successor --------------------- 106
209. Transmission of documents on transfer of seaman from one shi to another. --------- 106
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210. Leaving behind in India of seamen or apprentice engaged abroad. ---------------------- 107
211. Deserters from foreign ships. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 107
212. Official logs to be kept and to be dated. ------------------------------------------------------ 107
213. Entries in official log books now and when to be made. ----------------------------------- 107
214. Entries required to be made in official logbooks. -------------------------------------------- 108
215. Offences in respect of official logs. ------------------------------------------------------------- 109
216. Delivery of official logs to shipping masters. ------------------------------------------------- 109
217. Official logs to be sent to shipping master in case of transfer of ship or loss. ------- 109
National Welfare Board for Seafarers
218. Functions of National Welfare Board for Seafarers. ---------------------------------------- 110
PART VII – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 111
PART VIII
PASSENGER SHIPS
Survey of passenger ships.
219. Application of part. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 116
220. No ship to carry passengers without a certificate of survey. ------------------------------ 116
221. Power of surveyor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 116
222. Fees in respect of survey. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 117
223. Declaration of survey. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 117
224. Sending of declaration. by owner, agent or master to Central Government. ---------- 117
225. Grant of certificate of survey by Central Government. -------------------------------------- 118
226. Power of Central Government to order a second survey. ---------------------------------- 118
227. Duration of certificates of survey. --------------------------------------------------------------- 118
228. Cancellation or suspension of certificate of survey by Central Government. ---------- 119
229. Alteration in ships subsequent to grant of certificate of survey,
and additional surveys. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 119
230. Power to require delivery of expired or cancelled certificate of survey. ----------------- 120
231. Certificate of survey to be affixed in conspicuous part of ship. -------------------------- 120
232. Ship not to carry passengers in contravention of Act. ------------------------------------- 120
Keeping order in passenger ships
233. Offences in connection with passenger ships. ---------------------------------------------- 120
234 Power to exclude drunken passengers from passenger ships --------------------------- 121
235. Ships with certificates of survey or certificates of partial survey
granted outside India. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 121
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236. Power to make rules as to surveys. ----------------------------------------------------------- 122
Special trade passenger ships and pilgrim ships
237. Ports or places where special trade passengers or pilgrims may embark
or be discharged. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 123
238. Notice to be given of day of sailing. ------------------------------------------------------------ 123
239. Power to enter on and inspect ships. ---------------------------------------------------------- 123
240. Ship not to sail without certificates A and B -------------------------------------------------- 124
241. Contents of certificate A -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 124
242. Contents of certificate B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 124
243. Officers entitled to grant certificates. ---------------------------------------------------------- 125
244. Survey of ship. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 125
245. Discretion as to grant of certificates B -------------------------------------------------------- 126
246. Copy of certificate A to be exhibited. ---------------------------------------------------------- 126
247. Special trade passengers or pilgrims to be supplied with
prescribed provisions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 126
248. Number of passengers on board not to exceed that allowed by
or under this part. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 126
249. Special trade passenger or pilgrim not to be landed at a place other than that
at which he has contracted to land. ------------------------------------------------------------ 127
250. Forwarding of passengers by Indian consular officers. ------------------------------------- 127
251. Recovery of expenses incurred in forwarding passengers. -------------------------------- 127
252. Ship not to make voyage in contravention of contract. ------------------------------------- 127
253. Information to be sent to ports of embarkation and discharge. -------------------------- 127
254. Reports, etc., under section 253 to be admissible in evidence. ------------------------- 128
255. Destination of ship, time of sailing, etc., to be advertised --------------------------------- 128
256. Ship taking additional passengers at intermediate place. --------------------------------- 130
257. Statements concerning passengers. ---------------------------------------------------------- 130
258. Death of special trade passengers on voyage. ---------------------------------------------- 132
259. Certain ships to carry medical officer and attendants. ------------------------------------ 132
260. Bringing passengers from foreign port in excess of authorised number prohibited. - 133
261. Passenger welfare cess. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 133
261A. Bunks to be provided for passengers. --------------------------------------------------------- 134
261B. Space to be provided for passengers when bunks are not provided. -------------------- 134
261C. Airing space to be provided for passengers. ------------------------------------------------- 134
262. Power to make rules as to special trade passenger ships. ------------------------------ 134
263. Hospital accommodation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 136
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270. Bond where pilgrim ship proceeds on outward voyage. ------------------------------------ 136
271. Medical inspection and permission required before embarkation of pilgrims. --------- 137
272. Medical inspection after embarkation in certain cases. ----------------------------------- 137
273. Pilgrims to arrange return passages. ---------------------------------------------------------- 138
274. Issue or production or tickets. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 138
275. Refund of passage money and deposits. ----------------------------------------------------- 138
276. Disposal of unclaimed passage money and deposits. ------------------------------------- 139
277. Cost of return journey of pilgrims on ships other than those for which
return ticket is available. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 139
278. Notice of sailing of Pilgrim ship, omitted by the
Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act. 1976 ------------------------------------------------- 140
279. Compensation for delay in sailing. ------------------------------------------------------------- 140
280. Substitutions of ships. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 142
281. Sanitary taxes payable by masters of pilgrim ship. ---------------------------------------- 142
282. Power to make rules relating to pilgrim ships. ----------------------------------------------- 142
PART VIII-Commentary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 145
PART IX
SAFETY
283. Countries to which Load Line Convention or Safety Convention applies. -------------- 147
283A. Definitions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 147
Construction of ships
284. Construction of rules ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 147
Prevention of collisions
285. Collision regulations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 148
286. Observance of collision regulations. ----------------------------------------------------------- 148
287. Inspectors of light and shapes and fog and distress signals. ---------------------------- 148
Life saving appliances and fire appliances.
288. Power to make rules as to life saving appliances. ------------------------------------------ 149
289. Rules relating to fire appliances. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 150
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290. Inspection of life saving appliances and fire appliances. ----------------------------------- 150
Installation of radiotelegraphy, radiotelephony and direction finders
291. Radio requirements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 151
292. Radio direction finding apparatus. -------------------------------------------------------------- 151
293. Radio log. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 152
294. Powers of radio inspectors. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 152
295. Application of this Part to ships other than Indian ships. --------------------------------- 153
Signalling lamps
297. Signalling lamps. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 153
Stability information
298. Information about ship’s stability. -------------------------------------------------------------- 153
Safety certificates, safety equipment certificates, safety radio certificates,
exemption certificates, etc.,
299. Safety certificates, and qualified safety certificates for passenger ships. ------------- 154
299A. Safety construction certificates and construction certificates for cargo ships. ------- 155
299B. Power to make rules. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 156
300. Cargo ship safety equipment and cargo ship equipment certificates
for ships other than passenger ships. --------------------------------------------------------- 156
301. Cargo ship radiotelegraphy and telephony certificates. ------------------------------------ 157
302. Exemption certificates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 157
303. Duration of certificates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 157
304. Modification of safety convention certificates as respects life saving appliances. --- 160
305. Recognition of certificates issued outside India. -------------------------------------------- 160
306. Issue of certificates to foreign ships in India and Indian
ships in foreign countries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 160
307. Prohibition on proceeding to sea without certificates. ------------------------------------- 161
308. Production of certificates by ships other than Indian ships. ------------------------------ 162
309. Application of certain sections to certificates. ----------------------------------------------- 163
309A. Alterations pending issue of a safety convention certificate. ----------------------------- 163
Load lines
310. Ships exempt from provisions relating to load lines. --------------------------------------- 163
311. Power to make rules as to load lines. --------------------------------------------------------- 164
312. Marking of deck line and load line. ------------------------------------------------------------- 164
312A. Alterations after survey. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 165
313. Submersion of load lines. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 166
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314. Inspection of ships with respect to load lines ------------------------------------------------ 166
315. Inspection of ships with respect to load lines. ----------------------------------------------- 166
Load line certificates
316. Issue of load line certificates and effect there of. ------------------------------------------- 166
317. Duration and cancellation of certificates. ----------------------------------------------------- 167
318. Ships not to proceed to sea without certificate. --------------------------------------------- 170
319. Publication of load line certificate and particulars relating to depth of loading. ------- 170
320. Insertion of particulars as to load lines in agreements with crew. ----------------------- 171
Special provisions as to ships other than Indian ships
321. Issue of load line certificates to foreign ships in India and Indian
ships in foreign countries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 171
322. Recognition of load line certificates and international load line
exemption certificates issued outside India. ------------------------------------------------- 172
323. Inspection and country of Load Line Convention ships other than Indian ships. ----- 172
324. Certificates to be produced to customs by ships other than Indian ships
registered in non-Convention countries. ------------------------------------------------------- 173
325. Marking of deck line and load lines of ships other than Indian ships. ------------------ 174
326. Submersion of load line of ships other than Indian ships. ---------------------------------
327. Inspection of ships other than Indian ships belonging to non-convention countries. 174
328. Load line certificates and international load line exemption certificates
of ships other than Indian ships. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 174
329. Certificate of Load Line Convention ships other than Indian ships to be
produced to customs. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 175
Loading of timber.
330. Power to make rules as to timber cargo. ----------------------------------------------------- 176
Dangerous goods and grain cargoes
331. Carriage of dangerous goods. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 176
331A. Grain loading plan. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 177
332. Carriage of grain. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 178
Sub-division load lines
333. Submersion of sub-division load lines in case of passenger ships. --------------------- 179
Unseaworthy ships
334. Unseaworthy ships not to be sent to sea. ---------------------------------------------------- 180
335. Obligation of owner to crew with respect to sea worthiness. ----------------------------- 180
Detention of unsafe ships by the Central Government
336. Power of detain unsafe ship and procedure for detention. --------------------------------- 181
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Detention cost of and damages incidental thereto
337. Liability of Central Government for costs and damage when
ship wrongly detained. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 182
338. Liability of shipowner for costs when ship rightly detained. ------------------------------- 182
339. Method of calculating costs of detention and survey. -------------------------------------- 182
340. Power to require from complainant security for costs, etc. ------------------------------- 183
341. Costs, etc., payable by Central Government recoverable from complainant. --------- 183
342. Application to ships other than Indian ships of provisions as to detention. ----------- 183
343. Exemption of ships from certain provisions of this Part. ----------------------------------- 184
344. Power to make rules respecting certificates under this Part. ---------------------------- 184
PART IX – Commentary -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 185
PART IXA
NUCLEAR SHIPS
344A. Application of Act to nuclear ships. ------------------------------------------------------------ 188
344B. Nuclear passenger ship safety certificates and nuclear cargo
ship safety certificates. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 188
344C. Prohibition of proceeding to sea without certificates. -------------------------------------- 188
344D. Safety assessment and operating manual. -------------------------------------------------- 189
344E. Foreign Nuclear ships to give free advance notice of arrival. ------------------------------ 189
344F. Control on arrival of nuclear ships. ------------------------------------------------------------- 189
344G. Notice of accidents to nuclear ships. ---------------------------------------------------------- 190
344H. Application of nuclear sections to or in relation to certain certificates
under section 344B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 190
344I. Power to make rules. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 190
PART IX – A - Commentary ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 192

PART IXB
SECURITY OF SHIPS AND PORT FACILITIES
344J. Application ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 193
344K. Definitions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 193
344L. Ship identification number ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 194
344M. Security measures --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 194
344N. Port facility assessment -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 194
344O. Obligations of Companies, etc ------------------------------------------------------------------ 194
344P. Obligaions of Port facility ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 194
344Q. International Ship Security Certificate --------------------------------------------------------- 194
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344R. Ship Security Alert System ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 195
344S. Control Measures ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 195
344T. Power to make -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 195
PART IX – B - Commentary ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 196
PART X
COLLISIONS, ACCIDENTS AT SEA AND LIABILITIES

345. Division of loss in case of collision. ------------------------------------------------------------ 198
346. Damages for personal injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 198
347. Right of contribution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 198
348. Duty of master of ship to assist in case of collision. --------------------------------------- 199
349. Collision to be entered in official log. ---------------------------------------------------------- 199
350. Report to Central Government of accidents to ships. -------------------------------------- 199
351. Notice of loss of Indian ship to be given to Central Government. ------------------------ 199
PART X – Commentary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 200
PART XA
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
352. Definitions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 201
352A. Limitation of liability for damages in respect of section claims. ------------------------- 201
352B. Limitation of liability. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 203
352C. Limitation Fund and consolidation of claims against owners. ---------------------------- 203
352D. Release of ship, etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 204
352E. Scope of application. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 206
352F. Application of this Part to charterer, manager, etc., of a vessel. ------------------------ 207
352FA Power to make rules. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 207
PART X A - Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 208
PART XB
CIVIL LIABILITY FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE

352G-352R. Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage. -------------------------------------------------- 210
PART X – B -Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 216
PART XC
INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION COMPENSATION FUND

352S-352ZA. International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund -------------------------------------- 217
PART X-C – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 221
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PART XI
NAVIGATION
353. Method of giving helm orders. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 222
354. Duty to report dangers to navigation. ---------------------------------------------------------- 222
354A. Communication of intelligence regarding dangers to navigation. ------------------------ 222
355. Obligation to render assistance on receiving signal of distress. ------------------------- 222
355A. Obligation to render assistance to persons in danger. ------------------------------------- 223
356. Power to make rules as to signals. ------------------------------------------------------------ 223
PART XI – Commentary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 225
PART XIA
PREVENTION OF POLLUTION OF THE SEA BY OIL
356A. Application. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 226
356B. Definitions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 226
356C. Issue of Pollution Prevention Certificate. ------------------------------------------------------ 227
356D. Issue of Certificates for foreign ships in India and Indian ships in foreign countries. 228
356E. Requirement for construction and equipment in ships to prevent pollution. ----------- 228
356F. Record book. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 229
356G. Inspection and control of oil tankers and other ships to which this Part applies. ---- 229
356H. Information regarding contravention of the provisions of the convention. --------------- 229
356I. Reception facilitiesat ports in India. ------------------------------------------------------------ 230
PROVISIONS FOR CONTAINMENT OF ACCIDENTAL POLLUTION

356J. Power to give notice to owner etc., of polluting ship --------------------------------------- 231
356K. Powers to take measures for preventing or containing oil pollution --------------------- 232
356L. Power of the Central Government to give directions to certain ships to
render certain services ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 233
356M. Oil Pollution cess ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 234
356N. Refusal of port clearance ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 234
356O. Power to make rules ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 234
PART XI A – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 236
PART XII
INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUIRIES

357. Definitions of “coasts”. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 238
358. Shipping casualties and report thereof. ------------------------------------------------------- 238
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359. Report of shipping casualties to Central Government. ------------------------------------- 238
360. Application to court for formal investigation. -------------------------------------------------- 238
361. Court empowered to make formal investigation. --------------------------------------------- 239
362. Power of court of investigation to inquire into charges against masters,
mates and engineers. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 239
363. Power of Central Government to direct inquiry into charges
of incompetency or misconduct. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 239
364. Opportunity to be given to person to make defence. --------------------------------------- 239
365. Power of court as to evidence and regulation of proceeding. ----------------------------- 239
366. Assessors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 240
367. Power to arrest witnesses and enter ships. -------------------------------------------------- 240
368. Power to commit for trial and bind over witnesses. ----------------------------------------- 240
369. Report by court to Central Government. ------------------------------------------------------ 241
370. Powers of courts as to certificates granted by Central Government. ------------------- 241
371. Power of court to censure master, mate or engineer. -------------------------------------- 241
372. Power of court to remove master and appoint new master ------------------------------- 241
Marine Board
373. Convening of Marine Boards outside India. --------------------------------------------------- 242
374. Constitution and procedure of Marine Board. ------------------------------------------------ 243
375. Decisions of Marine Board to be by majority. ------------------------------------------------ 243
376. Powers of Marine Board. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 243
Miscellaneous provisions relating to cancellation and suspension of certificates
377. Powers of Central Government to cancel, suspend, etc.,
certificate of master, mate or engineer. -------------------------------------------------------- 244
378. Delivery of Indian certificate cancelled or suspended. ------------------------------------- 245
379. Effect of cancellation or suspension of certificate. ------------------------------------------ 246
380. Suspended certificate not to be endorsed. --------------------------------------------------- 246
381. Power of Central Government to cancel or suspend other certificates. ---------------- 246
Re-hearing of cases.
382. Re-hearing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 246
Courts of survey.
383. Constitution of court of survey. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 246
384. Appeal from surveyor to court of survey. ------------------------------------------------------ 247
385. Powers and procedure of court of survey ----------------------------------------------------- 247
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Scientific referees
387. Reference in difficult cases to scientific persons ------------------------------------------- 248
Investigations into explosions or fires on board ships
388. Power to investigate causes of explosion or fire on board ship -------------------------- 248
389. Report to be made regarding cause of explosion of fire ----------------------------------- 248
PART XII – Commentary -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 249
PART XIII
WRECK AND SALVAGE

Wreck
390. Definition of coasts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 251
391. Receivers of wreck. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 251
392. Duty of receiver where receiver is in distress. ------------------------------------------------ 251
393. Power to pass over adjoining lands. ----------------------------------------------------------- 251
394. Power of receiver of wreck to suppress plunder and disorder by force. ---------------- 252
395. Procedure to be observed by persons finding wreck. -------------------------------------- 252
396. Investigation of certain matters in respect of vessels wrecked, etc. -------------------- 252
397. Notice to be given by receiver. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 252
398. Immediate sale of wreck by receiver in certain cases. ------------------------------------- 252
399. Claims of owners to wrecks. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 253
400. Prohibition of certain acts in respect of wreck. ---------------------------------------------- 253
401. Search warrants where wreck is concealed. ------------------------------------------------- 253
Salvage
402. Salvage payable for saving life, cargo or wreck. --------------------------------------------- 254
403. Savings. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 255
404. Power to make rules respecting wreck and salvage. --------------------------------------- 255
PART XIII- Commentary --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 256
PART XIV
CONTROL OF INDIAN SHIPS AND SHIPS ENGAGED IN COASTING TRADE

405. Application of Part --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 259
406. Indian Ships and chartered ships to be licensed. ------------------------------------------- 259
407. Licensing of ships for coasting trade. ---------------------------------------------------------- 259
408. Revocation or modification of licence. --------------------------------------------------------- 260
409. Licences to be surrendered when they cease to be valid. -------------------------------- 260
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410. No port clearance until licence is produced. ------------------------------------------------- 260
411. Power to give. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 260
411A. Power of the Central Government to protect interests of Indian shipping
from undue foreign intervention. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 260
412. Power to fix shipping rates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 261
413. Power of Director-General to call for information. ------------------------------------------- 262
PART XIV – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 263
PART XV
SAILING VESSELS
415. Application of Part. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 265
416. Decision of question whether a vessel is a sailing vessel. -------------------------------- 265
417. Certificate of registry. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 265
418. Particulars relating to sailing vessel to be painted. ----------------------------------------- 266
419. Change of name of sailing vessel. -------------------------------------------------------------- 266
420. Prevention of overloading. or overcrowding. --------------------------------------------------- 266
421. Certificate of inspection. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 266
422. Cancellation, re-issue, etc., of certificate of inspection. ----------------------------------- 267
423. Registry of alterations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 267
424. Transfer of registry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 268
425. Closure of registry. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 268
426. Restrictions on transfer of sailing vessels. --------------------------------------------------- 268
427. Mortgages of sailing vessels. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 268
428. Fraudulent use of certificate of registry or certificate of inspection, etc., prohibited. 268
429. Statement relating to crew of sailing vessel to be maintained. --------------------------- 269
430. Inquiry into jettisoning of cargo. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 269
431. Non-Indian sailing vessels not to engage in coasting trade
without permission. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 269
432. Detention of overload non Indian sailing vessels. ------------------------------------------- 270
433. Power of courts to rescind contracts between owner and Tindal. ----------------------- 270
434. Applications to sailing vessels of other provisions relating to ships. -------------------- 270
434A. Insurance of members of crew of sailing vessels. ------------------------------------------- 270
434B. Policy of insurance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 272
435. Power to make rules respecting sailing vessels. ------------------------------------------- 272
PART XV – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 274
xxxiii

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PART XVA
FISHING BOATS
435A-435X. Fishing boats. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 275
PART XV-A – Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 282
PART XVI
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE

Penalties
436. Penalties --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 283
Procedure
437. Place of trial. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 299
438. Cognizance of offences. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 299
439. Jurisdiction of magistrates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 299
440. Special provision regarding punishment. ------------------------------------------------------ 299
441. Offences by companies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 299
442. Depositions to be received in evidence when witness cannot be produced. ---------- 300
443. Power to detain foreign ship that has occasioned damage. ------------------------------ 300
444. Power to enforce detention of ship. ------------------------------------------------------------ 301
445. Levy of wages, etc., by distress of movable property or ship. ---------------------------- 302
446. Notice to be given to consular representative of proceedings taken
in respect of foreign ship. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 302
447. Application of fines. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 302
448. Service of documents, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 302
PART – XVI – Commentary ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 303
PART XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
449. Power to appoint examiners and to make rules as to qualifications
of ship surveyors. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 304
450. No person to practise as ship surveyor unless qualified. ---------------------------------- 304
451. Power of ship surveyor to inspect ship. ------------------------------------------------------- 304
452. Inquiry into cause of death on board Indian ship. ------------------------------------------- 304
453. Certain persons deemed to be public servants. --------------------------------------------- 305
454. Powers of persons authorised to investigate, etc. ------------------------------------------ 305
454A. Power to prescribe alternative fitting, etc. ---------------------------------------------------- 306
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455. Exemption of public ships, foreign and Indian. ---------------------------------------------- 306
456. Power to exempt. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 306
457. General power to make rules. ------------------------------------------------------------------- 306
458. Provisions with respect to rules and regulations. ------------------------------------------- 306
459. Power to constitute committees to advise on rules,
regulations and scales of fees. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 307
460. Protection of persons acting under Act. ------------------------------------------------------- 307
460A. Removal of difficulties. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 308
PART XVII – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 309
PART XVIII
REPEALS AND SAVINGS

461. Repeals and savings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 310
PART XVIII – Commentary ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 312
THE SCHEDULE : ENACTMENT REPEALED. --------------------------------------------- 313
M.V. Elizabeth: A Case Study1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 314
xxxv

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of 1958] 1
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958

44 of 1958
[30th October, 1958]
An Act to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile
marine in a manner best suited to serve the national interests and for that purpose to establish a
National Shipping Board and a Shipping Development Fund, to provide for the 1[registration, certification,
safety and security] of Indian ships and generally to amend and consolidate the law relating to
merchant shipping.
Be it enacted by Parliament in the Ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 40 of 2007
Preamble - Commentary
The preamble of an Act is a key to open the mind of legislators in cases where any doubt or
there is any possibility of ambiguity1. If the words of the substantive provisions are clear, the preamble
cannot control the language used in the Act.2 In the event of doubt or ambiguity, the Court should
approach the substantive provisions of the Bill in the light of the policy and purpose deductible from
the terms of the preamble and thus construe the clauses of the said enactment as will subserve the
said policy and purpose.3 The preamble may not exactly correspond with the enactment and the
enactment or the statute may go beyond the preamble.4
The preamble of the Merchant Shipping Act 19585 envisages the intention behind the legislation
which is to foster the development and ensure efficient maintenance of the maritime industry of India.
The preamble also clarifies the intention behind the formation of the National Shipping Board and the
Shipping Development Fund. It is also stated that the MS Act 1958 is legislated to facilitate for
registration of Indian ships. The construction of the preamble provides for treatment of vessels6 /
ships7 registered in India with measures for special privileges and protection. Further, the Act is also
meant to provide provisions for amendments and consolidation of law regulating/governing merchant
shipping.
1
Bhinka v. Charan Singh, AIR 1959 SC 960
2
Tribhuban Prakash Nayar v. The Union of India AIR 1970 SC 540; Manju v. State of Kerala and Ors. 2011 (3) KHC 57,
2011 (3) KLT 150
3
M/s. Burrakur Coal Co. Ltd. v. The Union of India AIR 1961 SC 954 at p. 956, In re The Kerala Education Bill, 1957 AIR
1958 SC 956
4
M/s. Purbanchal Cables and Conductors Pvt. Ltd. And Ors. V. Assam State Electricity Board and Anr. 2012 (7) SCC
462; AIR 2012 SC 3167.
5
Merchant Shipping Act 1958 (44 of 1958) hereinafter referred to as MS Act 1958.
6
See Section 3(55) which defines the term “vessel” to include “any ship, boat, sailing vessel, or other description of
vessel used in navigation”.
7
Section 3(45) defines the term ship to not include sailing vessel.

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2 [Act 44
PART I
PRELIMINARY
Short title and 1. (1) This Act may be called the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
commencement
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different
provisions of this Act.
1
Application of Act [2. (1) Unless otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this
Act which apply to-
(a) any vessel which is registered in India; or
(b) any vessel which is required by this Act to be so
registered; or
(c) any other vessel which is owned wholly by persons to
each of whom any of the descriptions specified in clause
(a) or in clause (b) or in clause (c), as the case may
be, of section 21 applies, shall so apply wherever the
vessel may be.
(2) Unless otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this
Act which apply to vessels other than those referred to in
sub-section (1) shall so apply only while any such vessel is
within India, including the territorial waters thereof.]
Definitions 3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
2
[(1) “cargo ship” means a ship which is not a passenger ship;
(1A) “coasting ship” means a ship exclusively employed in trading
between any port or place in India and any other port or
place on the continent of India or between ports or places in
India and ports or places in Ceylon or Burma;]
(2) “coasting trade of India” means the carriage by sea of
passengers or goods from any port or place in India to any
other port or place on the continent of India;
(3) “collision regulations” means the regulations made under
section 285 for the prevention of collisions at sea;
(4) “company means a company as defined in section 3 of the
Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956).
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 12 of 1983

2 Cls. (1) renamed to (1A) and Ins. new Cls. (1) by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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of 1958] 3
(5) “country to which the Load Line Convention applies” means,-

(a) a country the Government of which has been declared*
under section 283 to have accepted the Load Line
Convention and has not been so declared to have
denounced that Convention;
(b) a country to which it has been so declared that the
Load Line Convention has been applied under the
provisions of 1[article thirty-two] thereof, not being a
country to which it has been so declared that Convention
has ceased to apply under the provisions of that article;
(6) “country to which the Safety Convention applies” means,-
(a) a country the Government of which has been declared
under section 283 to have accepted the Safety
Convention and has not been so declared to have
denounced that Convention;
(b) a territory to which it has been so declared that the
Safety Convention extends, not being a territory to which
it has been so declared that that Convention has ceased
to extend;
(7) “court” in relation to sections 178 to 183 (inclusive) means a
civil or revenue court;
(8) “Director-General” means the Director General of Shipping
appointed under section 7;
(9) “distressed seaman” means a seaman engaged under this
Act who, by reason of having been discharged or left behind
from, or shipwrecked in, any ship at a place outside India, is
in distress at that place;
(10) “effects”, in relation to a seaman, includes clothes and
documents;
(11) “equipment”, in relation to a ship, includes boats, tackle,
pumps, apparel, furniture, life saving appliances of every
description, spars, masts, rigging and sails, fog signals,
lights, shapes and signals of distress, medicines and medical
and surgical stores and appliances, charts, radio installations,
appliances for preventing, detecting or extinguishing fires,
buckets, compasses, axes, lanterns, loading and discharging
gears and appliances of all kinds and all other stores or
articles belonging to or to be used in connection with or
necessary for the navigation and safety of the ship;
H
Expn. “or is deemed to have been declared”
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1970

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4 [Act 44
1
[(11A) “family” means,-
(i) in the case of male, his wife, his children, whether
married or unmarried, his dependent parents and his
deceased son’s widow and children:
Provided that if a person proves that his wife has ceased
under the personal law governing him or the customary
law of the community to which the spouses belong, to
be entitled to maintenance she shall no longer be
deemed to be a part of such person’s family for the
purpose of this Act, unless such person subsequently
intimates by express notice, in writing, to the Central
Government that she shall continue to be so regarded;
and
(ii) in the case of female, her husband, her children,
whether married or unmarried, her dependent parents,
her husband’s dependent parents and her deceased
son’s widow and children:
Provided that if a person by notice in writing to the
Central Government expresses her desire to exclude
her husband from the family, the husband and his
dependent parents shall no longer be deemed to be a
part of such person’s family for the purpose of this Act,
unless such person subsequently cancels in writing
any such notice.
Explanation: In either of the above two cases, if the
child, or, as the case may be, the child of a deceased
son of a person has been adopted by another person
and if under the personal law of the adopter adoption is
legally recognised, such a child shall be considered as
excluded from the family of the first mentioned person.]
(12) “fishing vessel” means a ship fitted with mechanical means
of propulsion, which is exclusively engaged in sea fishing for
profit;
(13) “foreign-going ship” means a ship, not being a home-trade
ship, employed in trading between any port or place in India
and any other port or place or between ports or places, outside
India;
2
(14) [“free board” means the distance measured vertically
downwards, amidships, from the upper edge of the deck line
to the upper edge of the related load line;]
(15) High Court, in relation to a vessel, means the High Court
within the limits of whose appellate jurisdiction-
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1984


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of 1958] 5
(a) the port of registry of the vessel is situate; or

(b) the vessel is for the time being; or
(c) the cause of action wholly or in part arises;
(16) home-trade ship means a ship not exceeding three thousand
tons gross which is employed in trading between any port or
place in India and any other port or place on the continent of
India or between ports or places in India and ports or places
in Ceylon, Maldives Islands, Federation of Malaya, Singapore
or Burma;
(17) Indian consular officer means the consul-general, consul,
vice-consul, consular agent and pro-consul appointed as
such by the Central Government, and includes any person
authorised by the Central Government to perform the
functions of consul-general, consul, vice-consul, consular
agent or pro-consul;
(18) Indian ship means a ship registered as such under this Act
and includes any ship registered at any port in India at the
commencement of this Act which is recognised as an Indian
ship under the provisio to sub-section (2) of section 22;
1
[(18A) “international voyage” means a voyage from or to a port or
place in India to or from a port or place outside India;]
(19) load line certificate means the certificate issued under
Section 316 or section 32;
2
[(20) “Load Line Convention” means the International Convention
on Load Lines signed in London on the 5th day of April,
1966, as amended from time to time;]
(21) Marine Board means a Board of Marine Inquiry convened
under section 373;
(22) master includes any person (except a pilot or harbour
master) having command or charge of a ship;
(22A) “nuclear ship” means a ship provided with a nuclear power
Plant;
(23) “owner” means,-
(a) in relation to a ship, the person to whom the ship or a
share in the ship belongs;
(b) in relation to a sailing vessel, the person to whom the
sailing vessel belongs;
(24) “passenger” means any person carried on board a ship
except-


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6 [Act 44
(a) a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board

the ship on the business of the ship;
(b) a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the
obligations laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked,
distressed or other persons or by reason of any
circumstances which neither the master nor the
charterer, if any, could have prevented or forestalled;
(c) a child under one year of age;
(25) “passenger ship” means a ship carrying more than twelve
passengers;
(26) “pilgrim” means a person making a pilgrimage and, in the
case of a passenger on board a pilgrim ship, includes every
person accompanying or travelling with the person making
the pilgrimage;
[(27) “pilgrimage” means pilgrimage to any holy place in the Hedjaz
1
or to any other place declared by the Central Government

to be a place of pilgrimage by notification in the Official
Gazette;
(28) “pilgrim ship” means a special trade passenger ship which
makes a voyage to or from the Hedjaz, or, as the case may
be, to or from any other place of pilgrimage declared as
such by the Central Government in pursuance of clause
(27), during the season of the pilgrimage and which carries
pilgrims in a proportion of not less than one pilgrim for every
one hundred tons of the gross tonnage of the ship;]
(29) “port of registry”, in relation to a ship or a sailing vessel,
means the port at which she is registered or is to be
registered;
(30) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this
Act;
(31) “proceeding” in relation to section 178 to 183 (inclusive)
includes any suit, appeal or application;
(32) “proper officer” means the officer designated by the Central
Government to be the proper officer at the port or place and
in respect of the matter to which reference is made in the
provision of this Act in which the expression occurs;
(33) “proper return port”, in relation to a master, seaman or
apprentice discharged or left behind, means the port at which
the master, seaman or apprentice was engaged, or the port
agreed to as such by the master, seaman or apprentice, as
the case may be;

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of 1958] 7
(34) “radio inspector” means a person appointed as such under

section 10;
(35) “registrar” means the registrar referred to in section 24;
(36) (a) “repatriation expenses” means expenses incurred in
returning a distressed seaman to a proper return port
and in providing him with necessary clothing and
maintenance until his arrival at such port, and includes
in the case of a shipwrecked seaman the repayment
of expenses incurred in conveying him to port after
shipwreck and maintaining him while being so
conveyed; and
(b) “excepted expenses” in relation to repatriation
expenses, means repatriation expenses incurred in
cases where the cause of the seaman being left behind
is desertion or absence without leave or imprisonment
for misconduct, or discharge from his ship by a Marine
Board on the ground of misconduct;
(37) “Safety Convention” means the Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea signed in London on the 2[1st day of November
1974], as amended from time to time;
3
[(38) “safety convention certificate” means,-
(i) a passenger ship safety certificate,
1
[(ia) a special trade passenger ship safety certificate,
(ib) a special trade passenger ship space certificate,]
(ii) a qualified passenger ship safety certificate,
(iii) a cargo ship safety construction certificate,
(iv) a qualified cargo ship safety construction certificate,
(v) a cargo ship safety equipment certificate,
(vi) a qualified cargo ship safety equipment certificate,
(vii) a cargo ship safety radio telegraphy certificate,
(viii) a cargo ship safety radio telephony certificate,
(ix) an exemption certificate,
(x) a nuclear passenger ship safety certificate,
(xi) a nuclear cargo ship safety certificate, issued under
Part IX or, as the case may be, Part IX A;]


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(39) “sailing vessel” means any description of vessel provided

with sufficient sail area for navigation under sails alone,
whether or not fitted with mechanical means of propulsion,
and includes a rowing boat or canoe but does not include a
pleasure craft;
(40) “salvage” includes all expenses properly incurred by the
salvor in the performance of salvage services;
(41) “sea-going” in relation to a vessel, means a vessel proceeding
to sea beyond inland waters or beyond waters declared to
be smooth or partially smooth waters by the Central
Government by notification in the official Gazette;
(42) “seaman” means every person (except a master, pilot or
apprentice) employed or engaged as a member of the crew
of a ship under this Act, but in relation to sections 178 to
183 (inclusive) includes a master;
(43) “seamen’s employment office” means the seamen’s
employment office referred to in section 12;
(44) “seamen’s welfare officer” means the seamen’s welfare
officer referred to in section 13;
1
(44A) “security” means maritime security and includes any measure
to protect ports or ships or any person or thing relating directly
or indirectly to maritime navigation,-
(i) against terrorism, sabotage, stowaways, illegal
migrants, asylum seekers, piracy, armed robbery,
seizure or pilferage; and
(ii) against any other hostile act or influence which
threatens the security in the maritime transport sector,
employed by the owners or operators or persons in charge
of the vessels or management of port facilities, offshore
installations and other marine organizations or establishment;
(45) “ship” does not include a sailing vessel;
(46) “shipping master” means the shipping master referred to in
section 11; but in relation to any seaman for the purposes
of sections 178 to 183 (inclusive) means a shipping master
appointed,-
(i) for the port at which the seaman entered into, or is
believed to have entered into, an agreement, or;
(ii) where the seaman did not enter into his agreement in
India, for the port to which the seaman has returned,
or is expected to return, on the completion of his latest
voyage;

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of 1958] 9
(47) “shipping office” means the shipping office referred to in

section 11;
1
[(47A) “special trade” means the conveyance of large number of
passengers by sea within prescribed sea areas;
(47B) “Special trade passenger” means a passenger carried in
special trade passenger ship in spaces on the weather deck
or upper deck or between decks which accommodate more
than eight passengers and includes a pilgrim or a person
accompanying a pilgrim;
(47C) “special trade passenger ship” means a mechanically
propelled ship carrying more than thirty special trade
passengers;]
(48) “surveyor” means the surveyor referred to in section 9;
2
[(48A) “tanker” means a cargo ship constructed or adapted for
the carriage in bulk of liquid cargoes of an inflammable
nature;]
(49) “tidal water” means any part of the sea and any part of a
river within the ebb and flow of the tide at ordinary spring
tides and not being a harbour;
(50) “tindal” means the person in command or charge of a sailing
vessel;
3
[(51)
(52)]
(53) “valid international load line certificate” means a certificate
purporting to have been issued in accordance with the Load
Line Convention in respect of a ship, other than an Indian
ship, by the Government of the country in which the ship is
registered;
(54) “valid safety convention certificate” means a certificate
purporting to have been issued in accordance with the Safety
Convention in respect of ship, other than an Indian ship, by
the Government of the country in which the ship is registered;
(55) “vessel” includes any ship, boat, sailing vessel, or other
description of vessel used in navigation;
(56) “voyage for the purposes of Part VIII,” means the whole
distance between the ship’s port or place of departure and
her final port or place of arrival;

2 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1966.
3 Omitted as by MS (Amend.) Act 1976.

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(57) “wages” includes emoluments;

(58) “wreck” includes the following when found in the sea or in
tidal water or on the shores thereof
(a) goods which have been cast into the sea and then
sink and remain under water;
(b) goods which have been cast or fall into the sea and
remain floating on the surface;
(c) goods which are sunk in the sea, but are attached to a
floating object in order that they may be found again;
(d) goods which are thrown away or abandoned; and
(e) a vessel abandoned without hope or intention of
recovery;
(59) young person means a person under eighteen years of age.

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of 1958] 11
PART I- Commentary
The MS Act 1958 is enacted for governing merchant shipping in India.1 Part I of the MS Act
1958 envisages three preliminary ingredients, which are (a) the coming into effect, (b) application,
and (c) definitions of the terms and phrases used in the Act. The short title provides for the exact title
of the statute, which remains unchanged until specifically amended. Additionally, the MS Act 1958
mandates the necessity of notification for the statute to come into effect, in the official gazette by the
Ministry of Shipping, the Central Government, which is the maritime administrative authority of the
Government of India.
The admissibility of a claim under the MS Act 1958, against a foreign vessel before the
appropriate judicial forum in India is tested primarily with respect to the applicability of the Act under
Part I. The application of the MS Act 1958 in terms of categories of vessels depends on their nationality,
flag, registration of ownership, and territorial limits in which the vessels ply. Further, under Section
2(2), Part I enables the enhancement of the application of the MS Act 1958 to any vessel other than
that provided under Section 2 (1), unless otherwise expressly provided. In other words the vessels
within India, that which are not covered under Section 2(1) can be made subject to application of MS
Act 1958, even without an amendment or a specific separate legislation, unless such application of
the Act is specifically and in clear terms barred/ excluded by the provisions of the Act.
Section 2(2) of SM Act 1958 is not a non-obstante Section. It provides for provisions to the
contrary and hence, even if vessel involved in collision is outside the jurisdiction of Indian territory, in
matters of suit for limiting the liability under the PART X-A2 of the MS Act 1958, jurisdiction can be
entertained by the court.3 Again it has been laid down by the Court that High Court has no jurisdiction
to try foreign ships and personnel unless they submit to jurisdiction of the Court by means of their
presence4, the limits within which India can exercise her sovereign rights. The territorial limits and
threshold of jurisdiction are expressly stipulated under the respective Indian Law5 and international
obligations6.
1
Commissioner of Income Tax Vs. M/s. Indo Oceanic shipping Co. Ltd. & Ors (2001) 165 CTR (Bom) 404, (2001) 114
TAXMAN 722 (Bom)
2
Part X-A deals with Limitation of Liability for Maritime claims. For detailed discussion see Commentary to Part X-A
3
Snp Shipping Services Pvt. Ltd. And Ors. Vs. Kara Mara Shipping Co. Ltd. And Ors. 1997(4) ALLMR 590, 1997 (99)
BOM LR 651.
4
World Tanker Carrier Corporation v S. N. Shipping Services, AIR 1998 SCC 330
5
See General Clauses Act, 1897, Section 3 (29), which defines the term “Indian Law”. For territorial limits, see Territorial
Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976. “Scope of Application of
Statutes” of respective statutes also stipulates the application and limits. See Section 2 of MS Act 1958
6
India also has undertaken obligations by becoming party to Conventions administered and convened under the
auspices of International Maritime Organisation, which may prescribe different jurisdiction for different subject matters
that they cover. For instance the International Convention for Removal of Wrecks, 2007 enables the member States to
apply jurisdiction right from the Exclusive Economic Zone. Also see the limits and exercise of jurisdiction and powers
as mentioned in United Nations Convention on Law of Treaties 1982.

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Under Section 3 of the MS Act 1958, the definition of the words and phrases used in the Act
is provided. The application of definitions under Section 3 is limited when different specific definitions
are given with respect to specific provisions , elsewhere in the Act. The necessity for a duplication of
the definition and a solution of interpretation of possible conflicts of the same with those mentioned
under Section 3 is thus avoided. The language used in Section 3 enables the legislators to bring in
amendments so as to incorporate provisions which were unforeseen at the time of drafting of the
parent Act and also enhances application and effectiveness of the MS Act 1958 on new topics/
challenges/changes.7 Further, the words that are used in the Act, but are not defined else where in
the Act, shall be read with the definition provided under the General Clauses Act 1897.8 Thus the
effectiveness of the statute is preserved and ensured, which in turn enables the MS Act 1958 to
adapt / grow with time.
7
M.V. Elizabeth and Ors. V. Harwan Investment and Trading Pvt. Ltd. AIR 1993 SC 1014
8
Also note that as laid down by the honourable Supreme Court in M.V. Elizabeth and Ors. V. Harwan
Investment and Trading Pvt. Ltd. AIR 1993 SC 1014, unless not conflicting with domestic law/statutes
the lacunae in the domestic legislation can be filled in by relying on law prescribed under the international
convention and treaties.

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PART II
NATIONAL SHIPPING BOARD
4. (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, Establishment of
by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in his behalf, National Shipping
there shall be established a Board to be called the National Board
Shipping Board (hereinafter in this Part referred to as the
Board)
(2) The Board shall consist of the following members, namely:-
(a) six members elected by Parliament, four by the House
of the People from among its members and the other
two by the Council of States from among its members;
(b) such numbers of other members, not exceeding sixteen
as the Central Government may think fit to appoint to
the Board, to represent
(i) the Central Government,
(ii) ship owners,
(iii) seaman, and
(iv) such other interests as, in the opinion of the Central
Government, ought to be represented on the Board;
Provided that the Board shall include an equal number of
persons representing the ship owners and seamen.
(3) The Central Government shall nominate one of the members
of the Board to be the Chairman of the Board.
(4) The Board shall have power to regulate its own procedure.
5. The Board shall advise the Central Government Functions of National
(a) on matters relating to Indian shipping, including the Shipping Board
development thereof; and
(b) on such other matters arising out of this Act as the Central
Government may refer to it for advice.
6. (1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the Power to make rules in
purposes of this Part. respect of matters in
this Part
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the
following matters, namely :-
(a) the term of office of members of the Board and the
manner of filling casual vacancies in the Board;
(b) the appointment of officers and other employees to
enable the Board to discharge its functions under
section 5 and the terms and conditions of their service;
(c) the travelling and other allowances payable to members
of the Board.

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PART II - Commentary
The purpose of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 is to ensure the efficient maintenance of an
Indian Mercantile Marine and for that purpose a National Shipping Board was created with an aim to
provide for the registration, certification, safety and security of Indian ships. Part II of the MS Act
1958 deals with establishment of National Shipping Board for providing advice to the Central
Government on matters of shipping and maritime trade, primarily focusing on development aspects
of Shipping in India. The Board is entrusted with the power to regulate its own procedure to implement
Part II of the MS Act 1958. The Central Government under Section 6 has the discretion to make rules
on both technical and non technical aspects of the National Shipping Board.

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of 1958] 15
PART III
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
7. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official Director-General of
Gazette, appoint a person to be the Director-General of Shipping
shipping for the purpose of exercising or discharging the
powers, authority or duties conferred or imposed upon the
Director-General by or under this Act.
(2) The Central Government may, by general or special order,
direct that any power, authority or jurisdiction exercisable
by it under or in relation to any such provisions of this Act
as may be specified in the order shall, subject to such
conditions and restrictions as may be so specified, be
exercisable also by the Director-General or by such other
officer as may be specified in the order.
(3) The Director-General may, by general or special order, and
with the previous approval of the Central Government, direct
that any power or authority conferred upon or delegated to,
and any duty imposed upon, the Director-General by or under
this Act may, subject to such conditions and restrictions
as he may think fit to impose, be exercised or discharge
also by such officer or other authority as he may specify in
this behalf.
8. (1) The Central Government may establish and maintain at each Mercantile Marine
of the ports of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and at such Deartment
other port in India as it may consider necessary an office of
the Mercantile Marine Department for the administration of
this Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(2) The office of the Mercantile Marine Department at the port
of Bombay, Calcutta or Madras shall be in the charge of
principal officer, and the office at any other port shall be in
the charge of such officer as the Central Government may
appoint in this behalf.
(3) In the discharge of their duties, the principal officer and other
officers shall be subject to the control of the Director-General.
9. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official Surveyors
Gazette, appoint at such ports as it may consider necessary
as many persons as it may think fit to be surveyors for the
purposes of this Act.
1
[(1A) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (1), the
Central Government, in the case of cargo ships, may, by
notification in the Official Gazette authorise any person or

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16 [Act 44
body of persons, on such terms and conditions as may be

specified therein, to be surveyor or surveyors for the purposes
of this Act.]
(2) The surveyors may be nautical surveyors, ship surveyors or
engineer and ship surveyors.
(3) At any port at which no surveyor appointed under this section
is available, the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint any qualified person to perform the
functions of a surveyor under this Act.
(4) All acts done under this Act by a principal officer of the
Mercantile Marine Department or a person appointed under
sub-section (3) relating to matters within the competence
of a surveyor shall have the same effect as if done by a
surveyor for the purposes of this Act.
Radio inspectors 10. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, appoint as many radio inspectors as it may
consider necessary for the purpose of securing that the
requirements of this Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder relating to radio telegraphy, radio telephony and
direction finders are complied with.
Shipping offices 11. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, establish a shipping office at every port in India in
which it thinks it necessary so to do, and shall appoint
thereto a shipping master and as many deputy shipping
masters and assistant shipping masters as it may consider
necessary.
(2) Shipping masters, deputy shipping masters and assistant
shipping masters shall exercise their powers and discharge
their duties subject to the general control of the Central
Government or of any intermediate authority which the Central
Government may specify in this behalf.
(3) The Central Government may direct that at any port at which
no separate shipping office is established, the whole or any
part of the business of the shipping office shall be conducted
at the custom house or at the office of the port officer or at
such other office as the Central Government may specify,
and thereupon the same shall be conducted accordingly.
(4) All acts done by or before a deputy shipping master, an
assistant shipping master and the officer to whom any
business of the shipping office is committed under sub-
section (3) shall have the same effect as if done by or before
a shipping master for the purposes of this Act.
Seamen’s employ- 12. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
ment offices Gazette, establish at every port in India in which it thinks it
necessary so to do, a seamen’s employment office and shall

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appoint thereto a director and as many deputy directors and

assistant directors as it may consider necessary.
(2) The directors, deputy directors and assistant directors as
shall exercise their powers and discharge their duties
subject to the general control of the Central Government or
of any intermediate authority which the Central Government
may specify in this behalf.
(3) All acts done by or before a deputy or assistant director
shall have the same effect as if done by or before a director
for the purposes of this Act.
(4) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, direct that at any port at which no separate
seamen’s employment office is established, the functions
of the seamen’s employment office in that port shall be
discharged by such person or body of persons as it may
specify in the notification, and thereupon the office of the
person or body of persons so specified shall be deemed to
be the seamen’s employment office established at that port
for the purposes of this Act.
13. (1) The Central Government may appoint seamen’s welfare Seamen’s welfare
officers at such ports in or outside India as it may consider officers
necessary.
(2) A seamen’s welfare officer appointed under sub-section (1)
shall perform-
(a) in the case of any such officer appointed at any port in
India, such functions in relation to welfare of seamen
as may be assigned to him by the Central Government;
(b) in the case of any such officer appointed at any port
outside India, such functions in relation to welfare of
seamen and such functions of an Indian consular officer
under Part VII as may be assigned to him by the Central
Government.
(3) If any seamen’s welfare officer appointed at any port outside
India performs any functions assigned to an Indian consular
officer under Part VII, such functions shall have the same
effect as if they had been performed by an Indian consular
officer for the purposes of that Part.

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PART III - Commentary
Part III deals with the General Administration under the MS Act 1958. This part details the
appointment/ constitution of the Director General of Shipping1, Mercantile Marine Department ,
Surveyors, Radio Inspectors, Shipping Officers, Seamens’ Employment Office and Seamens’ Welfare
officers.
The DGS is the statutory authority appointed under Section 7 of the MS Act 1958. The
appointment is for the purpose of exercising and /or discharging the powers, authority or duties
conferred or imposed upon the DGS by the Act or under the Act. As per Section 7 (1), the powers of
DGS extends from authorities or duties conferred or imposed upon by or under the MS Act 1958 by
the Central Government. By using the phrase “by the Act or under the Act”, it is elucidated that the
source of powers of the DGS is either from the existing provisions of the Act2 that specifically confers
such powers on DGS and/or duties that are conferred by the Central Government by means of
notification or order. This process of delegation of powers to the DGS, thus empowers him to also
exercise those powers like the Central Government, as enumerated under the Act.3
Under Section 7 (2) of the MS Act 1958; the Central Government by general or special order,
can delegate any power, authority or jurisdiction exercisable by it under or in relation to any such
provisions of MS Act 1958.4 However, such an allocation will be done by stipulating necessary
conditions and restrictions. The status of delegation hold the powers so delegated “be also exercisable”
by the Director General of Shipping.5 The implication of the phrase “be also exercisable” is that the
powers once delegated does not seclude Central Government from exercising it. For instance, by
virtue of power vested under the section 7 (2) of the MS Act 1958, the Central Government vide order
S.O. 3144 dated 17th December 1960, has delegated authority to the DGS, which is to be “also”
exercised at par with the jurisdiction, power and authority exercisable by the Central Government.
Accordingly, the DGS can exercise the powers that pertains to the list of provisions that are mentioned
there-under. .
Section 7 (3) of the MS Act 1958 refers to the subdelegation of powers conferred upon DGS
under Section 7 (1) and Section 7 (2) of the Act. In such an event of special / general order of sub-
delegation, the DG is duty bound to take prior permission/previous approval from the Central
Government. It may also be noted that similar to the delegation of power by the Central Government
under Section 7 (2), the powers that are subdelegated to such officer or any other authority shall also
1
Director General of Shipping hereinafter referred as DGS or DG or Director General of Shipping.
2
See, for instance Section 406 and Section 407 of the MS Act 1958.
3
Merchant Shipping Order, S.O. 3144 dated December 17, 1960 issued by Government of India, Ministry of Transport
& Communication. The Shipping Order provides for delegation of powers enshrined in the provisions listed in the order
to the Director General of Shipping
4
Ibid
5
Section 7(2) of MS Act 1958

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be exercisable by such officer or authorities by fully complying with the conditions stipulated in the
general/special order of subdelegation.
At present there are 146 Mercantile Departments in India constituted by virtue of Section 8 of
MS Act 1958. As provided under Section 8 (3) of the MS Act 1958 the Principal Officer and other
officers so appointed under Section 8 shall be subject to control of DG Shipping. Government of India
has ratified various international conventions pertaining to shipping regulations and has undertaken
obligations to implement them. In fulfilling these international obligations by implementing the same
through MS Act 1958, the MMDs conduct surveys and inspections to assure compliance of Indian
and foreign ships. The surveys and inspections include ensuring of compliance to international
conventions.
The Principal Officer of MMDs issues Statutory Certificates to the Indian ships for their safe
operation either for Coastal Voyages or Overseas Voyages. Moreover, MMDs also investigates shipping
casualties and render assistance during Search & Rescue, holds examinations for Certificates of
Competency for various grades, survey Passenger Ships, inspect and approve construction and
functioning of safety equipments including Life Saving Appliances (LSA), Radio Equipments and
other Navigational aids. Ships violating these rules are liable to be punished through detention and
penalties.
As per Section 8 (3), the Principal Officers are subject to the control of Director General of
Shipping. He is concerned with the administration of Merchant Shipping Act and Rules / Regulations
there-under on matters such as registration and certification of Fishing/Sailing Vessels with reference
to their safety and seaworthiness; investigation into maritime casualties at high seas; administering
the functioning of the maritime training institutes by way of inspections; inspection and certification
pertaining to safety of the vessel including requirements such as a LSA / FRA / Radio / LLSS,
prototype approvals of safety equipments; supervision of new construction of ships, fishing vessels,
sailing vessels; examinations of engineer & deck officers to man merchant ships and fishing vessels;
administering the functioning of the Mercantile Marine Departments at various ports. inspection of
foreign-going and Indian-going ships for meeting port state control and flag state control obligations;
rendering maritime technical advice to specific organizations as advised by the Directorate General
of Shipping, Mumbai and the like.7
Surveyors as mentioned in the MS Act 1958, may be categorised into three types depending
on their functionalities; which are 1) Nautical Surveyors; 2) Engineers and 3) Ship Surveyors. Under
Section 9, the Central Government is empowered to appoint any person or body of persons as
“surveyor” to perform the functions designated8 under the MS Act 1958. While considering the question
6
Number as provided in the website of DGS, which is www.dgshipping.com
7
For detailed powers see the circulars, orders, notices and notifications issued by Director General of Shipping at
www.dgshipping.com
8
For Instance See DG Shipping Order no 6 of 2013, Eng/Misc/29(73)/09 dated 18th March 2013, on“Statutory Certification
and Services of Indian Ships by Recognised Organisations (ROs)”.

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as to the liability in damaging the international cable of the appellants, the Court reiterated that for
the port of Bombay, the officers appointed under Section 9 (1) of the MS Act 1958 are Nautical
Surveyor, Engineer and Ship Surveyor, and Ship Surveyor attached to the Mercantile Marine
Department and to the Director General of Shipping.9 Yet another example of the same is the
appointment of Recognised Organizations (ROs) including Indian Register of Ships, the Classification
society of India, as surveyors to carry out survey of Indian ships below 5000 GRT.10
Similarly by notification, the Central Government establishes Shipping Offices at every port
and appoints shipping master and deputy shipping masters as it deems fit. MS Act 1958 under
Section 3(46) defines the term “shipping master” and the same has to be read with its complementary
provisions in other Parts of the MS Act 1958. 11
9
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. Vs. M.V. Kapitan Kud and others 1996 AIR 516, 1996 SCC (7) 127
10
Merchant shipping Law Branch Circular No: MSL-11(19)/95-III dated 14.03.2011 pertaining to the Delegation of
powers to Recognized Organizations (ROs) to carry out statutory surveys of Indian ships below 5000 GT,
irrespective of their location.
11
For instance see MS Act 1958 Section 3(46) read with Section 89 provides for the ambit of powers and duties of
shipping master with respect to seamen and apprentices.

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THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1986

NO. 66 OF 1986
THE SHIPPING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMMITTEE
(ABOLITION) ACT, 1986
1
[PART IV]
Section Nos. 14 to 19 referring to Shipping Development Fund are omitted as per MS (Amend.) Act
1986.
Omitted by SDFC (Abolition) Act 1986
Part IV – Commentary
Part IV of the Act containing Section 14-19, which deals with Shipping Development Fund
has been omitted by the Act of 1986 amendment with effect from 3rd of April 1987.

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PART V
REGISTRATION OF Indian SHIPS
Application of Part 20. This Part applies only to sea-going ships fitted with mechanical
Indian ships means of propulsion.
Indian ships 21. For the purposes of this Act, a ship shall not be deemed to be an
Indian ship unless owned wholly by persons to each of whom 1[any]
of the following descriptions applies:
(a) a citizen of India; or
[(b)
2
a company or a body established by or under any Central or
State Act which has its principal place of business in India; or
(c) a co-operative society which is registered or deemed to be
registered under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912, or
any other law relating to co-operative societies for the time
being in force in any State.]
Obligation to register 22. (1) Every Indian ship, unless it is a ship which does not exceed
fifteen tons net and is employed solely in navigation on the
coasts of India, shall be registered under this Act.
(2) No ship required by sub-section (1) to be registered shall be
recognised as an Indian ship unless she has been registered
under this Act.
Provided that any ship registered at the commencement of
this Act at any port in India under any enactment repealed
by this Act, shall be deemed to have been registered under
this Act and shall be recognised as an Indian ship.
(3) A ship required by this Act to be registered may be detained
until the master of the ship, if so required, produces a
certificate of registry in respect of the ship.
[Explanation: For the purposes of this section, “ship” does
3
not include a fishing vessel.]
Procedure for registration

Ports of registery 23. (1) The ports at which registration of ships shall be made shall
be the ports of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras and such
other ports in India as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be ports of
registry under this Act.
(2) The port at which an Indian ship is registered for the time
being under this Act shall be deemed to be her port of registry
and the port to which she belongs.

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24. At each of the ports of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, the principal Registrar of Indian
officer of the Mercantile Marine Department, and at any other port ships
such authority as the Central Government may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, appoint, shall be the registrar of Indian ships
at that port:
1
[Provided that subject to such order as the Central Government
may issue in this behalf, when the office of registrar of Indian ships
at any port is vacant or the holder of such office is on, leave or is
not available, for any reason, at the port to exercise and discharge
the powers, duties and functions of the office, the senior most
surveyor at that port may act as, and exercise and discharge the
powers, duties and functions of, the registrar of Indian ships at
that port.]
25. Every registrar shall keep a book to be called the register book Register book
and entries in that book shall be made in accordance with the
following provisions
(a) the property in a ship shall be divided into ten shares;
(b) subject to the provisions of this Act with respect to joint
owners or owners by transmission, not more than ten
individuals shall be entitled to registered at the same time
as owners of any one ship; but this rule shall not affect the
beneficial interest of any number of persons represented by
or claiming under or through any registered owner or joint
owner;
(c) a person shall not be entitled to be registered as owner of a
fractional part of a share in a ship; but any number of persons
not exceeding five may be registered as joint owners of a
ship or of any share or shares therein;
(d) joint owners shall be considered as constituting one person
and shall not be entitled to dispose in severalty of any interest
in a ship or any share therein in respect of which they are
registered;
(e) a company 2[or a co-operative society] may be registered
as owner by its name.
26. An application for the registry of an Indian ship shall be made Application for
registry
(a) in the case of an individual, by the person requiring to be
registered as owner or by his agent;
(b) in the case of more than one individual requiring to be
registered, by some one or more of the persons so requiring
or by his or their agent; and


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(c) in the case of a company 1[or a co-operative society] requiring

to be so registered, by its agent;
and the authority of the agent shall be testified by writing, if
appointed by an individual, under the hand of the person
appointing him and, if appointed by a company 1[or a co-
operative society,] under its common seal.
Survey and measure- 27. (1) The owner of every Indian ship in respect of which an
ment of ships before application for registry is made shall cause such ship to be
registry surveyed by a surveyor and the tonnage of the ship
ascertained in the prescribed manner.
(2) The surveyor shall grant a certificate specifying the ship’s
tonnage and build and such other particulars descriptive of
the identity of the ship as may be prescribed and the
certificate of the surveyor shall be delivered to the registrar
before registry.
Marking of ship 28. (1) The owner of an Indian ship who applies for registry under
this Act shall, before registry, cause her to be marked
permanently and conspicuously in the prescribed manner
and to the satisfaction of the registrar and any ship not so
marked may be detained by the registrar.
(2) Subject to any other provision contained in this Act and to
the provisions of any rules made thereunder, the owner and
the master of an Indian ship shall take all reasonable steps
to ensure that the ship remains marked as required by this
section, and the said owner or master shall not cause or
permit any alterations of such marks to be made except in
the event of any of the particulars thereby denoted being
altered in the manner provided in this Act or except to evade
capture by the enemy or by a foreign ship of war in the
exercise of some belligerent right.
Declaration of ownership on registry
Declaration of owner- 29. A person shall not be registered as the owner of an Indian ship or
ship on registry of a share therein until he or, in the case of a company 1[or a co-
operative society,] the person authorised by this Act to make
declarations on its behalf has made and signed a declaration of
ownership in the prescribed form referring to the ship as described
in the certificate of the surveyor and containing the following
particulars-
(a) a statement whether he is or is not a citizen of India;
2
[or in the case of a company or a co-operative society,
whether the company or the co-operative society satisfies
the requirements specified in clause (b), or, as the case
may be, clause (c) of section 21.]

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(b) a statement of the time when and the place where the ship
was built of if the ship is built outside India and the time and
place of building is not known, a statement to that effect;
and in addition, in the case of a ship previously registered
outside India, a statement of the name by which she was
so registered;
(c) the name of her master;
(d) the number of shares in the ship in respect of which he or
the company 1[or the co-operative society] as the case may
be, claims to be registered as owner; and
(e) a declaration that the particulars stated are true to the best
of his knowledge and belief.
Explanation: In respect of a ship or share owned by more than one
person, a declaration may be made by such one of them as may
be authorised by them.
30. On the first registry of an Indian ship, the following evidence shall Evidence on first
be produced in addition to the declaration of ownership- registry
(a) in the case of a ship built in India, a builder’s certificate,
that is to say, a certificate signed by the builder of the ship
and containing a true account of the proper denomination
and the tonnage of the ship as estimated by him and the
time when and the place where she was built, and the name
of the person, if any, on whose account the ship was built;
and if there has been any sale, the instrument of sale under
which the ship or the share therein has become vested in
the applicant for registry;
(b) in the case of a ship built outside India, the same evidence
as in the case of a ship built in India unless the declarant
who makes the declaration of ownership declares that the
time and place of her building are not known to him, or that
the builder’s certificate cannot be procured, in which case
there shall be required only the instrument of sale under
which the ship or a share therein has become vested in the
applicant for registry.
31. As soon as the requirements of this Act preliminary to registry Entry of particulars in
have been complied with, the registrar shall enter in the register register book
book the following particulars in respect of the ship
(a) the name of the ship and the name of the port to which she
belongs;
2
(aa) the ship identification number,
(b) the details contained in the surveyor’s certificate;
(c) the particulars respecting her origin stated in the declaration
of ownership; and
2 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 40 of 2007

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26 [Act 44
(d) the name and description of her registered owner or owner’s

and, if there are more owner than one, the number of shares
owned by each of them.
Documents to be 32. On the registry of a ship, the registrar shall retain in his custody
retained by registrar the following documents:
(a) the surveyor’s certificate;
(b) the builder’s certificate;
(c) any instrument of sale by which the ship was previously sold;
(d) all declarations of ownership;
Power of Central Gov- 33. (1) Where it appears to the Central Government that there is
ernment to inquire into any doubt as to the title of any Indian ship to be registered
title of Indian ship to be as an Indian ship, it may direct the registrar of her port of
so registered registry to require evidence to be given to his satisfaction
within such time, not being less than thirty days an the
Central Government may fix, that the ship is entitled to be
registered as an Indian ship.
(2) If within such time as may be fixed by the Central
Government under sub-section (1) evidence to the
satisfaction of the registrar that the ship is entitled to be
registered as an Indian ship is not given, the ship shall be
liable to forfeiture.
Certificate of registry
Grant of certificate of 34. On completion of the registry of an Indian ship, the registrar shall
registry grant a certificate of registry containing the particulars respecting
her as entered in the register book with the name of her master.
Custody and use of 35. (1) The certificate of registry shall be used only for the lawful
certificate navigation of the ship, and shall not be subject to detention
by reason of any title, lien, charge or interest whatever, has
or claimed by any owner, mortgagee or other person to, on
or in the ship.
(2) No person, whether interested in the ship or not, who has in
his possession or under his control the certificate of registry
of a ship, shall refuse or omit without reasonable cause to
deliver such certificate on demand to the person entitled to
the custody thereof for the purposes of the lawful navigation
of the ship or to any registrar, customs collector or other
person entitled by law to require such delivery.
(3) Any person refusing or omitting to deliver the certificate as
required by sub-section (2), may, by order, be summoned
by 1[any Judicial Magistrate of the first class or any
Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,] to appear
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1983, Schedule

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before him and to be examined touching such refusal; and if

the person is proved to have absconded so that the order of
such magistrate cannot be served on him, or if he persists
in not delivering up the certificate, 1[the said magistrate]
shall certify the fact, and the same proceedings may then
be taken as in the case of a certificate mislaid, lost or
destroyed, or as near there to as circumstances permit.
(4) If the master or owner of an Indian ship uses or attempts to
use for her navigation a certificate of registry not legally
granted in respect of the ship, he shall be guilty of an offence
under this sub-section and the ship shall be liable to
forfeiture.
36. (1) In the event of the certificate of registry of an Indian ship Power to grant new
being defaced or mutilated, the registrar of her port of registry certificate when
may, on the delivery to him of that certificate, grant a new original certificate is
certificate in lieu of her original certificate. defaced, lost, etc,
(2) In the event of the certificate of registry of an Indian ship
being mislaid, lost or destroyed or of the person entitled
thereto being unable to obtain it from the custody of any
other person, the registrar of her port of registry shall grant
a new certificate in lieu of her original certificate.
(3) If the port at which the ship is at the time of the event referred
to in sub-section (2) or first arrives after the event is outside
India, then the master of the ship or some other person
having knowledge of the facts of the case shall make a
declaration stating such facts and the names and the
descriptions of the registered owners of such ship to the
best of the declarant’s knowledge and belief to the nearest
available Indian consular officer who may thereupon grant a
provisional certificate containing a statement of the
circumstances under which it is granted.
(4) The provisional certificate shall, within ten days after the
first subsequent arrival of the ship at her port of discharge in
India, be delivered by the master to the registrar of her port
of registry and the registrar shall thereupon grant a new
certificate of registry.
(5) If the certificate of registry stated to have mislaid lost or
destroyed shall at any time afterwards be found, or if the
person entitled to the certificate of registry obtains it at any
time afterwards, the said certificate shall forthwith be
delivered to the registrar of her port of registry to be cancelled.
37. Where the master of an Indian ship is changed, each of the following Endorsement on
persons, that is to say, certificate of change
of master

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28 [Act 44
(a) if the change is made in consequence of the removal of the

master by a Marine Board or by a court under this Act, the
presiding officer of the Marine Board or of the court, as the
case may be;
(b) if the change occurs from any other cause,
(i) in India, the registrar or any other officer authorised by
the Central Government in this behalf at the port where
the change occurs; and
(ii) outside India, the Indian consular officer at the port
where the change occurs;
shall endorse and sign the certificate of registry a
memorandum of the change; and any customs collector at
any port in India may refuse to permit any person to do any
act there as master of an Indian ship unless his name is
inserted in or endorsed on her certificate of registry as her
last appointed master.
Endorsement on 38. (1) Whenever a change occurs in the registered ownership of
certificate of change an Indian ship, the change of ownership shall be endorsed
of ownership on her certificate of registry either by the registrar of the
ship’s port of registry or by the registrar of any port at which
the ship arrives who has been advised of the change by the
registrar of the ship’s port of registry.
(2) The master shall, for the purposes of such endorsement by
the registrar of the ship’s port of registry, deliver the certificate
of registry to the registrar, forthwith after the change if the
change occurs when the ship is at her port of registry, and
if it occurs during her absence from that port and the
endorsement under this section is not made before her
return, then, upon her first return to that port.
(3) The registrar of any port, not being the ship’s port of registry,
who is required to make an endorsement under this section
may, for that purpose require the master of the ship to deliver
to him the ship’s certificate of registry so that the ship need
not thereby detained and the master shall deliver the same
accordingly.
Delivery of certificate of 39. (1) In the event of a registered ship being either actually or
ship lost or ceasing to constructively lost, taken by the enemy, burnt or broken up or
be an Indian ship ceasing for any reason to be an Indian ship, every owner of the
ship or any share in the ship shall immediately on obtaining
knowledge of the event, if no notice thereof has already been
given to the registrar, give notice thereof to the registrar to her
port of registry and that registrar shall make an entry thereof in
the register book and its registry and that registrar shall make
an entry thereof in the register book and its registry in that
book shall be considered as closed except so far as relates to
any unsatisfied mortgages entered therein.

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(2) In any such case, except where the ship’s certificate or

registry is mislaid, lost or destroyed, the master of the ship
shall, immediately if the event occurs in any port in India, or
within ten days after his arrival in port if it occurs elsewhere,
deliver the certificate to the registrar of the port or any other
officer specified in this behalf by the Central Government if
the port of arrival is in India, or if the arrival is in any port
outside India to the Indian consular officer there, and the
registrar if he is not himself the registrar of her port of registry
or the officer so specified or the Indian consular officer, as
the case may be, shall forthwith forward the certificate
delivered to him to the registrar of her port of registry.
40. (1) If at any port outside India a ship becomes entitled to be Provisional certificate
registered as an Indian ship, the Indian consular officer there for ships becoming
may grant to her master on his application a provisional Indian ships abroad
certificate containing such particulars as may be prescribed
in relation to the ship and shall forward a copy of the certificate
at the first convenient opportunity to the Director-General.
(2) Such a provisional certificate shall have the effect of a
certificate of registry until the expiration of six months from
its date or until the arrival of the ship at a port where there is
a registrar whichever first happens, and on either of those
events happening shall cease to have effect.
41. Where it appears to the Central Government that by reason of Temporary pass in
special circumstances it is desirable that permission should be lieu of certificate of
granted to any Indian ship to pass without being previously registry
registered from one port to any other port in India, the Central
Government may authorise the registrar of the first-mentioned port
to grant a pass in such form as may be prescribed, and that pass
shall for the time and within the limits therein mentioned have the
same effect as a certificate of registry.
Transfers of ships, shares, etc.

Transfer of ships or shares
42. (1) No person shall transfer or acquire any Indian ship or any Transfer of ships or
share or interest therein 1[at any time during which the shares
security of India or any part of the territory thereof is
threatened by war or external aggression] and during which
a Proclamation of Emergency issued under clause (1) of
article 352 of the Constitution is in operation without the
previous approval of the Central Government and any
transaction effected in contravention of this provision shall
be void and unenforceable.

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30 [Act 44
(2) The Central Government may, if it considers it necessary or

expedient so to do for the purpose of conserving the tonnage
of Indian shipping, refuse to give its approval to any such
transfer or acquisition.
1
[(2A) No transfer or acquisition of any Indian ship shall be valid
unless-
(a) all wages and other amounts due to seamen in
connection with their employment on that ship have
been paid in accordance with the provisions of this
Act;
(b) the owner of the ship has given notice of such transfer
or acquisition of the ship to the Director General.]
(3) Subject to the other provisions contained in this section, an
Indian ship or a share therein shall transferred only by an
instrument in writing.
(4) The instrument shall contain such description of the ship
as is contained in the surveyor’s certificate or some other
description sufficient to identify the ship to the satisfaction
of the registrar and shall be in the prescribed form or as
near thereto as circumstances permit and shall be executed
by the transferor in the presence of and be attested by at
least two witnesses.
Registry of Transfer 43. (1) Every instrument for the transfer of an Indian ship or of a
share therein when duly executed shall be produced to the
registrar of her port of registry, and the registrar shall
thereupon enter in the register book the name of the
transferee as owner of the ship or share, as the case may
be and shall endorse on the instrument the fact of that entry
having been made with the day and hour thereof.
(2) Every such instrument shall be entered in the register book
in the order of its production to the registrar.
Transmission of 44. (1) Where the property in an Indian ship or share therein is
property in Indian transmitted to a person on the death or insolvency of any
ship on death, registered owner, or by any lawful means other than by a
insolvency, etc. transfer under this Act,
(a) that person shall authenticate the transmission by
making and signing a declaration in the prescribed form
(in this Act referred to as a declaration of transmission)
identifying the shi and also a statement of the manner
in which and the person to whom the property has
been transmitted;
(b) if the transmission is consequent on insolvency, the
1 Ins. by MS (Amend) Act 1993

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declaration of transmission shall be accompanied by

proper proof of such claim;
(c) if the transmission is consequent on death, the
declaration of transmission shall be accompanied by
a succession certificate, probate or letters of
administration under the Indian Succession Act, 1925,
or a duly certified copy thereof.
(2) The registrar, on receipt of the declaration of transmission
so accompanied, shall enter in the register book the name
of the person entitled under the transmission as owner of
the ship or share the property in which has been transmitted,
and, where there are more persons than one, shall enter
the names of all those persons, but those person, but those
persons, but those person however numerous shall, for the
purpose of the provisions of this Act with respect to the
number of persons claiming to be registered as owners, be
considered as one person :
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall require the
registrar to make an entry in the register book under this
section, if he is of opinion that by reason of the transmission
the ship has ceased to be an Indian ship.
45. (1) Where by reason of the transmission of any property in a Order for sale where
ship or a share therein on death, insolvency or otherwise, a ship has ceased to
ship ceases to be an Indian ship, the registrar of her port or be an Indian ship
registry shall submit a report to the Central Government
setting out the circumstances in which the ship has ceased
to be an Indian ship.
(2) On receipt of such report, the Central Government may make
an application to the High Court for a direction for the sale
to any citizen of India 1[or any 2[company or body or co-
operative society] which satisfies the requirements specified
in clause (b) or, as the case may be, clause (c) of section
21] of the property so transmitted.
(3) The High Court may require any evidence in support of the
application it thinks requisite and may make such order
thereon and on such terms and conditions as it thinks just
or may reject the application in case it finds that the ship
has not ceased to be an Indian ship; and in case the ship or
the share is ordered to be sold, it shall direct that the
proceeds of the sale after deducting the expenses thereof,
be paid to the person entitled under such transmission or
otherwise.
(4) Every application for sale shall be made within such time
as may be prescribed:
1 Sub. by MS (Amend.) Act 1981

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32 [Act 44
Provided that an application may be admitted by the High Court

after the time prescribed, if the Central Government satisfies the
High Court that it had sufficient cause for not making the application
within such time.
Transfer of ship on 46. Where any court, whether under section 45 or otherwise, orders
sale by order of court the sale of any ship or share therein, the order of the court shall
contain a declaration vesting in some person named by the court
the right to transfer that ship or share, and that person shall
thereupon be entitled to transfer the ship or share in the same
manner and to the same extent as if he were the registered owner
thereof; and every registrar shall obey the requisition of the person
so named in respect of any such transfer to the same extent as it
such person were the registered owner.
Mortgage of ship or 47. (1) A registered ship or a share therein may be made a security
share for a loan or other valuable consideration, and the instrument
creating the security (in this Act called a mortgage) shall
be in the prescribed form or as near thereto as
circumstances permit, and on the production of such
instrument the registrar of the ship’s port of registry shall
record it in the register book.
(2) Mortgages shall be recorded by the registrar in the order in
time in which they are produced to him for that purpose,
and the registrar shall, by memorandum under his hand,
notify on each mortgage that it has been recorded by him
stating the day and hour of that record.
Entry of discharge of 48. Where a registered mortgage is discharged, the registrar shall, on
mortgage the production of the mortgage deed with a receipt for the mortgage
money endorsed thereon, duly signed and attested, make an entry
in the register book to the effect that the mortgage has been
discharged, and on that entry being made the estate, if any, which
passed to the mortgagee shall vest in the person in whom (having
regard to intervening acts and circumstances, if any) it would have
vested, if the mortgage had not been made.
Priority of mortgages 49. If there are more mortgagees than one recorded in respect of the
same ship or share, the mortgages shall, notwithstanding any
express, implied or constructive notice, have priority according to
the date on which each mortgage is recorded in the register book
and not according to the date of each mortgage itself.
Mortgagee not 50. Except in so far as may be necessary for making a mortgaged
deemed to be owner ship or share available as a security for the mortgage debt, the
mortgagee shall not, by reason of his mortgage, be deemed to be
the owner of the ship or share, nor shall the mortgagor be deemed
to have ceased to be owner thereof.
Rights of mortgagee 51. 1
[(1) Where there is only one registered mortgagee of a ship or
share, he shall be entitled to recover the amount due under

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the mortgage by selling the mortgaged ship or share without

approaching the High Court:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall
prevent the mortgagee from recovering the amount so due
in the High Court as provided in sub-section (2).
(2) Where there are two or more registered mortgagees of a
ship or share they shall be entitled to recover the amount
due under the mortgage in the High Court, and when passing
a decree or thereafter the High Court may direct that the
mortgaged ship or share be sold in execution of the decree.
(3) Every registered mortgagee of a ship or share who intends
to recover the amount due under the mortgage by selling
the mortgaged ship or share under sub-section (1) shall
give an advance notice of fifteen days relating to such sale
to the registrar of the ship’s port of registry.
(4) The notice under sub-section (3) shall be accompanied with
the proof of payment of the wages and other amounts under
clause (a) of sub-section (2A) of section 42.]
52. A registered mortgage of a ship or share shall not be affected by Mortgage not affected
any act of insolvency committed by the mortgagor after the date of by insolvency
the record of such mortgage, not with- standing that the mortgagor,
at the commencement of his insolvency, had the ship or share in
his possession, order or disposition, or was the reputed owner
thereof, and the mortgage shall be preferred to any right, claim or
interest therein of the other creditors of the insolvent or any trustee
or assignee on their behalf.
53. (1) A registered mortgage of a ship or share may be transferred Transfer of mortgages
to any person and the instrument effecting the transfer shall
be in the prescribed form or as near thereto as
circumstances permit, and on the production of such
instrument, the registrar shall record it by entering in the
register book the name of the transferee as mortgage of the
ship or share and shall, by memorandum under his hand,
notify on the instrument of transfer that it has been recorded
by him stating the day and hour of the record.
(2) The person to whom any such mortgage has been transferred
shall enjoy the same right of preference as was enjoyed by
the transferor.
54. (1) Where the interest of a mortgagee in a ship or share is Transmission of inter-
transmitted on death, or insolvency, or by any lawful means est in mortgage in cer-
other than by a transfer under this Act, the transmission shall tain circumstances
be authenticated by a declaration of the person to whom the
interest is transmitted containing a statement of the manner in
which and the person to whom the property has been
transmitted, and shall be accompained by the like evidence

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34 [Act 44
as is by this Act required in case of a corresponding

transmission of the ownership of a ship or share.
(2) The registrar, on receipt of the declaration and the production
of the evidence aforesaid, shall enter the name of the person
entitled under the transmission in the register book as
mortgagee of the ship or share.
Name of ship
Rules as to name of 55. (1) An Indian ship shall not be described by any name other
ship than that by which she is for the time being registered.
(2) The registrar may refuse the registry of any Indian ship by
the name by which it is proposed to register the ship if that
name is already borne by another ship or if the name be so
similar as it calculated or likely to deceive.
(3) A change shall not be made in the name of an Indian ship
except in the prescribed manner.
(4) If any person acts or suffers any person under his control to
act in contravention of this section or omits to do or suffers
any person under his control to omit to do anything required
under this section, the ship may be detained until the
provisions of this section are complied with:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a foreign
ship which has become, and is sought to be registered as, an
Indian ship.
Registry of alterations, registry anew and transfer of registry
Registry of alterations 56. When a registered ship is so altered as not to correspond with the
particulars relating to her tonnage or description contained in the
register book, then, if the alteration is made at any port having a
registrar, that registrar, or if it is made elsewhere, the registrar of
the first port having a registrar at which the ship arrives after the
alteration, shall, on application being made to him stating the
particulars of the alteration, either cause the alteration to be
registered or direct that the ship be registered anew.
Regulations for 57. (1) For the purpose of registry of an alteration in a ship the
registry of alterations ship’s certificate of registry shall be produced to the registrar,
and the registrar shall, in his discretion, either retain the
certificate of registry and grant a new certificate of registry
containing a description of the ship as altered or endorse
and sign on the existing certificate a memorandum of the
alteration.
(2) The particulars of the alteration so made, and the fact of the
new certificate having been granted, or endorsement having
been made, shall be entered by the registrar of the ship’s
port of registry in his register book; and for that purpose the
registrar to whom the application for the registry of the

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alteration has been made (if he is not the registrar of the

ship’s port of registry) shall forthwith report to the last-
mentioned registrar the particulars and facts as aforesaid,
accompanied, where a new certificate of registry has been
granted, by the old certificate of registry.
58. (1) Where any registrar, not being the registrar of the ship’s Provisional certificate
port of registry, on an application as to an alteration in a and endorsement
ship directs the ship to be registered anew, he shall either where ship is to be
grant a provisional certificate describing the ship as altered, registered anew
or provisionally endorse the particulars of the alteration on
the existing certificate.
(2) Every such provisional certificate, or certificate provisionally
endorsed, shall, within ten days after the first subsequent
arrival of the ship at her port of discharge in India, be delivered
to the registrar thereof and that registrar shall cause the
ship to be registered anew.
(3) The registrar granting a provisional certificate, or provisionally
endorsing a certificate under this section shall add to the
certificate or endorsement a statement that the same is made
provisionally, and shall send a report of the particulars of the
case to the registrar of the ship’s port of registry, containing a
similar statement as the certificate or endorsement.
59. Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, where the Registry anew on
ownership of any Indian ship is changed, the registrar of the port at change of ownership
which the ship is registered may, on the application of the owner of
the ship, register the ship anew although registry anew is not
required under this Act.
60. (1) Where a ship is to be registered anew, the registrar shall Procedure for registry
proceed as in the case of first registry, and on the delivery anew
to him of the existing certificate of registry and on the other
requisites to registry, or in the case of a change of ownership
such of them as he thinks material, being duly complied
with, shall make such registry anew, and grant a certificate
thereof.
(2) When a ship is registered anew, her former registry shall be
considered as closed except so far as relates to any
unsatisfied mortgage entered thereon, but the names of all
persons appearing on the former register to be interested in
the ship as owners or mortgagees shall be entered in the
new register and the registry anew shall not in any way
affect the rights of any of those persons.
61. (1) The registry of any ship may, with the previous approval of Transfer of registry
the Director-General, be transferred from one port of registry
to another on the application to the registrar of the existing

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36 [Act 44
port of registry of the ship made by declaration in writing of

all persons appearing in the register to be interested therein
as owners or mortgagees, but that transfer shall not in any
way affect the rights of those persons or any of them and
those rights shall in all respects continue in the same manner
as if no such transfer had been effected.
(2) On receipt of any such application the registrar shall transmit
notice thereof to the registrar of the intended port of registry
with a copy of all particulars relating to the ship and the
names of all persons appearing in that register to be
interested therein as owners or mortgagees.
(3) The ship’s certificate of registry shall be delivered to the
registrar either of the existing or intended port of registry,
and, if delivered to the former, shall be transmitted to the
registrar of the intended port of registry.
(4) On receipt of the documents aforesaid the registrar of the
intended port of registry shall enter in his register book all
the particulars and names so transmitted as aforesaid, and
grant a fresh certificate of registry, and thenceforth such
ship shall be considered to be registered at the new port of
registry, and the name of the ship’s new port of registry
shall be substituted for the name of her former port of registry
on the ship.
Restrictions on re- 62. Where a ship has ceased to be registered as an Indian ship by
registry of abandoned reason of having been wrecked or abandoned, or for any reason
ships other than capture by the enemy, the ship shall not be re-registered
until she has at the expense of the applicant for the registry been
surveyed by a surveyor and certified by him to be seaworthy.
National character and flag
National colours for 63. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official
Indian ships Gazette, declare what shall be the proper national colours
for all ships registered under this Act and for all ships which
are not so registered but which are owned by the Government
or by any local authority or by any body corporate
established by or under any law for the time being in force
in India or by a citizen of India; and different colours may be
declared for different classes of ships.
(2) Any commissioned officer of the Indian Navy, or any customs
collector, or any Indian consular officer, may board any ship
on which any colours are hoisted contrary to this Act, and
seize and take away the colours which shall be forfeited to
the Government.
Unlawful assumption 64. No person on board a ship which is not an Indian ship shall, for the
of Indian character purpose of making it appear to be an Indian ship, use the Indian
national colours, unless the assumption of Indian character has

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been made (the burden of proving which shall lie on him) for the
purpose of escaping capture by the enemy or by a foreign ship or
war in the exercise of some belligerent right.
65. No owner or master of an Indian ship shall knowingly do anything Concealment of
or permit anything to be done, or carry or permit to be carried any Indian, or assumption
papers or documents, with intent to conceal the Indian character of foreign, character
of the ship from any person entitled by any law for the time being
in force to inquire into the same, or with intent to assume a foreign
character for the ship, or with intent to deceive any person so
entitled as aforesaid.
66. An Indian ship shall hoist the proper national colours Concealment of
(a) on a signal being made to her by any vessel of the Indian Indian, or assumption
Navy; of foreign, character
(b) on entering or leaving any foreign port;
(c) if of fifty tons gross tonnage or more, on entering or leaving
any Indian port.
67. (1) A customs collector shall not grant a clearance for any ship National character of
until the master of such ship has declared to that officer the ship to be declared
name of the country to which he claims that she belongs, before clearance
and that officer shall thereupon inscribe that name on the
clearance.
(2) If a ship attempts to proceed to sea without such clearance,
she may be detained by any customs collector until the
declaration is made.
Miscellaneous
68. Where it is declared by this Act that an Indian ship shall not be Liabilities of ships
recognised as such, that ship shall not be entitled to any privileges, not recognised as
benefits, advantages or protection usually enjoyed by Indian ships Indian ships
or to use the Indian national colours for Indian ships or to assume
the Indian national character, but so far as regards the payment of
dues, the liability to fine and forfeiture and the punishment of
offences committed on board such ship, or by any persons
belonging to her, such ship shall be dealt with in the same manner
in all respects as if she were a recognised Indian ship.
69. Where any ship has either wholly or as to any share therein become Proceedings on
subject to forfeiture under this part, any commissioned officer of forfeiture of ship
the Indian Navy, any customs collector or any Indian consular officer
or any other officer authorised by the Central Government, may
seize and detain the ship, and bring her for adjudication before the
High Court, and the High Court may thereupon adjudge the ship
with her equipment to be forfeited to the Government, and make
such order in the case as to the High Court seems just and may
award to the officer bringing in the ship for adjudication such portion
of the proceeds of the sale of the ship or any share therein as the
High Court thinks fit.

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Notice of trust not 70. No notice of any trust, express, implied or constructive, shall be
received entered in the register book or be receivable by he registrar, and
subject to any rights and powers appearing by the register book to
be vested in any other person, the registered owner of a ship or of
a share therein shall have power to dispose of the ship or share in
the manner provided in this Act and to give effectual receipts for
any money paid or advanced by way of consideration.
Liability of owners 71. Where any person is beneficially interested otherwise than by way of
mortgage in any ship or share in a ship registered in the name of
some other person as owner, the person so interested shall, as well
as the registered owner, be subject to all the pecuniary penalties
imposed by this or any other Act on the owners of ships or shares
therein, so nevertheless that proceedings for the enforcement of any
such penalties may be taken against both or either of the said parties
with or without joining the other of them.
Evidence of register 72. (1) On application to the registrar and on payment of the
book, certificate of prescribed fee, a person may, at any time during office hours,
registry and other inspect any register book, and may obtain a certified copy
documents of any entry in the register book.
(2) The following documents shall be admissible in evidence in
any court in manner provided by this Act, namely-
(a) any register book on its production from the custody
of the registrar or other person having the lawful custody
thereof;
(b) a certificate of registry under this Act purporting to be
signed by the registrar or any other officer authorised
in this behalf by the Central Government;
(c) an endorsement on a certificate of registry purporting
to be signed by the registrar or any other officer
authorised in this behalf by the Central Government;
(d) every declaration made in pursuance of this Part in
respect of an Indian ship.
(3) A certified copy of an entry in a register book shall be
admissible in evidence in any court and have the same effect
to all intents as the original entry in the register book of
which it is a copy.
Power to register 73. The Central Government may, by notification in the official Gazette’
Government ships direct that, subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf,
under this Part ships belonging to the Government other than ships of the Indian
Navy may be registered as Indian ships under this Act and
thereupon this Act, subject to any exceptions and modifications
which may be made in the notification either generally or with
respect to any class of ships belonging to Government, shall apply
to ships belonging to Government registered in accordance with
those rules as they apply to Indian ships registered in manner
provided by this Act.

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74. (1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the Power to make rules
purposes of this Part. in respect of matters
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the in this Part
following matters, namely-
(a) the manner in which the tonnage of any ship shall be
ascertained, whether for the purpose of registration or
otherwise, including the mode of measurement;
(b) the recognition for the purpose of ascertaining the
tonnage of any ship or for any other purpose, of any
tonnage certificate granted in respect of any ship in
any country outside India, the tonnage regulations of
which are substantially the same as the tonnage rules
made by the Central Government, including the
conditions and restrictions subject to which such
recognition may be granted;
(c) the manner in which surveys of ships shall be conducted
and the form of certificates of surveying officers;
(d) the manner in which ships shall be marked;
(e) the form in which any document required by this Part
shall be prepared and the particulars which it should
contain;
(f) the persons by whom and the authorities before which
any declaration required by this Part shall be made
and the circumstances in which any such declaration
may be waived and other evidence accepted;
(g) the form of the instrument creating a mortgage on a
ship or share or transferring a mortgage;
(h) the returns that shall be made by registrars to the Director-
General or to such other authority as the Central
Government may appoint and the form in which and the
intervals within which such returns shall be made;
(i) the procedure for the registration, marking or alteration
of the names of Indian ships;
1
[(j) the fees that may be levied for the survey or inspection
of any ship for the purposes of registration and the
manner in which such fees may be collected;]
(k) the manner in which registrars and other authorities
may exercise their powers under this Part or maintain
their books and other registers;
(l) the manner in which ships belonging to the Government,
to which the provisions of this Act may be made applicable
under section 73 may be registered;
(m) any other matter, which may be or is to be prescribed.

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Part V1 - Commentary
Part V of the Act deals with India ships, its/obligation for registration, procedure of issuance
of certificate of registration transfers naming of ships, alteration registry requirements of National
character and flag the liability aspects of ships/owners’ and the rule making power. The
application of this part is limited to seagoing ships fitted with mechanical means of propulsion. As
mentioned the word ship provided under Part V refers to Indian ship, which as defined under Section
3 (18) reads “Indian ship” means a “ship registered as such under this Act which is recognized as
an Indian ship under the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 22”. Further, the ship as defined
above should comply with Section 21 and 22 of M.S. Act.
The Act in a strict sense categorically classifies ship owners into Indian shipowners and
foreign shipowners. The evidence to this accord could be obtained from the words ‘deemed’ and
‘unless’ as used in the provision. The legal definition of the term ‘deemed’ is ‘to hold; consider;
adjudge; believe; condemn; determine; treat as if; construe’2. “To deem” is to consider something as
having certain characteristics. If an act is deemed as a crime by law, then it is held to be a crime. If
someone is deemed liable for damages, then he or she will have to pay them. Likewise, by using the
word “deemed”, the legislators have strived to give an authoritative - taken for granted tone to the word
“shall”. The other word used under the provision is ‘unless’, which portrays a rigid but negative
construction eliminating chances of any other interpretation to the term “vessel”. Thus one can
easily identify the intent of legislation behind using the word ‘shall be’ as mandatory and not
discretionary.
Section 21 clearly lays down the necessity of Indian ownership and Section 22 deals with
the obligation of an Indian ship, which doesn’t exceed 15 tons and employed solely along and within
Indian coasts to register in India in accordance with the Act. By virtue of Section 22, the MS Act 1958
postulates the duty and obligation of all the shipowners to register under the Act. Section 22 consists
of 3 sub clauses. Under Section 22 (1), which attributes continuity to Section 21 and Section 3 (18)
mandates the obligation on the part of Indian ships that are above 15 tons and that which is not only
used for coastal navigation in India; to be registered under the Act. Here, as mentioned earlier the
Section being a continuity regarding obligation for ships that fall under Section 3 (18), usage of the
word “shall” will have to be construed in harmony with the same meaning attributed to the word “shall”
in Section 21.
Indeed, Section 22 (2) emphasises the duty and mandatory obligation on the part of ship
owners to register under the Act. This provision clearly states that as mentioned under Section 22
(1), once a vessel has obligation to register, it will only be recognised as Indian ship as mentioned
1
For punishments for violations of provisions see Part XVI, Section 436 on Penalties. Also see, Serial number 1 to 16 of
the table of penalties under Section 436 (2).
2
West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. 2008 edition.

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under Section 3 (18) only after compliance to Section 22 (1). Till then the status is that the Act never
considers it as an Indian vessel. And, that there is a breach on the part of Indian ship owner, as
defined under Section 21; for non-compliance to his / her obligation under Section 22 of the Act.
Further, Section 22 (3) of the MS Act 1958 clearly provides for invoking of remedial deterrent
measures to such a statutory breach of obligation on the part of an Indian ship owner defined under
Section 21. The action as mentioned under sub clause (3) is that “A ship required by this Act to
be registered may be detained until the master of the ship, if so required, produces a certificate
of registry in respect of the ship.” The detention is to ensure enforcement of obligations.
Section 23 to Section 33 enumerates the procedural aspects involved in registration. The

owner and master of an Indian ship is duty bound to take appropriate steps to ensure that the ship
remains marked and to not cause alterations of the mark. Failure to meet this obligation would
attract penalty under Section 436. As an evidence on first registry, in addition to declaration of
ownership, the builders certificate which is duly signed by the builder has to be produced. Section 33
clearly empowers, the Central Government to investigate the title and registration compliance by
Indian ships. The failure of Indian ships to comply with the registration requirement as provided
under the Act, will make the ship liable to be forfeited by the Central Government. The forfeiture is
also made as a consequence for the act of the master or owner of an Indian ship in using or in
attempting to use for navigation, a certificate of registry, which is not granted in accordance with the
provisions of M.S. Act 1958.
The Certificate of Registry as entered in the register book, is to be used for lawful navigation
of ships and has to strictly abide by the stipulations provided under Section 35. Further, it is mandatory
that a person in possession of certificate of registry has to deliver the certificate to the entitled person
or authorities appointed under law. Under Section 36, if a certificate of registry of an Indian ship is
defaced/mutilated/lost/mislaid/destroyed/ is in a custody of any other person other than the
entitled person, the concerned Registrar of Port is empowered to grant a new certificate in lieu of the
Indian ships original certificate. Provisional Certificates containing a statement as to the circumstances
under which this has been granted is issued by an Indian Consular Officer on the application by a
master or a concerned person along with a declaration as to the reason regarding the circumstances,
distribution of facts, names and details of the registered owner is furnished.
The master of an Indian ship to whom the provisional certificate is issued has to ensure that
the certificate is submitted to the Registrar of her port of registry within 10 days of the first arrival of
the Indian ship at a port in India. Failure of compliance to submit the provisional certificate will entail
the certificate issued as invalid. Further, if the certificate which mislaid / lost or destroyed is found
afterwards, the same shall be delivered to the Registrar for cancellation from registry. Section 37 and
Section 38 deals with endorsement of certificate of registration in the event of change of master or
ownership respectively. In the event where a ship is actually or constructively lost, Section 39
stipulates that the owner of the ship shall send notice of such loss to the concerned registrar; and
the registrar shall enter the same in the respective registry. An Indian ship against which such an

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entry is made shall be considered closed in the registry, with regard to all matters except for unsatisfied
mortgages.
Whereas if a ship becomes entitled to be registered as an Indian ship, outside India, a

provisional certificate is granted by the Indian Consular Officer to the master which has validity for
six months within which the concerned ship has to be brought to India. The Registrar of the port were
the ship arrives first in India shall cancel the provisional certificate and shall issue Certificate
of Registration. Under Section 41, the Act leaves it to the discretion or the Central Government to
issue a Temporary Pass in lieu of Certificate of Registry. The Act makes it mandatory that the
transfer or acquisition of share(s) or interest shall be made only with prior approval of the Central
Government. Further, the MS Act 1958 under Section 47, makes it mandatory that if an Indian
registered ship or its share(s) is/are mortgaged, the said mortgage needs to be recorded by the
registrar by ensuring the priority of charge. The Court has jurisdiction to enforce mortgage that has
been availed and registered in India.3
The ship shall be registered by a name which does not already exist as name of any other
ship and a ship once named in the registry shall not be described by any other name. The stipulations
as to name and its observance is to avoid deception that might be caused by similarity of names.
Along with penalty, failure of the obligation would entail the ship so described by another name to be
detained until compliance to Section 55 is made.4 An alteration of the name of the ship shall be
entered into the registry by the registrar.5
Section 63 to Section 67 of the Act deals with duty of the Indian ships to be coloured6 with
the national colours and to hoist Indian flag as designated by the competent authority. Further, it is
also provided that unlawful assumption7/concealment or assumption as Indian ship or foreign, character
by any ship8 or Indian ship not hoisting proper national colours 9other than the Indian tricolour is an
offence.
Liability under this part spreads over any/all person(s) who have beneficial interest in the
ship or any share thereof, with an exception of mortgagee who has(ve) an interest/lien by way of
mortgage10 In order to check the compliance of the aforementioned requirements, the Act empowers
customs authorities to grant clearance or to detain any ship until the master of the ship declares the
identity of the vessel and its compliance to the procedures mentioned in the Act.
3
Dallah Albaraka Investment Co. ... vs Mt “Symphony 1” Ex. Mt “Arabian ...2005 (5) BomCR 589. Also see Dimitrios Paizis
And Ors. vs Motor Vessel “Nicos” And Ors.AIR 1983 Bom 178
4
See Section 55
5
See Section 56
6
See Section 63 (1)
7
See Section 64
8
See Section 65
9
See Section 66
10
See Section 71

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As mentioned earlier, forfeiture is one of the consequences of non-compliance with the

provisions of the MS Act 1958 by the Indian ships inside or outside India and foreign ships plying
within the territorial jurisdiction of India. Once the forfeiture is invoked, as per the procedure laid down
in Section 69; the commissioned officer of the Indian Navy, any customs collector or any other
authorised officer of the Central Government will “seize and detain” the captioned vessel and the
same is presented to the Honourable High Court having respective jurisdiction. High Court is
empowered to apply discretion to order sale of portion of share or the vessel as a whole. Further, like
in any other Part, Section 74 empowers the Central Government to “make rules” with respect to
provisions of Part V.

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PART VI
CERTIFICATES OF OFFICERS
[Masters, mates, engineers, skippers, etc.]
1
Application of Part [75.

1
This Part applies to -
(a) every sea-going Indian ship fitted with mechanical means of
propulsion wherever it is; and
(b) every foreign ship while it is at a port or place in India.
Definitions 75A. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires -
(a) “contiguous zone” means the contiguous zone of India
described, or notified as such for the time being under section
5 of the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive
Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976;
(b) “Convention” means the International Convention on
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Seafarers, 1978, signed at London on the 7th day of July,
1978, as amended from time to time.]
Certificates of [76.
2
(1) Every Indian ship, when going to sea from any port or place,
competency to be shall be provided with officers duly certificated under this
held by officers of Act in accordance with such manning scales as may be
ships prescribed.
Provided that the Central Government may prescribe different
manning scales for different types of ships:
(2) Every ship, whether at sea or in any port or place, shall
engage such number of persons and with such qualifications
as may be prescribed for maintaining watches.]
When officers 77. Subject to the provisions contained in section 86, an officer shall
deemed duly certifi- not be deemed to be duly certificated under this Act unless he
cated holds a certificate of a grade appropriate to his station in the ship
or of a higher grade granted in accordance with this Act.
Grades of certificates [78.
1
(1) Certificates of competency shall be granted in accordance
of competency with the provisions of this Act for each of the following grades,
namely:
extra Master;
master of foreign-going ship;
first mate of a foreign-going ship;
second mate of a foreign-going ship;
master of a home-trade ship;
mate of a home-trade ship;


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navigational watchkeeping officer;

extra first class engineer;
marine engineer officer class I;
marine engineer officer class II;
marine engineer officer class III;
marine engineer officer class IV;
engine driver of a sea-going ship;
skipper grade I of a fishing vessel;
skipper grade II of a fishing vessel;
mate of a fishing vessel;
engineer of a fishing vessel;
engine driver of a fishing vessel;
dredger master grade I;
dredger master grade II;
dredger mate grade I;
dredger mate grade II;
dredger engineer grade I;
dredger engineer grade II;
dredger driver grade I;
dredger driver grade II.
(2) A certificate of competency granted for any grade of engineer
or engine driver shall state whether it entitles the holder to act
as engineer of ships or fishing vessels fitted with steam or
motor engines or with any other type of engines and the holder
shall not be entitled to act as engineer of a ship fitted with a
type of engine not stated in the certificate.
(3) Certificates issued to masters, mates and engineers who
have to work on board ships carrying dangerous goods shall
require endorsement as to the additional qualifications that
may be prescribed.
(4) If it appears to the Central Government that certificates of
competency for grades, other than those referred to in sub-
section (1) may be granted, it may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, specify the other grades in respect of which
certificates of competency may be granted.
(5) A certificate of competency for a foreign-going ship shall be
deemed to be of a higher grade than the corresponding
certificate of a home-trade ship, and shall entitle the lawful
holder thereof to go to sea in the corresponding grade in
such home-trade ship; but no certificate for a home-trade
ship shall entitle the holder to go to sea as a master or
mate of a foreign-going ship.
(6) A certificate of competency as extra master shall be deemed
to be of a higher grade than any other certificate of

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46 [Act 44
competency as master of mate of a foreign-going ship or a

home-trade ship or navigational watchkeeping officer.
(7) A certificate of competency as extra first class engineer
shall be deemed to be of a higher grade than any other
certificate of competency as marine engineer officer, engineer
or engine driver of a fishing vessel or engine driver of a sea-
going ship.]
Examinations for, and 79. (1) The Central Government or a person duly authorised by it in
grant of, certificates this behalf shall appoint persons for the purpose of examining
the qualifications of persons desirous of obtaining certificates
of competency under section 78.
(2) The Central Government or such authorised person shall
grant to every applicant, who is duly reported by the
examiners to have passed the examination satisfactorily
and to have given satisfactory evidence of his sobriety,
experience and ability and general good conduct on board
ship, such a certificate of competency as the case requires;
Provided that the Central Government may, in any case in
which it has reason to believe that the report has been unduly
made, require, before granting a certificate, a re-examination
of the applicant or a further inquiry into his testimonials and
character.
[(3)
1
Every certificate granted under sub-section (2), shall be valid
for such period as may be prescribed].
Certificates of service [80.
2
(1) A person who has attained the rank of lieutenant in the
of naval officers executive branch of the Indian Navy shall be entitled to a
certificate of service as the master of a foreign-going ship
without examination.
(2) A person who has attained the rank of lieutenant or sub-
lieutenant in the engineering branch of the Indian Navy shall
be entitled without examination, if a lieutenant to a certificate
of service as first class engineer, and if a sub-lieutenant to a
certificate of service as second class engineer.
(3) The Central Government may, by rules made under this Act
and subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be
specified therein, provide for the grant of certificates of service
to officers of the Indian Naval Reserve Forces who have
attained the prescribed ranks.
(4) A certificate of service shall differ in form from a certificate of
competency and shall contain the name and rank of the
person to whom it is delivered and the Central Government
shall deliver a certificate of service to any person who proves
himself to be entitled thereto.
2 Omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1986

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(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the

Central Government may, if it is of opinion that a person
who is entitled to a certificate of service under this section
is not a fit person to hold such certificate, refuse to grant or
deliver such certificate to him.
(6) The provisions of this Act (including the provisions relating
to penalties) shall apply in relation to a certificate of service
as they apply in relation to a certificate of competency.]
81. Every certificate of competency granted under this Act shall be in Form of certificates
the prescribed form and shall be made in duplicate, and one copy
shall be delivered to the person entitled to the certificate, and the
other shall be kept and recorded in the prescribed manner.
82. A note of all orders made for cancelling, suspending, altering or Record of orders
otherwise affecting any certificate of competency, in pursuance of affecting certificates
the powers contained in this Act, shall be entered on the copy of
the certificate kept under section 81.
83. Whenever a person holding a certificate granted under this Act Loss of certificates
proves to the satisfaction of the Central Government that he has,
without fault on his part, lost or been deprived of such certificate,
the Central Government shall, on payment of the prescribed fee,
cause a copy of the certificate, to which by the record kept in
accordance with this Act he appears to be entitled, to be granted
to him, and such copy shall have all the effect of the original.
84. (1) The master of foreign-going ship or the master of a home- Production of certifi-
trade ship of two hundred tons gross or more- cates of competency
(a) on signing the agreement with his crew, shall produce to shipping master
to the shipping master before whom the same is signed,
the certificates of competency which the 1[mates and
engineers] of the ship are by this Act required to hold;
(b) in the case of a running agreement, shall, also, before
the second and every subsequent voyage, produce to
the shipping master the certificate of competency of
any mate or engineer then first engaged by him who is
required by this Act to hold a certificate.
2
[(c) who is not required to sign the agreement with the
crew, shall submit before commencing the first voyage
from any other port to the Mercantile Marine
Department having jurisdiction over such port, a list of
crew with the particulars of grades of certificates of
master, mates and engineers and shall also report to
that Department of any later change in the list of the
crew before any subsequent voyage.]


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(2) Upon the production of the certificates of competency, the

shipping master shall, if the certificates are such as the
master, mates and engineers of the ship ought to hold, give
to the master a certificate to the effect that the proper
certificates of competency have been so produced.
(3) The master shall, before proceeding to sea, produce the
certificate given to him by the shipping master to the
customs collector.
(4) No customs collector shall clear any such ship outwards
without the production of such certificate; and, if any ship
attempts to go to sea without a clearance, the customs
collector may detain her until the certificate is produced.
Power to cancel or 85. If it appears to the Central Government that the holder of a certificate
suspend certificates granted under this Act has obtained it on false or erroneous
obtained on false or information, it may cancel or suspend such certificate:
erroneous information
Provided that no order under this section shall be passed by the
Central Government unless the person concerned has been given
an opportunity of making a representation against the order
proposed.
Recognition of *86. (1) If provision is made by the laws in force in any country other
certificates of than India for the grant of certificates of competency similar
competency granted to those referred to in this Act, and the Central Government
in other countries is satisfied
(a) that the conditions under which any such certificates
are granted in that country require standards of
competency not lower than those required for the grant
under this Act or corresponding certificates; and
(b) that certificates granted under this Act are accepted
in that country in lieu of the corresponding certificates
granted under the laws of that country;
the Central Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette, declare that any certificate of competency granted
under the laws in force in that country and specified in that
notification, shall for the purposes of this Act be recognised
as equivalent to the corresponding certificate of competency
granted under this Act and specified in the notification.
(2) Whenever the provisions of this Act require that a person
employed in any capacity on board any ship shall be the holder
of a specified certificate of competency granted under this
Act, any person employed in that capacity shall, if he is the
holder of a certificate recognised under sub-section (1) as
equivalent to the first-mentioned certificate or to a certificate
of higher grade granted under this Act, and still in force, be
deemed to be duly certificated under this Act.
H
In Sec. 86 the words “or service” wherever they occur are omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1986.

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1
[86A. (1) Every master of a foreign ship shall, before proceeding to Foreign ships not to
sea from any port or place in India, ensure that the ship has sail without certifi-
the requisite number of officers and engineers of appropriate cated officers
grades as specified by the Convention.
(2) A surveyor or any person authorised in this behalf by the
Central Government may, at any reasonable time, go on
board a ship to which any of the provisions of this Part applies
for the purpose of ensuring that the officers holding
certificates issued in accordance with the Convention are
actually appointed and are present, and satisfy himself about
the adequacy of such officers for the Watch-keeping duties
in ports and at sea.
(3) If any report made under sub-section (2) by a surveyor or any
person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government,
reveals any deficiency in a foreign ship in relation to the
requirements of the Convention and the Central Government
is satisfied that it will be unsafe for such ship to proceed to
sea, that ship may be detained by the officer authorised for
this purpose till such requirements are fulfilled.]
2
[87. (1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the Power to make rules
provisions of this Part.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the
following matters, namely: -
(a) the form and manner in which a service endorsement
shall be made on the certificate of competency of a
marine engineer officer class II;
(b) the number of persons and the qualifications they may
possess for maintaining watches 3[by different types
of ships] at sea or in any port or place;
(c) the conduct of the examination of persons desirous of
obtaining certificates of competency and endorsements
thereon for the grades falling under section 78;
(d) the qualifications to be required of persons desirous of
obtaining certificates of competency for the grades
falling under section 78;
(e) the fees to be paid by applicants for examinations;
(f) the period for which certificate granted under sub-
section (2) of section 79 shall be valid;
(g) the form of such certificates and the manner in which
copies of certificates are to be kept and recorded;
(h) the circumstances or cases in which certificates of
competency may be cancelled of suspended.]

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Part VI - Commentary
At the international level, the standards of training, certification and watchkeeping of officers
and ratings were stipulated by sovereign governments and the same lacked uniformity in observance
and acceptance. Further, the standards so stipulated were usually without reference to practices
that were observed by other maritime states. Shipping involves international transportation and
employment. Thus the standards of training, certification and watchkeeping of officers and ratings
have to be brought under a uniform legal regime. After immense negotiations and in-depth study, the
International Maritime Organisation adopted the International Convention on Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 19781 and the same underwent amendment in the
year 1995.
The STCW 78 sets obligation to effect and accept uniform qualifications and standards for
masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships. India is a party to the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers, 1978, popularly
known as (STCW, 1978) and the 2010 revision of the STCW Convention entered into force on January
01, 2012. The revised version makes it mandatory that all sea-farers should comply with the training
provided in the latest version at different levels latest by December 31, 2013. Substituted with a new
title “Masters, mates, engineers and shippers, etc” in the year 1987, Part VI deals with certification
of officers. Under Section 75 of the MS Act 1958 the application of Part VI is limited to seagoing
ships fitted with mechanical means of propulsion. The ships covered by this part are (a) “Indian
ships” within or outside India and (b) “foreign ships” when they are in any port or place in India.
The Part is enacted so as to implement the internationally observed uniform norms / criteria
within India2. The certification requirements are complimentary and in compliance with the Conventions
promulgated by the International Maritime Organisation and those which India has ratified. The
Convention as defined under Section 75 - A refers to the International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978.3 It may be noted that while defining the
phrase “Convention”, the Act mentions the phrase “as amended from time to time”. The said phrase
is a tool to incorporate future amendments into the realm of the Act even without waiting for the
Parliament to enact a specific legislation or amendment to any part therein.
1
Hereinafter referred as STCW 1978. Entered into force in 1984.
2
Naresh Kumar and Another Vs. Union of India and Others 2004 (4) SCC 540, AIR SC 2026.
3
Referred to as STCW Convention of 1978. Also see The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998 dated 01st August 1998

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Further, by virtue of the powers conferred upon it under Section 76, the Central Government
prescribes different manning scales for different types of ships, which enables India as a flag state to
perform the obligations4 that it has undertaken by becoming party to the international convention and
to ensure that all Indian ships going to sea from any port or place in India, engages officers who have
secured adequate/necessary and relevant competency certificates. Under Section 78 of MS Act
1958, as far as grades of certificates of competency are concerned, the Director General of Shipping
is the authority for the purpose of examining the qualifications of persons desirous of obtaining the
certificates of competency there-under, and has the authority to do all that is needful in respect of
grant of these qualifications.5
Under the MS Act 1958, the Certificate of Competency issued for manning of a foreign ship
is deemed to be of higher grade than the corresponding certificate of a home trade ship and thus the
person who has secured the COC of a foreign going ship can be appointed as master of Home trade
ship, but not vice-versa. MS Act 1958 provides that the Central Government shall conduct examinations
and on evidence that applicant who has passed examination, possesses sobriety, experience, ability
and good conduct on board ship, shall issue the certificate of competency in the prescribed form and
manner. The Act ensures that the provisions are strictly complied with6 and it provides the responsibility
of verification of certificates by the shipping master and the Customs Collector for the same. The
shipping master after verification of compliance to the provisions of MS Act 1958, issues a certificate
to the master of ship to the effect that the ship has engaged officers who holds relevant and adequate
competency certificates7. Before commencing the voyage the master of foreign going ship is under
the obligation to submit the list of crew members to the respective Mercantile Marine Department
having jurisdiction.
The Act under Section 86 provides for recognition of certificates of competency (COC) or
certificate of service (COS)8 granted in other countries. Further, to recognise/accept certificates that
are issued by other countries two conditions have to be fulfilled which are, (a) the conditions under
which the certificates are granted are not lower than those stipulated and required in India and that
(b) the certificates issued under this Act are accepted in that country in lieu of corresponding certificates
granted under the laws of that country. Indeed, the master of ship is duty bound to submit the
certificates for the verification of customs collector, who has the power to clear the ship once the
certificate issued by shipping master is produced or otherwise to detain the ship till such a certificate
is actually made by the master.
4
Principle of Pacta Sunt Servanda as enumerated under the Vienna Convention of Law of Treaties 1969.
5
The Secretary vs Maritime Institutes Association, Honourable High Court of Madras, in Writ Petition Nos. 10912, 10913,
13687 and 13688 of 2009 judgment dated November 2009
6
One of such instance is the Merchant Shipping (Examination of Masters and Mates) Rules, 1985 dated 03rd September
1985
7
Also see Capt. Karan Vaswani Vs. Union of India and Others, AIR 2000 SC 1446, 2000 (3) SCC 602.
8
Certificate of Service of naval officers dealt under Section 80 has been omitted by MS (Amendment) Act, 1986 (33 of
1986)

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By virtue of powers provided under Section 87 of the MS Act 1958, the Central Government
has, from time to time issued rules, circulars and notifications to categorise and prescribe the
certification requirements.9 While examining a writ petition challenging MS Notice 2 of 2000 and 4, 5,
and 6 of 2001 as unconstitutional and ultravires of MS Act 1958; the Court held that the contention of
the petitioners that the Certificate of Service has to be equated with Certificate of Competency is
wrong and that the COS holders to be qualified to possess COC need to undergo and complete
approved training assessment.10 Further the Court held that since the MS Notices conform to Rule 11
and Rule 15 of MS (STCW) Rules 1998, which are framed as per the International Convention (STCW
1978/95), the classification of COS and COC are based on intelligible differentia and hence is
reasonable.11
9
Please see MS Notification, The Merchant Shipping (Certificates of Competency) Rules,
1989 dated 02nd June 1989.
10
Nareshkumar and Anr. V. Union of India AIR 2004 SC 2026; (2004) 4 SCC 540
11
Ibid.

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[PART VIA
1
OBLIGATION OF CERTAIN CERTIFICATE HOLDERS TO SERVE GOVERNMENT

OR IN INDIAN SHIPS
87A. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires - Definitions

(a) “appointed day” means the date on which the Merchant
Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1979, comes into force;
(b) “certificate” means-
(i) a certificate of competency referred to in section 78; or
2
[(ii) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that
the amendments made in the principal Act by this Act
shall not apply to, or in relation to, any certificate of
service granted under section 80 or recognised under
section 86 of the principal Act before the
commencement of this Act and the principal Act shall
apply in relation to such certificates as if this Act had
not been enacted.]
(iii) a certificate of competency referred to in section 86,
which has been obtained by any person by availing of
training facilities in any of the merchant nary training
establishments in India or experience of sea service on
board any Indian ship or Indian Naval ship;
(c) “Government” includes
(i) a Board of Trustees constituted under the Major Port
Trusts Act, 1963, for any port,
(ii) a corporation established by or under a Central
Provincial or State Act,
(iii) a Government company within the meaning of section
617 of the Companies Act, 1956, and
(iv) a Merchant Navy Training Institution financed wholly
or mainly by Government;
(d) suitable employment, in relation to the holder of any certificate,
means employment in a capacity for which the holding of such
certificate is an essential qualification.
87B. (1) Every citizen of India who obtains, on or after the appointed Holders of certifi-
day, a certificate shall be liable to serve the Government, or cates to serve the
in any Indian ship, for such period not extending beyond Government or in
four years from the date on which he obtains such certificate Indian ships for a
or for such shorter period as the Central Government may, certain period
1 Part VIA Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1979

2 In Sec. 87A. following shall be omitted per MS (Amend.) Act 1986
a) sub cls. (ii),
b) In sub cls. (iii) the words “or service”
c) the words “or Indian Naval Ship”

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by a general or special order published in the Official

Gazette, specify.
(2) No citizen of India who has obtained, on or after the appointed
day, a certificate shall accept any employment other than
an employment under the Government or in any Indian ship,
before the expiry of the period during which he is liable to
serve the Government or in any Indian ship in accordance
with the provisions of sub-section (1) and the orders made
thereunder.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) or
sub-section (2), a citizen of India who has obtained, on or
after the appointed day, two or more certificates shall not
be liable to serve under the Government or in any Indian
ship for any period or periods exceeding, or, as the case
may be, exceeding in the aggregate, seven years or such
shorter period as the Central Government may, by a general
or special order published in the Official Gazette, specify.
Exemption from 87C (1) When any person referred to in section 87B has failed to
section 87B secure suitable employment within a reasonable period from
the date on which he applied for the same, he may make an
application to the Director-General for exempting him from
the requirements of sub-sections (1) and (2) of that section
and if the Director-General is satisfied that the grounds stated
in the application justify the exemption sought for, he shall,
by order, exempt such person from the requirements of those
sub-sections.
(2) The Director-General may, either on his own motion or on
an application made by any person referred to in section
87B, by order in writing, exempt such person from the
requirements of sub-sections (1) and (2) of that section, if
the Director-General is satisfied -
(a) that it is necessary so to do for compliance with any
request made by the Government of any foreign country
to make available the services of Indian personnel for
meeting shortage of qualified personnel in its ships or
shore establishments, or for compliance with any
request made by any agency of the United Nations
Organisation for making available Indian personnel for
providing consultancy services on its behalf in technical
co-operation or technical assistance programme in any
country; or
(b) that such person is likely to suffer undue hardship if
he is not so exempted.
(3) An application for exemption under sub-section (1) or sub-
section (2) shall set out clearly all the particulars on the
basis of which such exemption is applied for.

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(4) Every such application shall be disposed of by the Director-

General as expeditiously as possible and where the Director-
General refuses to grant the exemption applied for, he shall
record his reasons therefor and communicate the same to
the applicant.
(5) Where, within a period of forty-five days of the date of receipt
of any such applications, the Director-General does not
refuse to grant the exemption applied for, or does not
communicate the refusal to the applicant, the Director-
General shall be deemed to have granted the exemption
applied for.
(6) Where the Director-General refuses to grant the exemption
applied for, the applicant may prefer an appeal against such
refusal to the Central Government within thirty days of the
receipt of the order of Director-General refusing the exemption
and the Central Government may make such orders as it
deems fit:
Provided that the Central Government may admit any appeal
after the expiry of the period aforesaid, if it is satisfied that
the appellant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal
in time:
Provided further that no order confirming the order of the
Director-General shall be made under this sub-section without
giving the appellant an opportunity to represent his case.
87D. Every citizen of India who obtains, on or after the appointed day, a Particulars of certifi-
certificate, shall furnish, in such form and at such intervals as may cate, etc. to be
be prescribed, particulars of the certificate or certificates obtained furnished
by him and of his employment.]

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PART VI A –Commentary
Through an amendment by the Act 20 of 1979, Part VI A extending from Section 87 A to

Section 87 D was newly introduced to make it mandatory for any person who has secured the
Certificate of Competency by availing training from any of the training establishments in India or
“experience of sea service on board any Indian ship”, to serve Government or in Indian ships for a
period not exceeding 4 (four) years and in some case an aggregate of 7 (seven) years from the date
of issuance of certificate. Further the discretion to determine a lesser period or exception is entrusted
with the Director General of Shipping, who is duty bound to issue the same as special or general
order in case of lesser period or in writing within 45 days1 in the instances of exempting any COC
holder from the obligation. However such a discretion is not arbitrary, and to arrive at a decision of
exemption of an Indian COC holder, the Director General of Shipping should be made satisfied of
compliance of circumstances enumerated in subsection 2 and subsection 3 of Section 87 (C).
The aforementioned applicant of exemption, can prefer an appeal to the Central Government
if his application is refused by the Director General of Shipping, within the specified time period.2 An
appeal shall only be disposed of by giving an adequate opportunity to the appellant.
1
As pre Section 87 (C)(5), if within 45 days, the Director General of Shipping does not refuse or doesnot communicate
refusal to the applicant of exemption, law presumes that the DGS has issued such an exemption to the applicant.
2
Under Section 87 (C)(6) the time period fixed for filing an appeal before the Central Government is 30 days. Also note
that delay in filing an appeal can be condoned by the Central Government on furnishing sufficient reason for the delay.

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PART VII
SEAMEN AND APPRENTICES
Classification of Seamen and prescription of
minimum manning scale
88. The Central Government may make rules for the classification of Power to classify
seamen other than ship’s officers into different categories and for seamen
the prescription of the minimum manning scale of seamen of such
categories for ships; and different scales may be prescribed for
different classes of ships.
Shipping masters
89. It shall be the duty of shipping masters- Duties of shipping
(a) To superintend and facilitate the engagement and discharge masters
of seamen in the manner provided in this Act;
(b) to provide means for securing the presence on board at the
proper times of the seamen who are so engaged;
(c) to facilitate the making of apprenticeship to the sea service;
(d) to hear and decide disputes under section 132 between a
master, owner or agent of a ship and any of the crew of the
ship;
1
[(dd) to transmit the complaint of any dispute of a foreign seaman
of a vessel, registered in a country other than India, in Indian
territorial waters, with the master, owner or agent, to the
competent authority of the country of registration and a copy
of such complaint shall be forwarded to the Director General,
International Labour Organisation office.]
(e) to perform such other duties relating to seamen apprentices
and merchant ships as are for the time being committed to
them by or under this Act.
90. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Fees to be paid
Gazette, fix the fees which shall be payable upon all
engagements and discharges effected before a shipping
master.
(2) Scales of the fees payable for the time being shall be
conspicuously placed in the shipping office, and a shipping
master may refuse to proceed with any engagement or
discharge unless the fees payable thereon are first paid.
(3) Every owner or master of a ship engaging or discharging
any seaman in a shipping office or before a shipping master,
shall pay to the shipping master the whole of the fees hereby
made payable in respect of such engagement or discharge,
and may, for the purpose of reimbursing himself in part,
deduct in respect of each such engagement or discharge
from the wages of all persons (except apprentices) so
engaged or discharged, and retain any sums not exceeding

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such sums as the Central Government may, by notification

in the Official Gazette, fix in this behalf:
Provided that, if in any case the sums which may be so
deducted exceed the amount of the fee payable by him,
such excess shall be paid by him to the shipping master in
addition to such fee.
(4) For the purpose of determining the fees to be paid upon the
engagement and discharge of seamen belonging to foreign-
going ships which have running agreements as hereinafter
provided, the crew shall be considered to be engaged when
the agreement is first signed, and to be discharges when the
agreement finally terminates; and all intermediate engagements
and discharges shall be considered to be engagements and
discharges of single seamen.
Apprenticeship to the sea service
Assistance for 91. All shipping masters shall give to persons desirous of apprenticing
apprepticeship to sea boys not under fifteen years of age to the sea service or requiring
service apprentices not under that age for the sea service such assistance
as may be in their power, and may receive from those persons
such fees as the Central Government may fix.
Special provisions as 92. (1) The apprenticeship of any boy to the sea service shall be
to apprenticeship to by contract in writing between the apprentice or on his behalf
the sea service by his guardian, if the boy is minor, and the master or owner
of the ship requiring the apprentice.
(2) Every such contract shall be executed in duplicate in the
prescribed form and in accordance with the rules made by
the Central Government in this behalf.
(3) Every such contract shall be executed in the presence of, and
shall be attested by, the shipping master of the port, who shall,
before the execution of the contract, satisfy himself -
(a) that the intended apprentice -
(i) understands the contents and provisions of the
contract;
(ii) freely consents to be bound;
(iii) has attained the age of fifteen years; and
(iv) is in possession of a certificate to the effect that
he is physically fit for sea service;
(b) if the intended apprentice is a minor, that his guardian’s
consent has been obtained to his being bound as an
apprentice.
(4) Every such contract made in India and every assignment,
alteration or cancellation thereof, and where the apprentice
bound dies or deserts, the fact of the death or desertion
shall be recorded in the manner specified in section 93.

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93. For the purpose of the record Manner in which

(a) the master or owner of the ship to whom an apprentice to contract is to be
the sea service is bound shall transmit the contract executed recorded
in duplicate within seven days of the execution thereof, to
the shipping master, who shall record one copy and endorse
on the other the fact that it has been recorded and redeliver
it to the master or owner;
(b) the master or owner shall notify any assignment or
cancellation of the contract and the death or desertion of
the apprentice to the shipping master, within seven days of
the occurrence, if it occurs within India, or, as soon as
circumstances permit, if it occurs elsewhere.
94. (1) The master of a ship shall, before carrying an apprentice to Production of con-
sea from a port in India, cause the apprentice to appear tracts to authorised
before the shipping master before whom the crew are person before voyage
engaged, and shall produce to him the contract by which in ship
the apprentice is bound, and every assignment thereof.
(2) The name of the apprentice, with the date of the contract
and of the assignments thereof, if any, and the names of
the ports at which the same have been registered, shall be
entered on the agreement with the crew.
Seamen’s employment offices
95. (1) It shall be the business of the seamen’s employment offices- Business of
[(a) to issue license, to regulated and control the
1 seamen’s employ-
recruitment and placement service, and to- ment offices
(i) ensure that no fees or other charges for recruitment

or placement of seafarers are borne directly or indirectly
or in whole or in part, by the seafarers;
(ii) ensure that adequate machinery and procedures
exists for the investigation, if necessary, of complaints
concerning the activities of recruitment and placement
services; and
(iii) to maintain registers of seamen in respect of the
categories of seamen;”]
(b) to perform such other duties relating to seamen and
merchant ships as are, from time to time, committed
to them by or under this Act.
2
[(2) Where there is in existence at any port a seamen’s
employment office, then, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in any other provision of this Act, no
person shall receive or accept to be entered on board any
ship of the class prescribed under sub-section (1) any
seaman of the categories prescribed under that sub-section,

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unless such seaman has been supplied by such seamen’s

employment office.]
(3) The Central Government may make rules for the purpose of
enabling seamen’s employment offices effectively to exercise
their powers under this Act; and in particular and, without
prejudice to the generality of such power, such rules may
provide for-
(a) consultation with respect to any specified matter by
seamen’s employment offices with such advisory
boards or other authorities as the Central Government
may think fit to constitute or specify in this behalf;
1[(b) the levy and collection of such fees as may be specified
for the issue of licenses to recruitment and placement

services, renewal of such licenses and services to be
rendered by the seamen’s employment office;
(c) the issue of directions by the Central Government to
any seamen’s employment office or any recruitment
and placement service with reference to the exercise
of any of its powers;
(ca) the conditions under which the recruitment and
placement service to recruit and place seafarers abroad;
(cb) the circumstances and conditions under which license
to be suspended or withdrawn;
(cc) the conditions under which seafarers’ personal data to
be processed by the recruitment and placement
services including the collection, storage, combination
and communication of such data to third parties;”]
(d) the supersession of any seamen’s employment office
which fails to comply with any such direction.
2[Explanation – For the purposes of this section,-
(a) “recruitment and placement service” means any person,

company, institution, agency or other organisation, in
the public or private sector which is engaged in recruiting
seafarers on behalf of employers or placing seafarers
with employers;
(b) “seafarer” means any person who fulfils the conditions
to be employed or engaged in any capacity on board a
sea-going ship other than a government ship used for
military or non-commercial purposes.]
Supply or engage- 96. (1) A person shall not engage or supply a seaman to be entered
ment of seamen in on board any ship in India unless that person is the owner,
contravention of Act master or mate of the ship, or is the agent of the owner or is
prohibited bonafide the servant and in the constant employ of the owner,
or is a director of a seamen’ s employment office, or a
shipping master.
(2) A person shall not employ for the purpose of engaging or
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 2002 supplying a seaman to be entered on board any ship in

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India, any person unless that person is the owner, master or

mate of the ship, or is the agent of the owner or is bonafide the
servant and in the constant employ of the owner, or is a director
of a seamen’s employment office, or a shipping master.
(3) A person shall not receive or accept to be entered on board
any ship any seaman, if that person knows that the seamen
has been engaged or supplied in contravention of this section
or section 95.
97. 1
[(1) A person or company or organization including a union Receipt of remunera-
purporting to represent the interests of seamen shall not tion donation, fees,
demand or receive, either directly or indirectly, from any etc., from seamen for
seaman or person seeking employment as seaman or any shipping them
person on his behalf, any remuneration or donation or fees prohibited
or compulsory subscription of any kind attributable from such
seaman or person’s employment as seaman, other than
the fees authorised by this Act.
(2) It shall be the duty of the company employing of proposing

to employ person as seaman to ensure that no money has
been demanded or received by any person or company or
organisation including the union purporting to represent the
interests of seamen by way of any remuneration or donation
or fees or compulsory subscription of any kind attributable
to employment of such person as seaman.]
2
[97A. There shall be no discrimination between seamen,- Prohibition against dis-
crimination
(a) on the ground of their membership or lack of membership in
any particular union purporting to represent the interests of
seamen and membership in such union shall not be pre-
requisite condition;
(b) on the basis of training institute from where they obtained training
or place of issue of their continuous discharge certificates, for
their recruitment and engagement on board any ship.]
Engagement of seamen
Qualifications for, and
98. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official medical examination
Gazette, direct that, with effect from such date as may be of, seamen
specified in the notification, seamen generally or any
category of seamen in particular shall not be engaged or
carried to sea to work in any capacity in any ship or in any
class of ships so specified, unless each one of them
possesses the prescribed qualifications.
(2) Except as otherwise provided under the rules made under
sub-section (3), no person shall engage or carry to sea any
seaman to work in any capacity in any ship or in any class

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of ships specified in this behalf by the Central Government,

unless the seaman is in possession of a certificate in the
prescribed form granted by the prescribed authority to the
effect that he is physically fit to be employed in that capacity.
(3) The Central Government may make rules for the purpose of
giving effect to the provisions of this section; and, in particular,
and, without prejudice to the generality of such power, any
rules so made may provide for-
(a) the courses of training to be pursued, the vocational
standards to be attained or the tests to be passed by
seamen generally or by any class of seamen in
particular;
(b) the standard of physical fitness required of seamen,
different standards being laid down, if necessary, for
different classes of seamen having regard to the age
of the seamen to be examined or the nature of the
duties to be performed by them;
(c) the nature of the medical examinaton of seamen, the
authorities by which the examination shall be
conducted, and the fees payable therefore;
(d) the form and contents of medical certificates and the
period of their validity;
(e) The re-examination by such medical authority as may
be specified of persons who have been refused medical
certificates of physical fitness in the first instance and
the fees payable for such re-examination;
(f) the circumstances in which, or the conditions subject
to which, any seaman or class of seamen, or any ship
or class of ships, may be exempted from the operation
of sub-section (2).
Prohibition of en- 99. No person shall engage or carry to sea any seaman under this Act
gagement of seamen in any ship, except a home-trade ship of less than two hundred
in Indian port without tons gross, from any port in India unless the seaman is in
discharge certificate possession of a certificate of discharge or a continuous certificate
of discharge issued under this Part.
Prohibition of 1
99 A. (1) No person shall engage or carry to sea any seafarer in any
engagement of ship, unless the seafarer is in possession of seafarer’s
seafarer without Identity document.
seafarer’s identity
document (2) The seafarer’s identity document under sub-section (1) shall
be issued in such form and manner add on payment of such
fees as may be prescribed.
Explanation – For the purposes of this section, “seafarer” means
any person who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board
a sea going ship ordinarily engaged in maritime navigation, other than ship
of war.’
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 40 of 2007

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100. The master of every Indian ship, except a home-trade ship of less Agreements with crew
than two hundred tons gross, shall enter into an agreement (in this
Act called the agreement with the crew) in accordance with this
Act with every seaman whom he engages, in, and carries to sea
as one of his crew from, any port in India.
101. (1) An agreement with the crew shall be in the prescribed form, Form and contents of
and shall be dated at the time of the first signature thereof, the agreements
and shall be 1[signed by the owner or agent and the master]
before any seamen signs the same.
(2) The agreement with the crew shall contain as terms thereof
the following particulars, namely:-
(a) the name of the ship or ships on board which the
seaman undertakes to serve;
(b) either the nature and, as far as practicable, the duration
of the intended voyage or engagement or the maximum
period of the voyage or engagement, and the places or
parts of the world, if any, to which the voyage or
engagement is not to extend;
(c) the number and description of the crew of different
categories in each department;
(d) the time at which each seaman is to be on board or to
begin work;
(e) the capacity in which each seaman is to serve;
(f) the amount of wages which each seaman is to receive;
(g) a scale of the provisions which are to be furnished to
each seaman, such scale being not less than the scale
fixed by the Central Government and published in the
Official Gazette;
(h) a scale of warm clothing and a scale of additional
provisions to be issued to each seaman during periods
of employment in specified cold regions;
(i) any regulations as to conduct on board and as to fines
or other lawful punishments for misconduct, which have
been sanctioned by the Central Government as
regulations proper to be adopted, and which the parties
agree to adopt;
(j) payment of compensation for personal injury or death
caused by accident arising out of and in the course of
employment;
(k) where it is agreed that the services of any seaman
shall end at any port not in India, a stipulation to provide
him either fit employment on board some other ship
bound to the port at which he was shipped or to such
other port in India as may be agreed upon, or a passage
to some port in India free of charge or on such other
terms as may be agreed upon;

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(l) stipulations relating to such other matters as may be

prescribed.
(3) The agreement shall provide that in the event of a dispute
arising outside India between the master, owner or agent of
a ship and a seaman in respect of any matter touching the
agreement, such dispute shall be referred to the Indian
consular officer whose decision thereon shall be binding on
the parties until the return of the ship to the port in India at
which the seaman is to be discharged:
Provided that in the case of a ship other than an Indian ship,
no such dispute shall be referred to the Indian consular officer
if such reference is contrary to the rules of international law.
(4) The agreement with the crew shall be so framed as to admit of
stipulations, to be adopted at the will of the master and seaman
in each case (not being inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act) respecting the advance and allotment of wages and may
contain any other stipulations which are not contrary to law.
Engagement of [102. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provision of this
1
seaman where Act, the master of a ship registered at a port outside India who has
agreement is made an agreement with the crew made in due form according to the law
out of India of that port or of the port in which her crew were engaged, may
engage in any port in India -
(a) a seaman who is not a citizen of India and who holds a
continuous discharge certificate or any other similar document
of identity issued by the competent authority of the country in
which the ship is registered or, as the case may be, of the
country in which the said agreement was made; or
(b) a seaman who is a citizen of India and who holds a certificate
of discharge or a continuous certificate of discharge issued
under this Act, and any seaman so engaged under clause
(a) or clause (b) may sign the agreement aforesaid and it
shall not be necessary for him to sign an agreement under
this Act.]
Special provisions 103. (1) The following provisions shall have effect with respect to
with regard to agree- every agreement made in India with the crew of an Indian
ments with crew of ship, namely-
Indian ships (a) the agreement shall, subject to the provision of this
Act as to substitutes, be signed by each seaman in
the presence of a shipping master;
(b) the shipping master shall cause the agreement to be
read over and explained to each seaman, in a language
understood by him or shall otherwise ascertain that
each seaman understands the same before he signs
it, and shall at least each signature;

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(c) when the crew is first engaged, the agreement shall

be signed in duplicate, and one part shall be retained
by the shipping master, and the other part shall be
delivered to the master and shall contain a special
place or form for the descriptions and signatures of
substitutes or persons engaged subsequently to the
first departure of the ship;
(d) when a substitute is engaged in the place of a seaman
who has duly signed the agreement and whose services
are within twenty-four hours of the ship’s putting to
sea lost by death, desertion or other unforeseen cause,
the engagement shall, if practicable, be made before a
shipping master, and if not practicable, the master shall,
before the ship puts to sea, if practicable, and, if not,
as soon afterwards as possible, cause the agreement
to be read over and explained to the substitute; and
the substitute shall thereupon sign the same in the
presence of a witness, who shall attest the signature.
(2) In the case of an agreement made in India with the crew of
a foreign-going Indian ship, the following provisions shall
have effect in addition to the provisions specified in sub-
section (1), namely: -
(a) the agreement may be made for a voyage of the ship,
or, if the voyages of the ship average less than six
months in duration may be made to extend over two or
more voyages, and agreements so made are in this
Act referred to as running agreements;
(b) a running agreement may be made to extend over two
or more voyages so that it shall terminate either within
six months from the date on which it was executed, or
on the first arrival of the ship at her port of destination
in India after the expiration of that period, or on the
discharge of cargo consequent upon such arrival,
whichever of these dates shall be the latest:
Provided that no such running agreement shall continue
in force, if, after the expiration of such period of six
months as aforesaid, the ship proceeds on a voyage
from a port outside India to any other such port which
is not on the direct route or a customary route to her
port of destination in India;
(c) on every return to a port in India before the final
termination of a running agreement, the master shall
discharge or engage before the shipping master at such
port any seaman whom he is required by law so to
discharge or engage, and shall upon every such return
endorse on the agreement a statement (as the case
may be) either that no such discharges or engagements
have been made or are intended to be made before the

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ship leaves port, or that all those made have been made
as required by law;
(d) the master shall deliver the running agreement so
endorsed to the shipping master, and the shipping
master shall, if the provisions of this Act relating to
agreements have been complied with, sign the
endorsement and return the agreement to the master.
(3) In the case of an agreement made in India with the crew of
a hometrade Indian ship of two hundreds tons gross or more,
the following provisions shall have effect in addition to the
provisions specified in sub-section (1) namely:-
(a) the agreement shall not be for a period longer than six
months, but if the period for which the agreement was
entered into expires while the ship is not in an Indian
port, the agreement shall continue in force until the
ship is again in an Indian port:
Provided that, except with the consent in writing of the
seaman concerned, the agreement shall not continue
in force for more than three months after the expiration
of the period for which it was entered into;
(b) an agreement for service in two or more ships belonging
to the same owner may be made by the owner instead
of by the master, and the provisions of this Act with
respect to the making of the agreement shall apply
accordingly.
Renewal of running 104. (1) When a running agreement has been made with the crew of
agreements in certain a foreign-going Indian ship and the ship arrives after the
cases expiration of a period of six months from the date on which
it was executed at a port of destination in Indian which is
not the port at which the crew have agreed to be discharged,
the master may, with the previous sanction of the shipping
master, renew the agreement with the crew, or may be
required by the shipping master so to renew the agreement
for the voyage from such port of destination to the port in
India at which the crew have agreed to be discharged.
(2) If the master of the ship is required by the shipping master
to renew the agreement as aforesaid and refuses so to renew
it, any expenses which may be incurred by the Government
for the subsistence of the crew and their conveyance to the
port at which they have agreed to be discharged shall be a
charge upon the ship, and shall be recoverable as if they
were expenses incurred in respect of distressed seaman
under the provisions of this Act.
Changes in crew to 105. 1
[(1)] The master of every foreign-going Indian ship and of every home-
be reported trade Indian ship of two hundred tons gross or more, the crew
of which has been engaged before a shipping master, shall,
1 Sec. 105 renumbered as sub-sec. (1) and Ins new sub-sec. (2) & its contents by MS (Amend.) Act 1984

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before finally leaving the port where the engagement took place,
sign and send to the nearest shipping master a full and accurate
statement in the prescribed form, of every change which has
taken place in his crew, and that statement shall be admissible
in evidence.
1
[(2) A copy of the statement referred to in sub-section (1) shall
also be sent to the seamen’s employment office concerned.]
106. (1) In the case of a foreign-going Indian ship or a home-trade Certificate as to
Indian ship of two hundred tons gross or more, on the due agreement with crew
execution of an agreement with the crew in accordance with
this Act, and also when, in the case of a foreign-going Indian
ship, the agreement is a running agreement, on compliance
by the master before the second and every subsequent
voyage made after the first commencement of the agreement
with the provisions of this Act respecting that agreement,
the shipping master shall grant the master of the ship a
certificate to that effect.
(2) The master of every such ship shall, before proceeding to
sea, produce that certificate to the customs collector whose
duty it is to grant a port clearance.
(3) No customs collector shall clear any such ship outwards
without the production of such certificate, and, if any such
ship attempts to go to sea without a clearance, the customs
collector may detain her until such certificate as aforesaid
is produced.
(4) The master of every such ship shall, within forty-eight hours
after the ship’s arrival at the port in India at which the crew
is to be discharged, deliver such agreement to a shipping
master at the port; and such shipping master shall thereupon
give to the master a certificate of such delivery; and no
customs collector shall clear any such ship inwards without
the production of such certificate.
107. The master shall, at the commencement of every voyage or Copy of agreement to
engagement, cause a legible copy of the agreement and, if necessary, be made accessible
a certified translation thereof in a language understood by the majority to the crew
of the crew (omitting the signatures), to be placed or posted up in
such part of the ship as to be accessible to the crew.
108. Every erasure, interlineation or alteration in any agreement with Alteration in agree-
the crew (except additions made for the purpose of shipping ment with the crew
substitutes or persons engaged subsequently to the first departure
of the ship) shall be wholly in operative, 2[unless proved to have
been made with the consent of all the persons interested in the
erasure, interlineation or alteration by the written attestation
(a) if in India, of some shipping master or customs collector; or
1 Sec. 105 renumbered as sub-sec. (1) and Ins new sub-sec. (2) & its contents by MS (Amend.) Act 1984

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(b) if outside India, by an Indian consular officer or any port

outside India at which no Indian consular officer is available,
any such person as is authorised in his behalf by the Central
Government by notification in the Official Gazette.]
Employment of young persons
Employment of 109. No person under fifteen years of age shall be engaged or carried to
children sea to work in any capacity in any ship, except-
(a) in a school ship, or training ship, in accordance with the
prescribed conditions; or
(b) in a ship in which all persons employed are members of
one family; or
(c) In a home-trade ship of less than two hundred tons gross; or
(d) where such person is to be employed on nominal wages
and will be in the charge of his father or other adult near
male relative.
Engagement of young 110. (1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-sections (2) and (3), no
persons as trimmers young person shall be engaged or carried to sea to work as
or stokers a trimmer or stoker in any ship.
(2) Sub-section (1) shall not apply, -
(a) to any work of trimming or stoking done by a young
person in a school ship or training ship in accordance
with the prescribed conditions; or
(b) to any work of trimming or stoking done by a young
person in a ship which is mainly propelled otherwise
than by steam; or
(c) to the engagement or carrying to sea of a person over
sixteen years of age to work as a trimmer or stoker on
a coasting ship, provided he is employed in accordance
with the prescribed conditions.
(3) Where in any port a trimmer or stoker is required for any
ship other than a coasting ship and no person over eighteen
years of age is available, two young persons over sixteen
years of age may be engaged and carried to sea to do the
work which would otherwise have been done by one person
over eighteen years of age.
(4) There shall be included in every agreement with the crew in
ships to which this section applies a short summary of the
provisions of this section.
Medical examination 111. (1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), no young
of young persons person shall be engaged or carried to sea to work in any
capacity in any ship, unless there has been delivered to the
master a certificate granted by a prescribed authority that
the young person is physically fit to be employed in that
capacity.

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(2) Sub-section (1) shall not apply-

(a) to the employment of a young person in a ship in which
all persons employed are members of one family; or
(b) where the shipping master, on the ground of urgency,
has authorised a young person to be engaged and
carried to sea, without the certificate required by sub-
section (1) being delivered to the master, and the young
person is not employed beyond the first port at which
the ship in which he is so engaged calls except in
accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1).
(3) A certificate of physical fitness required under this section
shall remain in force for one year only from the date on
which it is granted.
112. There shall be included in every agreement with the crew of every Maintenance of list or
Indian ship and every other ship which engages young persons in register of young
India, a list of young persons who are members of the crew, together person in a ship
with particulars of the dates of their birth, and, in the case of any
such ship where there is no agreement, the master shall keep a
register of young persons with particulars of the dates of their birth
and of the dates on which they became or ceased to be members
of the crew.
113. (1) The Central Government may make rules prescribing - Power to make rules
(a) 7the conditions of employment of young persons in respecting employ-
any capacity in school ships and training ships, and ment of young
the authorities by whom and the manner in which the persons
inspection of their work shall be carried out;
(b) the conditions of employment of young persons as
trimmers or stokers in coasting ships;
(c) the authorities whose certificates of physical fitness shall
be accepted for the purposes of section 111; and
(d) the form of the register of young persons to be
maintained in ships where there is no agreement with
the crew.
(2) Rules under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall be made
after consultation with such organisations in India as the
Central Government may consider to be most representative
of the employers of seamen and of seamen.
Engagement of seamen by masters of ships
other than Indian ships
114. (1) When the master of a ship other than an Indian ship engages Maintenance of list or
a seaman at any port in India to proceed to any port outside register of young
India, he shall enter into an agreement with such seaman, and person in a ship
the agreement shall be made before a shipping master in the
manner provided by this Act for the making of agreement in the
case of foreign-going Indian ships.

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(2) All the provisions of this Act respecting the form of such
agreements and the stipulations to be contained in them
and the making and signing of the same, shall be applicable
to the engagement of such seaman.
(3) The master of a ship other than an Indian ship shall give to
the shipping master a bond with the security of some
approved person resident in India for such amount as may
be fixed by the Central Government in respect of each
seaman engaged by him at any port in India and conditioned
for the due performance of such agreement and stipulations,
and for the repayment to the Central Government of all
expenses which may be incurred by it in respect of any
such seaman who is discharged or left behind at any port
out of India and becomes distressed and is relieved under
the provisions of this Act :
Provided that the shipping master may waive the execution
of a bond under this section where the owner of the ship
has an agent at any port in India and such agent accepts
liability in respect of all matters for which the master of the
ship would be liable if he were to execute a bond under this
section or may accept from the agent such security as may
be approved by the Central Government.
(4) The fees fixed under section 90 shall be payable in respect
of every such engagement, and deductions from the wages
of seamen so engaged may be made to the extent and in
the manner allowed under the said section 90.
Power to prohibit 115. The Central Government or any officer authorised by it in this behalf,
engagement of if satisfied that in the national interest or in the interests of seaman
persons as seamen generally it is necessary so to do, may, by order in writing, prohibit
the owner, master or agent of any ship other than an Indian ship
specified in the order from engaging in India or in any specified part of
India, any person to serve as a seaman on such ship.
Engagement of 116. With respect to the engagement of seamen outside India, the
seamen outside India following provisions shall have effect -
for Indian ships
When the master of an Indian ship engages a seaman at any port
outside India, the provisions of this Act respecting agreements
with the crew made in India shall apply subject to the following
modifications
(a) at any such port having an Indian consular officer, the master
shall, before carrying the seaman to sea, procure the
sanction of the consular officer, and shall, if not contrary to
any law in force in that port, engage the seaman before that
officer;
(b) the master shall respect the Indian consular officer to endorse
upon the agreement an attestation to the effect that it has
been signed in his presence and otherwise made as required

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by this Act, and that it has his sanction, and if the attestation
is not made, the burden of proving that the engagement
was made as required by this Act shall lie upon the master.
117. For the purpose of preventing seamen from being taken on board Power to board ships
any ship at any port in India contrary to the provisions of this Act, and muster seamen
any shipping master or deputy or assistant shipping master or
any director, deputy director or assistant director of the seamen’s
employment office, may enter at any time on board any such ship
upon which he has reason to believe that seamen have been
shipped, and may muster and examine the several seamen
employed therein.
Discharge of seamen
118. (1) When a seaman serving in a foreign-going ship is, on the Discharge before
termination of his engagement, discharged in India, he shall, shipping master
whether the agreement with the crew be an agreement for
the voyage or a running agreement, be discharged in the
manner provided by this Act in the presence of a shipping
master.
(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall apply in relation to
the discharge of seamen serving in a home-trade Indian ship
of two hundred tons gross or more as they apply in relation
to the discharge of seamen serving in a foreign-going ship:
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply where a
seaman is discharged from a ship under an agreement made
in accordance with section 103 for service in two or more
ships, for the purpose of being engaged in another ship to
which the agreement relates.
(3) If the master, owner or agent of a home-trade ship, other
than a ship to which the last preceding sub-section applies,
so desires, the seamen of that ship may be discharged in
the same manner as seaman discharged from a foreign-
going ship.
119. (1) The master shall sign and give to a seaman discharged Certificate of dis-
from his ship in India, either on his discharge or on payment charge
of his wages, a certificate of his discharge in the prescribed
form specifying the period of his service and the time and
place of his discharge.
(2) The master shall also, upon the discharge of every
certificated officer, whose certificate of competency has
been delivered to and retained by him, return the certificate
to the officer.
120. (1) When a seaman is discharged from a ship in India, the master Certificate as to work
shall furnish to the shipping master before whom the discharge of seamen
is made a report in the prescribed form stating-

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(a) the quality of the work of the seaman; or

(b) whether the seaman has fulfilled his obligations under
the agreement with the crew; or
(c) that he declines to express an opinion on those
particulars; and the shipping master shall, if the
seaman so desires, give to him or endorse on his
certificate of discharge a copy of such report.
(2) A seaman who is entitled to a certificate of discharge under
section 119 may, if he so desires, be granted by the master, in
lieu of the certificate referred to in sub-section (1) of the said
section or the report referred to in sub-section (1) of this section,
a continuous discharge certificate specifying the period of his
service together with an endorsement stating-
(a) the quality of the work of the seaman; or
(b) whether the seaman has fulfilled his obligations under
the agreement with the crew; or
(c) that he declines to express an opinion on those
particulars; and the master shall thereupon sign and
give such continuous discharge certificate
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
sub-section (1).
(3) If the master states that he declines to express an opinion
on the particulars mentioned in clauses (a) and (b) of sub-
section (1) or sub-section (2), he shall enter in the official
log book his reasons for so declining.
Discharge and 121. (1) The master of an Indian ship shall not -
leaving behind of (a) discharge a seaman before the expiration of the period
seamen by masters for which he was engaged, unless the seaman
of Indian ships consents to his discharge; or
(b) except in circumstances beyond his control, leave a
seaman or apprentice behind;
without the authority of the officer specified in this behalf by
the Central Government and the officer aforesaid shall certify
on the agreement with crew that he has granted such
authority, and also the reason for the seaman being
discharged or the seaman or apprentice being left behind.
(2) The officer aforesaid to whom applications is made for
authority in terms of sub-section (1), shall investigate the
grounds on which the seaman is to be discharged or the
seaman or apprentice left behind and may in his discretion
grant or refuse to grant such authority.
Provided that he shall not refuse to grant his authority if he
is satisfied that the seaman has without reasonable cause
(a) failed or refused to join his ship or to proceed to sea
therein; or

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(b) been absent from his ship without leave, either at the
commencement or during the progress of a voyage for
a period of more than forty-eight hours.
(3) The officer aforesaid shall keep a record of all seamen or
apprentices discharged or left behind with his authority; and
whenever any charge is made against a seaman or apprentice
under section 191, the fact that no such authority is so recorded
shall be prima facie evidence that it was not granted.
122. (1) If a seaman or apprentice is left behind, the master shall Wages and other
enter in the official log book a statement of the amount due property of seamen or
to the seaman or apprentice in respect of wages at the time apprentice left behind
when he was left behind and of all property left on board by
him, and shall take such property into his charge.
(2) Within forty-eight hours after the arrival of the ship at the
port in India at which the voyage terminates, the master
shall deliver to the shipping master -
(a) a statement of the amount due to the seaman or
apprentice in respect of wages, and of all property left
on board by him; and
(b) a statement, with full particulars, of any expenses that
may have been caused to the master or owner of the
ship by the absence of the seaman or apprentice, where
the absence is due to a contravention by the seaman
or apprentice of section 191;
and, if required by the shipping master to do so, shall furnish
such vouchers as are reasonably required to verify the
statements.
(3) The master shall at the time when he delivers the statements
referred to in sub-section (2) to the shipping master also deliver
to him the amount due to the seaman or apprentice in respect
of wages and the property that was left on board by him, and
the shipping master shall give to the master a receipt therefore
in the prescribed form.
(4) The master shall be entitled to be reimbursed out of the
wages or property referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (2)
such expenses shown in the statement referred to in clause
(b) of that sub-section as appear to the shipping master to
be property chargeable.
123. (1) When the service of a seaman or apprentice terminates without Repatriation of
the consent of the said seaman or apprentice at a port outside seamen on termina-
India, and before the expiration of the period for which the tion of service at
seaman was engaged or the apprentice was bound, the master foreign port
or owner of the ship shall, in addition to any other relative
obligation imposed on either of them by this Act, make adequate
provision for the maintenance of the seaman or apprentice

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according to his rank or rating, and for the return of that seaman
or apprentice to a proper return port.
(2) If the master or owner fails without reasonable cause to
comply with sub-section (1), the expenses of maintenance
and of the journey to the proper return port shall, if defrayed
by the seaman or apprentice, be recoverable as wages due
to him, and if defrayed by an Indian consular officer, be
regarded as expenses falling within the provisions of sub-
sections (3) and (4) of section 161.
Explanation: Inability to provide the said expenses shall not,
for the purposes of this sub-section, be regarded as
reasonable cause.
Discharge of seamen 124. (1) If an Indian ship is transferred or disposed of while she is at
of change of owner- or on a voyage to any port outside India, every seaman or
ship apprentice belonging to that ship shall be discharged at
that port, unless he consents in writing in the presence of
the Indian consular officer to complete the voyage in the
ship if continued.
(2) If a seaman or apprentice is discharged from an Indian ship
in terms of sub-section (1), the provisions of section 123
shall apply as if the service of the seaman or apprentice
had terminated without his consent and before the expiration
of the period for which the seaman was engaged or the
apprentice was bound.
(3) Every seaman or apprentice discharged in terms of sub-
section (1) shall, if the voyage for which he was engaged is
not continued, be entitled to the wages to which he would
have been entitled if his service had been wrongfully
terminated by the owner before the expiration of the period
for which the seaman was engaged or the apprentice was
bound.
Payment of wages
Master to deliver 125. (1) The master of every ship shall, before paying off or discharging
account of wages a seaman under this Act, deliver at the time and in the manner
provided by this Act a full and true account in the form prescribed
of the seaman’s wages and of all deductions to be made
therefrom on any account whatever.
(2) The said account shall be delivered, either to the seaman
himself, at or before the time of his leaving the ship, or to
the shipping master not less than twenty-four hours before
the discharge or payment off.
Disrating of seamen 126. (1) Where the master of a ship disrates a seaman, he shall
forthwith enter or cause to be entered in the official log book
a statement of the disrating, and furnish the seaman with a
copy of the entry; and any reduction of wages consequent

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on the disrating shall not take effect until the entry has been
so made and the copy so furnished.
(2) Any reduction of wages consequent on the disrating of a
seaman shall be deemed to be a deduction from wages
within the meaning of sections 125 and 127.
127. (1) A deduction from the wages of a seaman shall not be allowed Deductions from
unless it is included in the account delivered in pursuance wages of seamen
of this Act except in respect of a matter happening after
such deliver.
(2) The master shall during the voyage enter the various matters
in respect of which the deductions are made, with the amount
of the respective deductions as they occur, in a book to be
kept for that purpose, and shall, if required, produce the
book at the time of the payment of wages and also upon the
hearing before any competent authority of any complaint or
question relating to that payment.
128. (1) Where a seaman is discharged in India before a shipping Payment of wages
master, he shall receive his wages through, or in the presence before shipping
of, the shipping master unless a competent court otherwise master
directs.
(2) If the master or owner of a home-trade ship of less than two
hundred tons gross so desires, the seaman of that ship
may receive their wages in the same manner as seaman
discharged from a foreign-going ship, or from a home-trade
ship of two hundred tons gross or more.
129. (1) The master, owner or agent of every ship shall pay to every Time of payment of
seaman his wages within four days after the seaman’s wages
discharge, and the seaman shall at the time of his discharge
be entitled to be paid on account a sum equal to one-fourth
part of the balance due to him.
(2) If a master, owner or agent fails without reasonable cause
to make payment at that time, he shall pay to the seaman
such sum not exceeding the amount of two days’ pay for
each of the days commencing from the day of discharge
during which payment is delayed as the shipping master
may in each case decide, but the sum so payable shall not
exceed ten days’ double pay.
(3) Any sum payable under this section may be recovered as
wages.
130. (1) Where a seaman is discharged and the settlement of his Settlement of wages
wages completed before a shipping master, the seaman
shall sign in the presence of the shipping master a release
in the form prescribed of all claims in respect of the past
voyage or engagement, and the release shall also be signed
by the master, owner or agent of the ship and attested by
the shipping master.

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(2) The release so signed and attested shall be retained by the

shipping master and shall operate as a mutual discharge
and settlement of all demands between the parties thereto
in respect of the past voyage or engagement but shall not
debar a claim to compensation for personal injury caused
by accident arising out of and in the course of employment.
(3) A copy of the release, certified under the hand of the shipping
master to be a true copy, shall be given by him to any party
thereto requiring the same, and such copy shall be
receivable in evidence upon any question touching such
claims, and shall have all the effect of the original of which it
purports to be a copy.
(4) No payment, receipt or settlement of the wages of a seaman
made otherwise than in accordance with this Act shall
operate or be admitted as evidence of the release or
satisfaction of any claim in respect of such wages.
(5) Upon any payment being made by a master before a
shipping master, the shipping master shall, if required, sign
and give to the master a statement of the whole amount so
paid, and the statement shall, as between the master and
his employer, be admissible as evidence that the master
has made the payments therein mentioned.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in the preceding sub-
sections a seaman may except from the release signed by
him any specified claim or demand against the master or
owner of the ship, and a note of any claim or demand so
excepted shall be entered upon the release; and the release
shall not operate as a discharge and settlement of any claim
or demand so noted, nor shall sub-section (4) apply to any
payment, receipt or settlement made with respect to any
such claim or demand.
Certain undisbursed [130A. Subject to the provisions of section 160 and to such restrictions
1
amounts to be and conditions as may be prescribed, any amount deposited with

utilised for welfare of or recovered by the shipping master for making payment in
seamen accordance with the allotment note made by a seaman or for being
paid to a seaman or his nominee may, if such amount remains
unclaimed with the shipping master for a period of not less than
six years, be utilised for the welfare of seaman in such manner as
the Central Government may direct,]
Master to give 131. Where a seaman expresses to the master of the ship his desire to
facilities to seaman have facilities afforded to him for remitting any part of the balance
for remitting wages of the wages due to him to a savings bank or to a near relative, the
master shall give to the seaman all reasonable facilities for so
doing so far as regards so much of the balance as is within the
limits, if any, specified in this behalf by the Central Government,

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but shall be under no obligation to give those facilities while the

ship is in port if the sum will become payable before the ship
leaves port or otherwise than conditionally on the seaman going to
sea in the ship.
132. (1) Where under the agreement with the crew any dispute arises Decision of questions
at any port in India between the master, owner or agent of a by shipping masters
ship and any of the crew of the ship, it shall be submitted to
the shipping master,-
(a) where the amount in dispute does not exceed 1[three
thousand rupees,] at the instance of either party to
the dispute;
(b) in any other case, if both parties to the dispute agree
in writing to submit the dispute to the shipping master.
2
[(1A) Any complaint of dispute, received, by the Shipping master
from an Indian seaman, on a vessel registered in a country
other than India, in Indian territorial waters, with the master,
owner or agent.]
(2) The shipping master shall hear and decide the dispute so
submitted and an award made by him upon the submission
shall be conclusive as to the rights of the parties, and any
document purporting to be such submission or award shall
be prima facie evidence thereof.
(3) An award made by a shipping master under this section
may be enforced by 3[a Judicial Magistrate of the first class
or a Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,] in the
same manner as an order for the payment of wages made
by such magistrate under this Act.
(4) Nothing in the Arbitration Act, 1940, shall apply to any matter
submitted to a shipping master for decision under this
section.
133. In any proceedings under this Act before a shipping master relating Power of shipping
to the wages, claims or discharge of a seaman, the shipping master master to require
may require the owner, master or agent or any mate or other member production of ship’s
of the crew to produce any log books, papers, or other documents papers
in his possession or power relating to any matter in question in the
proceedings, and may require the attendance of and examine any
of those persons being then at or near the place on the matter.
134. Where a seaman or apprentice has agreed with the master of a Rule as to payment
ship for payment of his wages in Indian or other currency, any to seamen in foreign
payment of, or on account of, his wages, if made in any currency currency
other than that stated in the agreement, shall, notwithstanding


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anything in the agreement, be made at the rate of exchange for

the time being current at the place where the payment is made.
Advance and allotment of wages
Advance of wages 135. (1) Any agreement with the crew may contain a stipulation for
payment to a seaman, conditional on his going to sea in
pursuance of the agreement of a sum not exceeding the
amount of one month’s wages payable to the seaman under
the agreement.
(2) Save as aforesaid, an agreement by or on behalf of the
employer of a seaman for the payment of money to or on
behalf of the seaman, conditional on his going to sea from
any port in India shall be void, and no money paid in
satisfaction or in respect of any such agreement shall be
deducted from the seaman’s wages, and no person shall
have any right of action, suit or set-off against the seaman
or his assignee in respect of any money so paid or purporting
to have been so paid.
(3) No seaman, who has been lawfully engaged and has received
under his agreement an advance payment, wilfully or through
misconduct, shall fail to attend his ship or desert therefrom
before the payment becomes really due to him.
(4) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of a shipping master
that a seaman lawfully engaged has willfully or through
misconduct failed to attend his ship, the shipping master
shall report the matter to the Director-General who may direct
that any of the seaman’s certificates of discharge referred
to in sections 119 and 120 shall be withheld for such period
as he may think fit; and while a seaman’s certificate of
discharge is so withheld, the Director-General or any other
person having the custody of the necessary documents may,
notwithstanding anything in this Act, refuse to furnish copies
of any such certificate or certified extracts therefrom.
Allotment notes 136. (1) A seaman may require that a stipulation be inserted in the
respecting seamen’s agreement for the allotment, by means of an allotment note,
wages of any part (not exceeding three-fourths) of the amount of
the monthly wages payable to him in favor of any such
member of his family or any such relative or for any such
purpose approved in this behalf by the Central Government
by general or special order, as may be specified in the note.
(2) Every shipping master or other officer before whom the
seaman is engaged shall, after the seaman has signed the
agreement, inquire from the seaman whether he requires
such a stipulation for the allotment of his wages by means
of an allotment note.
(3) Whenever a seaman requires such a stipulation, the
stipulation shall be inserted in the agreement of the crew,

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and such stipulation shall be deemed to have been agreed

to by the master.
(4) An allotment note shall be in the prescribed form and shall
be signed by the owner, master or agent of the ship and by
the seaman.
137. (1) A payment under an allotment note shall begin at the expiry Commencement and
of 1[one month from the date on which the seaman’s right to payment of sums
wages begins], and shall be made at the expiration of every allotted
subsequent month after the first month, and shall be made
only in respect of the wages earned before the date of
payment.
(2) The owner, master or agent who has authorised the drawing
of an allotment note shall pay to the shipping master on
demand the sums due under the note, and, if he fails to do
so, the shipping master may sue for and recover the same
with costs.
Provided that no such sum shall be recoverable if it is shown
to the satisfaction of the court trying the case that the
seaman has forfeited or ceased to be entitled to the wages
out of which the allotment was to have been paid, but the
seaman shall be presumed to be duly earning his wages
unless the contrary is shown to the satisfaction of the court
either by the official statement of the change in the crew
caused by his absence made and signed by the master as
by this Act is required, or by a certified copy of some entry
in the official log book to the effect that he has died or left
the ship, or by a credible letter from the master of the ship
to the same effect, or by such other evidence, of whatever
description, as the court may consider sufficient.
(3) The shipping master on receiving any such sum as aforesaid
shall pay it over to the person named in that behalf in the
allotment note.
(4) All such receipts and payments shall be entered in a book to
be kept for the purpose, and all entries in the said book shall
be authenticated by the signature of the shipping master.
(5) The said book shall at all reasonable times be open to the
inspection of the parties concerned.
Rights of seamen in respect of wages
138. A seaman’s right to wages and provisions shall be taken to begin Right to wages and
either at the time at which he commences work or at the time provisions
specified in the agreement for his commencement of work or
presence on board, whichever first happens.


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Working hours of [138A. The ordinary hours of work for all seamen shall not exceed forty-
2
seamen eight hours in a week.]
Right to recover 139. (1) A seaman shall not by any agreement forfeit his lien on the
wages and salvage ship or be deprived of any remedy for the recovery of his
not to be forfeited wages to which, in the absence of the agreement, he would
be entitled, and shall not by any agreement abandon his
right to wages in case of he loss of the ship or abandon any
right that he may have or obtain in the nature of salvage,
and every stipulation in any agreement inconsistent with
any provisions of this Act shall be void.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to a stipulation made by
the seaman belonging to any ship which according to the
terms of the agreement is to be employed on salvage service
with respect to the remuneration to be paid to them for
salvage service to be rendered by that ship to any other
ship.
Wages not to depend 140. (1) The right to wages shall not depend on the earning of freight,
on freight and every seaman and apprentice who would be entitled to
demand and recover any wages if the ship in which he has
served had earned freight, shall, subject to all other rules of
law and conditions applicable to the case, be entitled to
demand and recover the same notwithstanding that freight
has not been earned, but in all cases of wreck or loss of the
ship, proof that the seaman has not exerted himself to the
utmost to save the ship, cargo and stores shall bar his claim
to wages.
(2) Where a seaman or apprentice who would but for death be
entitled by virtue of this section to demand and recover any
wages dies before the wages are paid, they shall be paid
and applied in manner provided by this Act with respect to
the wages of a seaman who dies during a voyage.
Wages on termina- 141. (1) Where the service of any seaman engaged under this Act
tion of service by terminates before the date contemplated in the agreement
wreck, illness, etc. by reason of the wreck, loss or abandonment of the ship or
by reason of his being left on shore at any place outside
Indian under a certificate granted under this Act of his
unfitness or inability to proceed on the voyage, the seaman
shall be entitled to receive -
(a) in the case of wreck, loss or abandonment of the ship
(i) wages at the rate to which he was entitled at the
date of termination of his service for the period from
the date his service is so terminated until he is returned
to and arrives at a proper return port;
Provided that the period for which he shall be entitled to
receive wages shall be not less than one month; and

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(ii) compensation for the loss of his effect

(a) in the case of a seaman employed on a home-trade
ship, of not less than one month’s wages; and
(b) in the case of a seaman employed on a foreign going
ship, of not less than three month’s wages;
(b) in the case of unfitness or inability to proceed on the
voyage, wages for the period from the date his service
is terminated until he is returned to and arrives at a
proper return port.
(2) A seaman shall not be entitled to receive wages under sub-
clause (i) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) in respect of any
period during which-
(a) he was, or could have been, suitably employed; or
(b) through negligence he failed to apply to proper authority
for relief as a distressed or destitute seaman.
(3) Any amount payable by way of compensation under sub-
clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall be deposited
with the shipping master at the port of engagement in India
for payment to the seaman, or, in the case of deceased
seaman, 1[to the person nominated by him in this behalf
under section 159A or if he has not made any such
nomination or the nomination made by him is or has become
void, to his legal heirs.] to his legal heirs,
142. (1) A seaman or apprentice shall not be entitled to wages- Wages not to accrue
(a) for any period during which he is absent without leave during absence
form his ship or from his duty; or without leave, refusal
to work or imprison-
(b) for any period during which he unlawful refuses or
ment
neglects to work when required; or
(c) unless the court hearing the case otherwise directs,
for any period during which he is lawfully imprisoned.
(2) A seaman or apprentice shall not be disentitled to claim
wages for any period during which he has not performed his
duty if he proves that he was incapable of doing so by reason
of illness, hurt or injury, unless it be proved that-
(a) his illness, hurt or injury was caused by his own willful
act or default or his own misbehavior; or
(b) his illness was contracted or his hurt or injury was
sustained at a proper return port and was not
attributable to his employment; or
(c) he has unreasonably refused to undergo medical or
surgical treatment for his illness, hurt or injury involving
no appreciable risk to his life.
Compensation to
143. (1) If a seaman having signed an agreement is discharged,
seamen for prema-
otherwise than in accordance with the terms thereof, without
ture discharge
fault on his part justifying the discharge and without his

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consent, he shall be entitled to receive from the master,

owner or agent, in addition to any wages he may have earned,
as due compensation for the damage caused to him by the
discharge, such sum as the shipping master may fix having
regard to the circumstances relating to the discharge:
Provided that the compensation so payable shall not exceed-
(a) in the case of a seaman who has been discharged
before the commencement of a voyage, one month’s
wages and
(b) in the case of a seaman who has been discharged after
the commencement of a voyage, three months’ wages.
(2) Any compensation payable under this section may be
recovered as wages.
Restriction on sale of 144. (1) As respects wages due or accruing to a seaman or
and charge upon apprentice-
wages (a) they shall not be subject to attachment by order of
any court;
(b) an assignment thereof made prior to the accruing
thereof shall not bind the person making the same;
(c) a power-of-attorney or authority for the receipt thereof
shall not be irrevocable;
(d) a payment of wages to a seamen or apprentice shall
be valid in law notwithstanding any previous assignment
of those wages or any attachment thereof or
encumbrance thereon.
(2) The provisions of clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1) shall
not apply to so much of the wages of a seamen as gave
been or are hereafter assigned by way of contribution to
any fund or scheme approved in this behalf by the Central
Government, the main purpose of which is the provision for
seamen of health or social insurance benefits and the
provisions of clauses (a) and (d) of sub-section (1) shall not
apply to anything done or to be done for giving effect to
such an assignment.
(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the provisions of this Act
or any other law for the time being in force with respect to
allotment notes.
Mode of recovering wages
Summary proceed- 145. (1) A seaman or apprentice or a person duly authorised on his
ings for wages behalf may, as soon as any wages due to him become
payable, apply to 1[any Judicial Magistrate of the first class
or any Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,]
exercising jurisdiction in or near the place at which his service
has terminated or at which he has been discharged, or at

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which any person upon whom the claim is made is or

resides, and 1[such magistrate] shall try the case in a
summary way and the order made by 1[such magistrate] in
the matter shall be final.
(2) An application under sub-section (1) may also be made by
any officer authorised by the Central Government in this
behalf by general or special order.
146. A proceeding for the recovery of wages due to a seaman or Restrictions on Suits
apprentice shall not be instituted by or on behalf of any seaman or of Wages
apprentice in any civil court except where -
(a) the owner of the ship has been declared insolvent;
(b) the ship is under arrest or sold by the authority of any court;
(c) 1
[a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or a Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be,] refers a claim to the court.
[Act 1958]
147. Where a seaman is engaged for a voyage which is to terminate in Wages not recover-
India, he shall not be entitled to sue in any court outside India for able outside India in
wages unless he is discharged with such sanction as is required certain cases
by this Act, and with the written consent of the master, or proves
such ill-usage on the part, or by the authority, of the master, as to
warrant a reasonable apprehension of danger to his life if he were
to remain on board.
148. (1) The master of a ship shall, so far as the case permits, have Remedies of master
the same rights, liens and remedies for the recovery of his for wages, disburse-
wages as a seaman has under this Act or by any law or ments etc.
custom.
(2) The master of a ship and every person lawfully acting as
master of a ship by reason of the decease or incapacity
from illness of the master of the ship shall, so far as the
case permits, have the same rights, liens and remedies for
the recovey of disbursements or liabilities properly made or
incurred by him on account of the ship as a master has for
the recovery of his wages.
(3) If in any proceeding in any court touching the claim of a
master in respect of such wages, disbursements or liabilities
any set-off is claimed or any counter claim is made, the
court may enter into, and adjudicate upon, all questions
unsettled between the parties to the proceeding and may
direct payment of any balance found to be due.
Power of courts to rescind contracts Power of court to
149. Where a proceeding is instituted in any court in relation to any dispute rescind contract
between master, owner or agent of a ship and a seaman or apprentice, between master,
arising out of or incidental to their relation as such, or is instituted for owner or agent and
the purpose of this section, the court, if, having regard to all the seaman or apprentice
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1983. Schedule

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84 [Act 44
circumstances of the case, it thinks it just to do so, may rescind any

contract between the master, owner or agent and the seaman or
apprentice, upon such terms as the court may think just, and this
poser shall be in addition to any other jurisdiction which the court can
exercise independently, of this section.
Disputes between seamen and employers
Power to refer 150. (1) Where the Central Government is of opinion that any dispute
disputes between between seaman or any class of seamen or of any union of
semen and their semen and the owners of ships in which such seamen are
employers to tribu- employed or are likely to be employed exists or is
nals apprehended and such dispute relates to any matter
connected with or incidental to the employment of the
seamen, the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, constitute a tribunal consisting of one or
more persons, and refer the dispute to the tribunal for
adjudication.
(2) The tribunal so constituted shall have power to regulate its
own procedure and shall have the same powers as are vested
in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908,
when trying a suit in respect of the following matters
(a) enforcing the attendance of any person and examining
him on oath;
(b) compelling the production of documents;
(c) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses;
(d) any other matter which may be prescribed;
and any proceeding before the tribunal shall be deemed to
be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193
and 228 of the Indian Penal Code. [Act of 1860].
(3) No party to a dispute shall be entitled to be represented by
a legal practitioner in any proceeding before the tribunal
except with the consent of the other party or parties to the
proceeding and with the leave of the tribunal.
(4) The tribunal shall dispose of the reference expeditiously and
shall, as soon as practicable on the conclusion of the
proceedings, submit its award to the Central Government.
(5) On receipt of the award, the Central Government shall cause
it to be published and the award shall become enforceable
on the expiry of thirty days from the date of such publication:
Provided that where the Central Government is of opinion
that it will be in expedient on public grounds to give effect to
the award or any part of it, it may before the expiry of the
said period of thirty days by order in the Official Gazette
either reject the award or modify it, and where the Central
Government does so, the award shall not become

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enforceable or shall become enforceable subject to the

modifications, as the case may be.
(6) An award which has become enforceable under this section
shall be binding on-
(a) all parties to the dispute;
(b) where any party to the dispute is the owner of the ship,
his heirs, successors, or assigns,
(7) Save as otherwise provided in the award, an award shall
remain in operation for a period of one year from the date on
which it becomes enforceable and shall thereafter continue
to remain in operation until a period of two months has
elapsed from the date on which notice is given by any party
bound by the award to the other party or parties intimating
its intention to terminate the award.
(8) Any money use to a seaman from the owner of a ship under
an award may be recovered as wages.
(9) Nothing contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 [14 of
1947], shall apply to any dispute between seamen or any class
of seamen or any union of seamen and the owners of ships in
which such seamen are employed or are likely to be employed.
151. During the pendency of proceedings under section 150,- Conditions of service,
etc, to remain
(a) no seamen or class of seamen or union of seamen shall go or
unchanged during
remain on strike or otherwise act in a manner prejudicial to the
pendency of proceed-
normal operation of the ships in which the seamen are employed
ings before tribunal
or are likely to be employed; and
(b) no owner of a ship shall-
(i) alter to the prejudice of the seamen concerned in the
dispute, the conditions of service applicable to them
immediately before the commencement of such
proceedings; or
(ii) discharge or punish any seaman in respect of any
matter connected with the dispute.
Property of deceased seamen and apprentices
Master to take
152. (1) If any seaman or apprentice engaged on any ship, the voyage
charge of the effects
of which is to terminate in India, dies during that voyage,
of deceased seamen
the master of the ship shall report the death to the next-of-
kin of the seaman or apprentice and to the shipping master
at his port of engagement and shall take charge of any
money or effects belonging to the seaman or apprentice
which are on board the ship.
(2) The master shall thereupon enter in the official log book the
following particulars, namely:

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(a) a statement of the amount of money and a detailed

description of the other effects;
(b) a statement of the sum due to the deceased for wages
and of the amount of deduction, if any, to be made
from the wages.
(3) The said money, balance of wages and other effects
are in this Act referred to as the property of the seaman
or apprentice.
Dealing with and 153. (1) If any seaman or apprentice engaged on any ship, the voyage
account of property of of which is to terminate in India, dies during that voyage and
seamen who die the ship before coming to a port in India touches and remains
during voyage for forty-eight hours at some port elsewhere, the master
shall report the case to the Indian consular officer at such
port and shall give to the officer any information he requires
as to the destination of the ship and probable length of the
voyage.
(2) The Indian consular officer may, if he thinks it expedient,
require the property of the seaman or apprentice to be
delivered and paid to him and shall thereupon give to the
master a receipt there fore and endorse under his hand upon
the agreement with the crew such particulars with respect
thereto as the Central Government may require.
(3) The receipt shall be produced by the master to the shipping
master within forty-eight hours after his arrival at his port of
destination in India.
(4) Where a seaman or apprentice dies as aforesaid and the
ship proceeds at once to a port in India without touching
and remaining as aforesaid at a port elsewhere or the Indian
consular officer does not require the delivery and payment
of the property as aforesaid, the master shall, within forty-
eight hours after his arrival at his port of destination in India,
pay and deliver the property to the shipping master at that
port.
(5) A deduction claimed by the master in such account shall
not be allowed unless verified by an entry in the official log
book, and also by such other vouchers, if any, as may be
reasonably required by the shipping master.
(6) A shipping master in India shall grant to a master upon due
compliance with such provisions of this section as relate to
acts to be done at the port of destination a certificate to that
effect.
Master to pay and 154. (1) If the master of a ship fails to comply with the provisions of
deliver property of this Act with respect to taking charge of the property of a
deceased seamen deceased seaman or apprentice, or to making in the official
log book the proper entries relating thereto, or to the payment
or delivery of such property, he shall be accountable for

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such property to the shipping master as aforesaid, and shall

pay and deliver the same accordingly.
(2) The property may be recovered in the same court and
manner in which the wages of seamen may be recovered
under this Act.
155. If any seaman or apprentice on an Indian ship, or engaged in India Property of deceased
on any other ship, the voyage of which is to terminate in India, dies seaman left abroad
at any place outside India leaving any money or effects not on but not on board ship
board the ship, the Indian consular officer at or near the place shall
claim and take charge of such money and other effects (hereinafter
referred to as the property of a deceased seaman or apprentice).
156. (1) An Indian consular officer or a shipping master to whom the Dealing with property
effects of a deceased seaman or apprentice are delivered or of deceased seaman
who takes charge of such effects under this Act may, if he
thinks fit, sell the effects, and the proceeds of any such
sale shall be deemed to form part of the property of the
deceased seaman or apprentice.
(2) Before selling any valuables comprised in the said effects,
such officer or shipping master, shall endeavour to ascertain
the wishes of the next-of-kin of the deceased seaman or
apprentice as to the disposal of such valuables and shall, if
practicable and lawful, comply with such wishes.
(3) An Indian, consular officer to whom any property of a deceased
seaman or apprentice is delivered or who takes charge of any
such property under this Act shall remit the property to the
shipping master at the port of engagement of the deceased
seaman or apprentice in such manner and shall render such
accounts in respect thereof as may be prescribed.
157. (1) Where a seaman or apprentice is lost with the ship to which Recovery of wages,
he belongs, the Central Government or such Officer as the etc., of seamen lost
Central Government may appoint in this behalf may recover with their ship
the wages and the compensation due to him from the owner,
master or agent of the ship in the same court and in the
same manner in which seaman’s wages are recoverable,
and shall deal with those wages in the same manner as
with the wages and compensation due to other deceased
seamen or apprentices under this Act.
(2) In any proceeding for the recovery of the wages and
compensation if it is shown by some official records or by
other evidence of the proceeding, left any port, she shall,
unless it is shown that sign she has been heard of within
twelve months after the departure, be deemed to have been
lost with all hands on board either immediately after the
time she was last heard of or at such later time as the court
hearing the case may think probable.

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Property seamen 158. If a seaman or apprentice dies in India and is at the time of his
drying in India death entitled to claim from the master or owner of the ship in
which he has served any effects or unpaid wages, the master,
owner or agent shall pay and deliver or account for such property
to the shipping master at the port where the seaman or apprentice
was discharged or was to have been discharged or to such other
officer as the Central Government may direct.
Payment over or 159. Where any property of a deceased seaman or apprentice is paid
property of deceased or delivered to a shipping master, the shipping master, after
seamen by shipping deducting for expenses incurred in respect of that seaman or
master apprentice or of his property 1[such sums as he thinks proper to
allow, shall pay and deliver the residue to the person nominated by
the seaman or apprentice in this behalf under section 159A and if
he has not made any such nomination or the nomination made by
him is or has become void, the shipping master may.-]
(a) pay and deliver the residue to any claimants who can prove
themselves to the satisfaction of the said shipping master
to be entitled thereto, and the said shipping master shall be
thereby discharged from all further liability in respect of the
residue so paid or delivered; or
(b) if he thinks fit so to do, require probate or letters of
administration or a certificate under the Indian Succession
Act, 1925 [39 of 1925] 2[or a certificate under section 29 of
the Administrators General Act, 1963] to be taken out, and
thereupon pay and deliver the residue to the legal
representatives of the deceased.
Nomination [159A. (1)
2
A seaman may, for the purposes of sub-section (3) of section
141 and clause (b) of section 159 and an apprentice may,
for the purposes of clause (b) of section 159, nominate any
person or persons:
Provided that if the seaman or the apprentice has a family,
he may nominate for the purposes aforesaid any one or
more members of his family only and if a seaman or an
apprentice acquires a family after he has made any such
nomination, the nomination shall become void.
(2) The form in which any nomination may be made under sub-
section (1), the cancellation or variation of any such
nomination (including the making of a fresh nomination) and
all other matters connected with such nominations shall be
such as may be prescribed.]
Disposal of un- 160. (1) Where no claim to the property of a deceased seaman or
claimed property of apprentice received by a shipping master is substantiated
deceased seamen within one year from the receipt thereof by such shipping
master, the shipping master shall cause such property to
be sold and pay the proceeds of the sale into the public
account of India.

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(2) If, after the proceeds of the sale having been so paid, any
claim is made thereto, then, if the claim is established to
the satisfaction of the shipping master, the amount or so
much thereof as shall appear to him to be due to the claimant,
shall be paid to him, and if the claim is not so established,
the claimant may apply by petition to the High Court, and
such Court, after taking evidence either orally or on affidavit,
shall make such order on the petition as shall seem just:
Provided that, after the expiration of six years from the receipt
of such property by the shipping master, no claim to such
property shall be entertained without the sanction of the
Central Government.
1
[Provided further that if, before the expiration of six years
after the proceeds of the sale have been so paid, no claim
is made thereto the amount or any part thereof may be
utilised for the welfare of seamen in such manner as the
Central Government may direct.]
161. (1) The Indian consular officer at or near the place where a Mode or providing for
seaman is in distress shall, on application being made to return of seamen to
him by the distressed seaman, provide in accordance with proper return port
the rules made under this Act for the return of that seaman
to a proper return port, and also for the said seaman’s
necessary clothing and maintenance until his arrival at such
port.
(2) A distressed seaman shall not have any right to be
maintained or sent to a proper return port except to the
extent and on the conditions provided for in the rules.
(3) All repatriation expenses, other than excepted expenses,
incurred by or on behalf of the Central Government in
accordance with the provisions of this Act shall constitute a
debt due to the Central Government for which the owner or
agent of the ship to which the seaman in respect of whom
they were incurred belonged at the time of his discharge or
other event which resulted in his becoming a distressed
seaman shall be liable; and the owner or agent shall not be
entitled to recover from the seaman any amount paid by
him to the Central Government in settlement or part
settlement of such debt.
(4) All excepted expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Central
Government in accordance with the provisions of this Act
shall constitute a debt due to the Central Government for
which the seaman in respect of whom they were incurred
and the owner or agent of the ship to which that seaman
belonged at the time of his discharge or other event which
resulted in his becoming a distressed seaman shall be jointly

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and severally liable; and the owner or agent shall be entitled

to recover from the seaman any amount paid by him to the
Central Government in settlement or part settlement of such
debt, and may apply to the satisfaction of his claim so much
as may be necessary of any wages due to the seaman.
(5) All excepted expenses incurred in accordance with the
provisions of this Act in respect of any distressed seaman
by the owner or agent of the ship to which he belonged at
the time of his discharge or other event which resulted in
his becoming a distressed seaman shall constitute a debt
due to the owner or agent for which the seaman shall be
liable; and the owner or agent may apply to the satisfaction
of his claim so much as may be necessary of any wages
due to the seaman; but he shall not be entitled to recover
from the seaman any repatriation expenses other than
excepted expenses.
(6) In any proceedings for the recovery of any expenses which
in terms of sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) are a debt due
to the Central Government, the production of an account of
the expenses and proof of payment; thereof by or on behalf
of or under the direction of the Central Government shall be
prima facie evidence that the expenses were incurred in
accordance with the provisions of this Act by or on behalf of
the Central Government.
(7) Any debt, which may be due to the Central Government under
this section, may be recovered by any officer authorized by it
in writing in this behalf from the person concerned in the same
manner, as wages are recoverable under section 145.
Mode or providing for 162. (1) A seaman may be sent to a proper return port by any reasonable
return of seamen to route either by sea or land or if necessary by air or partly by
proper return port any one and partly by any other of these modes.
(2) Provision shall be made for the return of the seaman as to
the whole of the route if it is by sea or as to any part of the
route which is by sea by placing the seaman on board an
Indian ship which is in want of men to make up its
complement, or, if that is not practicable, by providing the
seaman with a passage in any ship, Indian or foreign, or
with the money for his passage, and, as to any part of the
route which is by plan or air, by paying the expenses of his
journey and of his maintenance during the journey or
providing him with means to pay those expenses.
(3) Where the master of a ship is required under this Part to
provide for the return of a discharged seaman to a proper
return port, the master, may, instead of providing the
seaman’s passage or the expenses of his journey or of
providing the seaman with means to pay his passage or
those expenses, deposit with the proper officer such sum

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as that officer considers sufficient to defray the expenses of

the return of the seaman to a proper return port.
163. (1) The master of an Indian ship shall receive on board his ship Receiving distressed
and afford passage and maintenance to all distressed seamen on ships
seamen whom he is required by the Indian consular officer
to take on board his ship, and shall during the passage
provide every such distressed seaman with accommodation
equal to that normally provided for the crew of the ship and
subsistence, proper to the rank or rating of the said
distressed seaman.
(2) The master of a ship shall not be required to receive on
board his ship a distressed seaman in terms of this section,
if the Indian consular officer is satisfied that accommodation
is not and cannot be made available for such seaman.
164. (1) Where a distressed seaman is for the purpose of his return Provisions as to
to a proper return port placed on board an Indian ship, the taking distressed
Indian consular officer by whom the seaman is so place seamen on ships
shall endorse on the agreement with the crew of the ship
particulars of the seaman so placed on board.
(2) On the production of a certificate signed by the Indian
consular officer by whose directions any such distressed
seamen were received on board, specifying the number and
names of the distressed seamen and the time when each
of them was received on board, and on a declaration made
by the master stating the number of days during which each
distressed seaman has received subsistence and stating
the full complement of his crew and the actual number of
seamen employed on board his ship and every variation in
that number, whilst the distress seamen received
maintenance, the master shall be entitled to be paid in
respect of the subsistence and passage of every seaman
so conveyed and provided for by him, exceeding the number,
if any, wanted to make up the complement of his crew, such
sum for each day as the Central Government may by rules
made in this behalf allow.
165. In any proceeding under this Part a certificate of the Central What shall be
Government or of such officer as the Central Government may evidence of distress
specify in this behalf to the effect that any seaman named therein
is distressed shall be conclusive evidence that such seaman is
distressed within the meaning of this Act.
166. If any question arises as to what return port a seaman is to be Indian consular officer
sent in any case or as to the route by which he should be sent, to decide return port
that question shall be decided by the Indian consular officer to which or route by
concerned, and in deciding any question under this provision the which seaman is to be
Indian consular officer shall have regard both to the convenience of sent
the seaman and to the expense involved, and also, where that is
the case, to the fact that an Indian ship which is in want of men to

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make up its complement is about to proceed to a proper return

port.
Power to make rules 167. The Central Government may make rules with respect to the relief,
with respect to maintenance and return to a proper return port of seamen found in
distressed seamen distress in any place out of India and with respect to the
circumstances in which, and the conditions subject to which,
seamen may be relieved and provided with passages under this
Part, and generally to carry out the provisions of this Part relating
to distressed seamen.
Provisions, health and accommodation

Ships to have 168. (1) All Indian ships and all ships upon which seamen have been
sufficient provisions engaged shall have on board sufficient provisions and water
and water of good quality and fit for the use of the crew on the scale
specified in the agreement with the crew.
(2) If any person making an inspection under section 176 finds
the provisions or water to be of bad quality and unfit for use
or deficient in quantity, he shall signify it in writing to the
master of the ship, and may, if he thinks fit, detain the ship
until the defects are remedied to his satisfaction.
(3) The master shall not use any provisions or water so signified
to be of bad quality and shall in lieu of such provisions or
water; provide other proper provisions or water and he shall,
if the provisions or water be signified to be deficient in quality,
procedure the requisite quantity of any provisions or water
to cover the deficiency.
(4) The person making the inspection shall enter a statement
of the result of the inspection in the official log book, and
shall, if he is not the shipping master, send a report thereof
to the shipping master and that report shall be admissible
in evidence in any legal proceeding.
(5) If the inspection was made in pursuance of a request by the
members of the crew and the person making the inspection
certifies in the statement of the result of the inspection that
the complaint was false and either frivolous or vexatious,
every member of the crew who made the request shall be
liable to forfeit to the owner out of his wages a sum not
exceeding one week’s wages.
(6) The master of the ship and any other person having charge
of any provisions or water liable to inspection under this
section shall give the person making the inspection every
reasonable facility for the purpose.
Allowances for short 169. (1) In either of the following cases, that is to say, -
or bad provisions
(a) if during the voyage the allowance of any of the
provisions for which a seaman has by his agreement
stipulated is reduced, or

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(b) if it is shown that any of those provisions are or have

during the voyage been bad in quality or unfit for use.
the seamen shall receive by way of compensation for that
reduction or bad quality according to the time of its
continuance, sums in accordance with such scale as may
be prescribed, to be paid to him in addition to, and to be
recoverable as, wages.
(2) If it is shown to the satisfaction of the court before which the
case is tried that any provisions, the allowance of which
has been reduced, could not be procured or supplied in
proper quantities, and that proper and equivalent substitutes
were supplied in lieu thereof, the court shall take those
circumstances into consideration in making an order.
170. (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, Foreign going Indian
by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, every foreign- ship to carry duly
going Indian ship of such tonnage as may be prescribed certificated cook
shall be provided with, and shall carry, a cook duly
certificated under this Act.
(2) The Central Government may make rules specifying the
qualifications, experience or sea service which may be
required from persons who wish to obtain certificates of
competency as cooks under this Act, and the conditions
under which any such certificate may be granted, cancelled
or suspended.
171. The master of a ship shall keep on board proper weights and Weights and mea-
measures for determining the quantities of the several provisions sures on board
and articles served out and shall allow the same to be used at
time of serving out the provisions and articles in the presence of
witness whenever any dispute arises about the quantities.
172. (1) The owner of every ship of over five hundred tons gross shall Beddings, towels,
supply or cause to be supplied to every seaman for his medicines, medical
personal use, bedding, towels, mess utensils and other stores, etc., to be
articles according to such scale as may be prescribed; and provided and kept on
different scales may be prescribed in respect of different board certain ships
classes of ships.
(2) All foreign-going Indian ships and all home-trade ships of
two hundred tons gross or more shall have always on guard
a sufficient supply of medicines, medical stores, appliances
and first-aid equipment suitable for disease and accidents
likely to occur on voyages according to such scale as may
be prescribed.
(3) It shall be the duty of the port health officer or such other
person as the Central Government may appoint in this behalf
to inspect the medicines, medical stores and appliances
with which a ship is required to be provided.

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Certain ships to carry 173. (1) Every foreign-going ship carrying more than the prescribed
medical officer number of persons (including the crew), shall have on boards
part of her complement a medical officer possessing such
qualifications as may be prescribed.
(2) Nothing in this section shall apply to a special trade
passenger ship or a pilgrim ship.
Expenses of medical 174. (1) If the master of an Indian ship, or a seaman or apprentice,
attendance in case of receives any hurt or injury or suffers from any illness (not
illness being a hurt, injury or illness due to his own willful act or
default or to his own misbehavior), resulting in his being
discharged or left behind at a place other than his proper
return port, the expenses of providing the necessary surgical
and medical advice, attendance and treatment and medicine,
and also the expenses of the maintenance of the master,
seaman or apprentice until he is cured, or dies, or is brought
back to the port from which he was shipped or other port
agreed upon after receiving the necessary medical
treatment, and of his conveyance to that port, and in case
of death, the expenses, if any, of his burial or cremation
shall be defrayed by the owner of the ship without any
deduction on that account from his wages.
(2) If the master, seaman or apprentice is on account of any
illness or injury temporarily removed from his ship, at a port
other than his proper return port, for the purpose of preventing
infection, or otherwise for the convenience of the ship, and
subsequently returns to his duty, the expenses of removal
and of providing the necessary surgical and medical advice,
attendance and treatment and medicine and of his
maintenance while away from the ship, shall be defrayed in
like manner.
(3) The expenses of all medicines, and surgical and medical
advice, attendance and treatment, given to a master, seaman
or apprentice while on board his ship, shall be defrayed in
like manner.
(4) In all other cases any reasonable expenses duly incurred
by the owner for any master, seaman or apprentice in respect
of illness, shall, if proved to the satisfaction of the Indian
consular officer or a shipping master, be deducted from the
wages of the master, seaman or apprentice.
(5) Where any expenses referred to in this section have been
paid by the master, seaman or apprentice himself, the same
may be recovered as if they were wages duly earned, and,
if any such expenses are paid by the Government, the
amount shall be a charge upon the ship and may be
recovered with full costs of suit by the Central Government.

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175 (1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of Accommodation for
previous publication, make rules with respect to the crew seamen
accommodation to be provided in ships of any class specified
in the rules.
following matters, namely:
(a) the minimum space for each person which must be
provided in any ship to which the rules apply by way of
sleeping accommodation for seamen and apprentices
and the maximum number of persons by whom any
specified part of such sleeping accommodation may
be used;
(b) the position in any such ship in which the crew
accommodation or any part thereof may be located
and the standards to be observed in the construction,
equipment and furnishing of any such accommodation;
(c) the submission to such authority as may be specified in
this behalf of plans and specifications of any works
proposed to be carried out for the provision or alteration
of any such accommodation and the authorisation of that
authority to inspect any such works;
(d) the maintenance and repair of any such accommodation
and the prohibition or restriction of the use of any such
accommodation for purposes other than those for which
it is designed;
(e) the manner as to how ships registered or under
construction at the commencement of any rules made
under this section may be dealt with after such
commencement;
1
[(f) the fees that may be levied for the survey or inspection
of crew spaces and for scrutiny of plans of crew
accommodation spaces and the manner in which such
fees may be collected;]
and such rules may make different provisions in respect of
different classes of ships and in respect of crew
accommodation provided for different classes of persons.
(3) If any person making an inspection under section 176 finds
that the crew accommodation is insanitary or is not in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, he shall signify it
in writing to the master of the ship and may, if he thinks fit,
detain the ship until the defects are remedied to his
satisfaction.

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Explanation: In this section, the expression “crew

accommodation’’ includes sleeping rooms, mess rooms,
sanitary accommodation, hospital accommodation,
recreation accommodation, store rooms and catering
accommodation provided for the use of seamen and
apprentices, not being accommodation which is also used
by, or provided for the use of passengers.
Inspection by ship- 176. A shipping master, surveyor, seamen’s welfare officer, port health
ping master, etc., of officer, Indian consular officer or any other officer at any port duly
provisions, water, authorised in this behalf by the Central Government
weights and mea- (a) in the case of any ship upon which seamen have been
sures and accommo- shipped at that port, may at any time, and
dation
(b) in the case of any Indian ship, may at any time, and if the
master or three or more of the crew so request, shall, enter
on board the ship and inspect-
(i) the provisions and water,
(ii) the weights and measures,
(iii) the accommodation for seamen,
with which the ship is required to be provided by or under
this Act and also the space and equipment used for the
storage and handling of food and water and the galley and
other equipment used for the preparation and service of
meals.
Inspection by master 177. The master of an Indian ship which is at sea shall, at least once in
of provisions, water every ten days, cause an inspection to be made of the provisions
and accommodation and water provided for the use of the seamen and apprentices and
at sea the crew accommodation, for the purpose of ascertaining whether
the same are being maintained in accordance with the requirements
of this Act, and the person making the inspection shall enter a
statement of the result of the inspection in a book specially kept
for the purpose.
Power to make rules [177A. (1)
1
The Central Government may having regard to the provisions
to prevent accidents of the Convention concerning the Prevention of Occupational
etc. Accidents to Seafarers adopted by the General Conference
of the International Labour Organisation on the 30th day of
October 1970, make rules so as to ensure safe working
conditions for Indian ships and for preventing accidents and
different rules may be made for different classes of ships
and for ships of the same class in different circumstances.
foregoing powers, such rules may provide for all or any of
the following matters, namely: -
(a) the manner in which any equipment or gear may be
maintained, inspected or tested and conditions as to
such maintenance, inspection and testing;

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(b) the manner in which the use of any material or process

shall be regulated for the manufacture of any such
equipment or gear;
(c) the provision on safe means of access to such
equipment or gear for the use of seamen and provision
of protective clothing for seamen where necessary;
(d) restriction on the hours of employment of seamen in
any specified operation or under any specified
circumstances; and
(e) the manner and form in which and the persons to whom
any accident occurring on board a ship shall be
reported.]
Special provisions for the protection of seamen
in respect of litigation
178. A seaman shall, for the purposes of these provisions, be deemed to Meaning of serving
be a serving seaman during any period commencing on the date of seaman
the agreement with the crew and ending thirty days after the date on
which the seaman is finally discharged from such agreement.
179. (1) If any person presenting any plaint, application or appeal to Particulars to be
any court has reason to believe that any adverse party is a furnished in plaints,
serving seaman, he shall make a statement accordingly in etc.
the plaint, application or appeal.
(2) If any collector has reason to believe that any seamen who
ordinarily resides or has property in his district and who is a
party to any proceeding pending before any court is unable
to appear therein or is a serving seaman, the collector may
certify the facts to the court.
180. (1) If a collector has certified under sub-section (2) of section Notice to be given in
179, or if a court has reason to believe that a seaman who case of unrepre-
is a party to any proceeding before the court, is unable to sented seaman
appear therein or is a serving seaman, the court shall
suspend the proceeding and shall give notice thereof to the
shipping master:
Provided that the court may refrain from suspending the
proceeding and giving the notice-
(a) if the proceeding is one instituted or made by the
seaman, alone or conjointly with others, with the object
of enforcing a right of pre-emotion, or
(b) if the interests of the seaman in the proceeding are, in
the opinion of the court, either identical with those of
any other party thereto and adequately represented
by such other party, or merely of a formal nature.
(2) If it appears to the court before which any proceeding is
pending that a seaman though not a party to the proceeding

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is materially concerned in the outcome of the proceeding

and that his interests are likely to be prejudiced by his
inability to attend, the court may suspend the proceeding
and shall give notice thereof to the shipping master.
(3) If on receipt of a notice under sub-section (1) or sub-section
(2), the shipping master certifies to the court, that the
seaman is a serving seaman, the court shall thereupon
postpone the proceeding in respect of the seaman for such
period as it thinks fit;
Provided that if by reason of the continued absence of the
seaman the question of any further postponement of the
proceeding in respect of the seaman arises, the court shall
in deciding the question have regard to the purposes of the
provisions of this Act conferring special protection on seaman
in respect of litigation.
(4) If the shipping master either certifies that the seaman is not
for the time being a serving seaman or fails within two months
from the date of the receipt of the notice under sub-section
(1) or sub-section (2), as the, case may be, to certify that
the seaman is a serving seaman, the court may, if it thinks
fit, continue the proceeding.
Power to set aside 181. (1) Where in any proceeding before a court, a decree or order
decrees and orders has been passed against any seaman while he was a serving
passed against seaman, the seaman, or if he dies while he is a serving
serving seaman seaman, his legal representative, may apply to the said
court to have the decree or order set aside, and if the court,
after giving an opportunity to the opposite party of being
heard, is satisfied that the interests of justice require that
the decree or order should be set aside as against the
seaman, the court shall subject to such conditions, if any,
as it thinks fit to impose, make an order accordingly, and
may, if it appears that any opposite party in the proceeding
has failed to comply with the provisions of sub-section (1) of
section 179, award, subject to such conditions as it thinks
fit to impose, damages against such opposite party.
(2) The period of limitation for an application under sub-section
(1) shall be sixty days from the date on which the seaman
first ceases to be a serving seaman after the passing of the
decree or order, or where the summons or notice was not
duly served on the seaman in the proceeding in which the
decree or order was passed, from the date on which the
applicant had know ledge of the decree or order, whichever
is later; and the provisions of section 5 of the Indian Limitation
Act, 1908, [ 9 of 1908 ] shall apply to such applications.
(3) Where the decree or order in respect of which an applications
under sub-section (1) is made is of such a nature that it

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cannot be set aside as against the seaman only, it may be

set aside as against all or any of the parties against whom
it was made.
(4) Where a court sets aside a decree or order under this section,
it shall appoint a day for proceeding with the suit, appeal or
application, as the case may be, in respect of which the
decree or order was passed.
182. In computing the period of limitation provided in the foregoing Modification of law of
provisions or in the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 [9 of 1908], or in limitation where
any other law for the time being in force, for any suit, appeal or seaman is a party
application to a court to which a seaman is a party, the period or
periods during which the seaman has been a serving seaman, and
if the seaman has died while he was a serving seaman, the period
from the date of his death to the date on which his next-of-kin was
first informed, by the shipping master or otherwise, of his death,
shall be excluded:
Provided that this section shall not apply in the case of any suit,
appeal or application instituted or made with the object of enforcing
a right of pre-emotion except in such areas and in such
circumstances as the Central Government may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, specify in this behalf.
183. If any court is in doubt whether, for the purposes of section 180 or Reference in matters
section 181, a seaman is or was at any particular time or during of doubt to shipping
any are period a serving seaman, it may refer the question to the masters
shipping master, and the certificate of the shipping master shall
be conclusive evidence on the question.
Provisions for the protection of seamen in respect
of other matters
184. If a seaman or apprentice states to the master that he desires to Facilities for making
make a complaint to 1[a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or a complaints
Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,] or other proper
officer against the master or any of the crew, the master shall, -
(a) if the ship is then at a place where there is 1[a Judicial
Magistrate of the first class or a Metropolitan Magistrate,
as the case may be,] or other proper officer, as soon after
such statement as the service of the ship will permit, and
(b) if the ship is not then at such place, as soon after her first
arrival at such place as the service of the ship will permit,
allow the complainant to go ashore or send him ashore under
proper protection so that he may be enabled to make the
complaint.
185. Subject to the provisions of this Act, an assignment of salvage Assignment or sale
payable to a seaman or apprentice made prior to the accruing of salvage invalid

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thereof shall not bind the person making the same, and a power-
of-attorney or authority for the receipt of any such salvage shall
not be irrevocable.
Not debt revocerable 186. A debt incurred by any seaman after he has engaged to serve
till end of voyage shall not be recoverable until the service agreed for is concluded.
Seamen’s property 187. (1) Any person who receives or takes into his possession or
not to be detained under his control any money or other property of a seaman
or apprentice shall return the same or pay the value thereof
when required by the seaman or appren tice subject to
deduction of such amounts as may be justly due to him
from the seaman or apprentice in respect of board or lodging
or otherwise.
(2) Where 1[a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or a Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be,] imposes a fine for a
contravention of this section, he may direct the amount of such
money or the value of the property subject to such deduction
as aforesaid, if any, or the property itself to be forthwith paid or
delivered to the seaman or apprentice.
Prohibition against 188. No person shall, while a ship is at any port or place in India -
Solicitation by
(a) solicit a seaman or apprentice to become a lodger at the
lodging house
house of any person letting lodging for hire; or
keepers
(b) take out of ship any property of the seaman or apprentice
except under the direction of the seaman or apprentice and
sit the permission of the master.
Ship not to be 189. Where a ship has arrived at a port or place in India at the end of a
boarded without voyage and any person, not being in the service of the Government or
permission before not being duly authorised by law for the purpose, goes on board the
seamen leave ship without the permission of the master before the seamen lawfully
leave the ship at the end of their engagement or are discharged
(whichever happens last), the master of the ship may take such person
into custody and deliver him up forthwith to a police officer to be taken
before 1[a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or a Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be,] to be dealt with according to the
provisions of this Act.
Provisions as to discipline
Misconduct endan- 190. No master, seaman or app rentice belonging to an Indian ship
gering life or ship wherever it may be, or to any other ship, while in India, shall
knowingly -
(a) do anything tending to the immediate loss or destruction of,
or serious damage to, the ship, or tending immediately to
endanger the life of, or to cause injury to any person
belonging to or on board the ship; or

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(b) refuse or omit to do any lawful act proper and requisite to be

done by him for preserving the ship from immediate loss,
destruction or serious damage, or for preserving any person
belonging to or on board the ship from danger to life or from
injury.
191. (1) No seaman lawfully engaged and no apprentice Desertion and
absence without
(a) shall desert his ship; or
leave
(b) shall neglect or refuse, without reasonable cause, to
join the ship or to proceed to sea in his ship or be
absent without leave at any time within twenty-four
hours of the ship’s sailing from a port either at the
commencement or during the progress of a voyage, or
be absent at any time without leave and without
sufficient reason from his ship or from his duty.
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1), the fact that ship on
which the seaman or apprentice is engaged or to which he
belongs is unseaworthy shall be deemed to be a reasonable
cause:
Provided that the seaman or apprentice has, before failing
or refusing to join his ship or to proceed to sea in his ship or
before absenting himself or being absent from the ship, as
the case may be, complained to the master or a shipping
master, surveyor, seamen’s welfare officer, port health officer,
Indian consular officer or any other officer at any port duly
authorised in this behalf by the Central Government, that
the ship is unseaworthy.
192. If it is shown to the satisfaction of a proper officer that a seaman Power to suspend
has deserted his ship or has absented himself without leave and deserter’s certificate
without sufficient reason from his ship or from his duty, the proper of discharge
officer shall forthwith make a report to that effect to the Director-
General who may thereupon direct that the seaman’s certificate of
discharge or continuous certificate of discharge shall be withheld
for such period as may be specified in the direction.
193. (1) If a seaman or apprentice deserts his ship or is absent Conveyance of
without leave and without sufficient reason from his ship or deserter or impris-
from his duty, the master, any mate, the owner or agent of oned seaman on
the owner of the ship may, without prejudice to any other board ship
action that may be taken against the seaman or apprentice
under this Act, convey him on board his ship and may for
that purpose cause to be used such force as may be
reasonable in the circumstances of the case.
(2) If, either at the commencement or during the progress of
any voyage, a seaman or apprentice engaged in an Indian
ship commits outside India, the offence of desertion or
absence without leave or any offence against discipline, the
master, any mate, the owner or agent of the owner may, if

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and so far as the laws in force in the place will permit, arrest
him without first procuring warrant.
(3) No person shall convey on board or arrest a seaman or
apprentice on improper or insufficient grounds.
(4) Where a seaman or apprentice is brought before a court on
the ground of desertion or of absence without leave or of
any offence against discipline, and the master or the owner,
or his agent, so requires, the court, may, in lieu of committing
and sentencing him for the offence, cause him to be conveyed
on board his ship for the purpose of proceeding on the
voyage, or deliver him to the master or any mate of the ship
or the owner or his agent, to be by them so conveyed, and
may in such case order any costs and expenses properly
incurred by or on behalf of the master or owner by reason of
the conveyance to be paid by the offender and, if necessary,
to be deducted from any wages which he has then earned
or by virtue of his then existing engagements may afterwards
be earned.
General offences 194. A seaman lawfully engaged or an apprentice shall be guilty of an
against discipline offence against discipline if he commits any of the following acts,
namely:
(a) if he quits the ship without leave after her arrival at her port
of delivery and before she is placed in security;
(b) if he is guilty of willful disobedience to any lawful command
or neglect of duty;
(c) if he is guilty of continued willful disobedience to lawful
commands or continued willful neglect of duty;
(d) if he assaults the master or any other 1[officer of, or a seaman
or an apprentice belonging to the ship];
(e) if he combines with any of the crew to disobey lawful
commands or to neglect duty or to impede the navigation of
the ship or retard the progress of the voyage;
(f) if he willfully damages his ship or commits criminal
misappropriation or breach of trust in respect of, or willfully
damages any of, her stores or cargo.
Smuggling of goods 195. (1) If a seaman lawfully engaged or an apprentice is convicted
by seamen or of an offence of smuggling any goods whereby loss or
apprentices damage is occasioned to the master or owner of the ship,
he shall be liable to pay to that master or owner a sum
sufficient to reimburse the loss or damage and the whole or
a part of his wages may be retained in satisfaction on account
of that liability without prejudice to any other remedy.
(2) If a seaman lawfully engaged is convicted of an offence of
smuggling opium, hemp or any other narcotic drug or

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narcotic, the Director-General may direct that the seaman’s

certificate of discharge or continuous certificate of discharge
shall be cancelled or shall be suspended for such period as
may be specified in the direction.
196. If any offence within the meaning of this Act of desertion or absence Entry of offences in
without leave or against discipline is committed, or if any act of official logs
misconduct is committed for which the offender’s agreement
imposes a fine and it is intended to enforce the fine,
(a) an entry of the offence or act shall be made in the official log
book and signed by the master, the mate and one of the
crew; and
(b) the offender, if still in the ship, shall, before the next
subsequent arrival of the ship at any port, or, if she is at the
time in port, before her departure therefrom, be furnished
with a copy of the entry and have the same read over
distinctly and audibly to him and may thereupon make such
reply thereto as he thinks fit; and
(c) a statement of a copy of the entry having been so furnished
and the entry having been so read over and the reply, if any,
made by the offender shall likewise be entered and signed
in manner aforesaid; and
(d) in any subsequent legal proceedings the entries by this
section required shall, if practicable, be produced or proved,
and, in default of such production or proof, the court hearing
the case may in its discretion, refuse to receive evidence of
the offence or act of misconduct.
197. Whenever any seaman engaged outside India on an Indian ship Report of desertions
deserts or otherwise absents himself in India without leave, the and absences without
master of the ship shall, within forty-eight hours of discovering leave
such desertion or absence, report the same to the shipping master
or to such other officer as the Central Government specifies in this
behalf, unless in the meantime, the deserter or absentee returns.
198. (1) In every case of desertion from an Indian ship whilst such Entries and certifi-
ship is at any place out of India, the master shall produce cates of desertion
the entry of desertion in the official log book to the Indian abroad
consular officers at the place, and that officer shall thereupon
make and certify a copy of the entry.
(2) The master shall forthwith transmit such copy to the shipping
master at the port at which the seaman or apprentice was
shipped, and the shipping master shall, if required, cause the
same to be produced in any legal proceeding.
(3) Such copy, if purporting to be so made and certified as
aforesaid, shall, in any legal proceeding relating to such
desertion, be admissible in evidence.

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Facilities for proving 199. (1) Whenever a question arises whether the wages of any
desertion in seaman or apprentice are forfeited for desertion from a ship,
proceedings for it shall be sufficient for the person insisting on the forfeiture
forfeiture of wages to show that the seaman or apprentice was duly engaged in
or belonged to the ship, and either that he left the ship before
the completion of the voyage or engagement or, if the voyage
was to terminate in India and the ship has not returned, that
he is absent from her and that an entry of his desertion has
been duly made in the official log book
(2) The desertion shall thereupon, so far as relates to any forfeiture
of wages under this part, be deemed to be proved, unless the
seaman or apprentice can produce a proper certificate of
discharge or can otherwise show to the satisfaction of the
court that he had sufficient reasons for leaving his ship.
Application of 200. (1) Where any wages or other property are under this Act forfeited
forfeitures for desertion from a ship, they shall be applied towards
reimbursing the expenses caused by the desertion to the
master or the owner of the ship, and subject to that
reimbursement, shall be paid to the Central Government.
(2) For the purposes of such reimbursement the master or the
owner or his agent may, if the wages are earned subsequent
to the desertion, recover them in the same manner as the
deserter could have recovered them if not forfeited; and the
court in any legal proceeding relating to such wages may
order them to be paid accordingly.
Decision of questions 201. Any question concerning the forfeiture of or deductions from the
of forfeiture and wages of a seaman or apprentice may be determined in any
deduction in suits for proceeding lawfully instituted with respect to those wages,
wages notwithstanding that the offence in respect of which the question
arises, though by this Act made punishable by imprisonment as
well as forfeiture. has not been made the subject of any criminal
proceeding.
Payment of fines 202. (1) Every fine imposed on a seaman for any act of misconduct
imposed under under his agreement shall be deducted and paid over as
agreement to ship- follows, namely: -
ping master
(a) if the offender is discharged at any port or place in
India and the offence and such entries in respect thereof
as aforesaid are proved to the satisfaction of the
shipping master before whom the offender is
discharged, the master or owner shall deduct such
fine from the wages of the offender and pay the same
over to such shipping master; and
(b) if the seaman is discharged at any port or place outside
India and the offence and such entries as aforesaid
are proved to the satisfaction of the Indian consular
officer, by whose sanction he is so discharged, the

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fine shall thereupon be deducted as aforesaid, and an

entry of such deduction shall then be made in the official
log book, if any, and signed by such officer and on the
return of the ship to India, the master or owner shall
pay over such fine to the shipping master before whom
the crew is discharged.
(2) An act of misconduct for which any such fine has been
inflicted and paid shall not be otherwise punishable under
the provisions of this Act.
(3) The proceeds of all fines received by a shipping master under
this section shall be utilised for the welfare of seamen in
such manner as the Central Government may direct.
203. No person shall by any means whatever persuade or attempt to Seaman or appren-
persuade a seaman or apprentice to neglect or refuse to join or tice not to be enticed
proceed to sea in or desert from his ship, or otherwise to absent to desert
himself from his duty.
204. No person shall harbour or secrete a seaman or apprentice who Deserters not to be
has willfully neglected or refused to join or has deserted from his harboured
ship, knowing or having reason to believe the seaman or apprentice
to have so done.
1
[Provided that the provisions of this section shall not extend to
the case in which the harbour or secreting is by the spouse of the
seaman or apprentice.]
205. (1) No person shall secrete himself and go to sea in a ship Stowaways and
without the consent of either the owner, agent or master, or seamen carried under
of a mate, or of the person in charge of the ship or of any compulsion
other person entitled to give that consent.
(2) Every seafaring person whom the master of a ship is under
the authority of this Act or any other law compelled to take
on board and convey and every person who goes to sea in a
ship without such consent as aforesaid, shall, so long as
he remains in the ship, be subject to the same laws and
regulations for preserving discipline and to the same fines
and punishments for offences constituting or tending to a
breach of discipline as if he were a member of, and has
signed the agreement with, the crew.
(3) The master of any Indian ship arriving at any port or place in
or outside India and the master of any ship other than an
Indian ship arriving at any port or place in India shall, if any
person has gone to sea on that ship without the consent
referred to in sub-section (1), report the fact in writing to the
proper officer as soon as may be after arrival of the ship.
1 Added by MS (Amend.) Act 1984

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Procedure where 206. If any seaman engaged outside India is imprisoned on complaint
seaman not shipped made by or on behalf of the master or owner of the ship or for any
in India is imprisoned offence for which he has been sentenced to imprisonment for a
on complaint of term not exceeding one month, then -
master or owner (a) While such imprisonment lasts, no person shall, without
the previous sanction in writing of the Central Government
or of such officer as it may specify in this behalf, engage in
India any person to serve as a substitute for such seaman
on board the ship; and
(b) the Central Government or such officer as it may specify in
this behalf may tender such seaman to the master or owner
of the ship in which he is engaged to serve, and if such
master or owner, without assigning reasons satisfactory to
the Central Government or to such officer as aforesaid,
refuses to receive him on board, may require such master
or owner to deposit in the local shipping office
(i) the wages due to such seaman and his money and
other property; and
(ii) such sum as may, in the opinion of the Central
Government or such officer as aforesaid, be sufficient
to defray the cost of the passage of such seaman to
the port at which he was shipped according to the
scale of costs usual in the case distressed seamen.
Power to send on 207. If any seaman engaged outside India is imprisoned for any offence
board seaman not for which he has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term not
shipped in India who exceeding three months, and if during such imprisonment and before
is under going his engagement is at an end his services are required on board his
imprisonment ship, any magistrate may, at the request of the master or owner or
his agent, cause the seaman to be conveyed on board the ship for
the purpose of proceeding on the voyage or to be delivered to the
master or any mate of the ship or to the owner or his agent to be by
them so conveyed, notwithstanding that the period for which he
was sentenced to imprisonment has not terminated.
On change of master, 208. (1) If during the progress of a voyage the master of any Indian
documents to be ship is removed or superseded or for any other reason quits
handed over to the ship and is succeeded in the command by some other
successor person, he shall, deliver to his successor the various
documents relating to the navigation of the ship and the
crew thereof which are in his custody.
(2) Such successor shall immediately on assuming the
command of the ship enter in the official log book a list of
the documents so delivered to him.
Transmission of 209. Where a seaman is transferred under his agreement from one ship
documents on to another, the master of the ship from which the seaman is
transfer of seaman transferred shall, as soon as practicable, transmit to the master of
from one ship to the other ship all documents in his possession relating to the
another seaman.

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210. (1) The master of a ship shall not discharge at any place in Leaving behind in
India, a seaman or apprentice engaged outside India unless India of seaman or
he previously obtains the sanction in writing of such officer apprentice engaged
as the Central Government appoints in this behalf; but such abroad
sanction shall not be refused when the seaman or apprentice
is discharged on the termination of his service.
(2) Subject to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the
sanction under that sub-section shall be given or withheld
at the discretion of the officer so appointed, but whenever it
is withheld, the reasons for so withholding it shall be recorded
by him.
211. (1) Where it appears to the Central Government that due Deserters from
facilities are or will be given by the Government of any country foreign ships
outside India for recovering and apprehending seamen who
desert from Indian ships in that country, the Central
stating that such facilities are or will be given, declare that
this section shall apply to seamen belonging to ships of
such country, subject to such limitations or conditions as
may be specified in the notification.
(2) Where this section applies to seamen belonging to ships of
any country and a seaman deserts from any such ship,
when within India, any court that would have had cognizance
of the matter if the seaman or apprentice had deserted from
an Indian ship shall, on the application of a consular officer
of that country, aid in apprehending the deserter and for that
purpose may, on information given on oath, issue a warrant
for his apprehension and on proof of the desertion order him
to be conveyed on board his ship or delivered to the master
or mate of his ship or to the owner of the ship or his agent to
be so conveyed and any such warrant or order may be
executed accordingly.
Official Logs
212. (1) An official log shall be kept in the prescribed form in every Official logs to be
Indian ship except a home-trade ship of less than two hundred kept and to be dated
tons gross.
(2) The official log may, at the discretion of the master or owner,
be kept distinct from or united with the ordinary ship’s log
so that in all cases the spaces in the official log book be
duly filled up.
213. (1) An entry required by this Act in the official log book shall be Entries in official log
made as soon as possible after the occurrence to which it books how and when
relates, and, if not made on the same day as that occurrence, to be made
shall be made and dated so as to show the date of the
occurrence and of the entry respecting it and if made in
respect of an occurrence happening before the arrival of the

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ship at her final port of discharge, shall not be made more

than twenty-four hours after that arrival.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, every entry in the
official log book shall be signed by the master and by the
mate or some other member of the crew and also
(a) if it is an entry of injury or death, shall be signed by the
medical officer on board, if any; and
(b) if it is an entry of wages due to or the property of a
seaman or apprentice who dies, shall be signed by
the mate and by some member of the crew besides
the master.
(3) Every entry made in an official logbook in the manner
provided by this Act shall be admissible in evidence.
Entries Required to 214. (1) The master of a ship for which an official log is required
be made in official shall enter or cause to be entered in the official logbook the
log books following matters, namely:-
(a) every conviction by a legal tribunal of a member of his
crew and the punishment inflicted;
(b) every offence committed by a member of his crew for
which it is intended to prosecute or to enforce a forfeiture
or exact a fine, together with such statement
concerning the reading over of that entry and
concerning the reply (if any) made to the charge as is
by this Act required;
(c) every offence for which punishment is inflicted on board
and the punishment inflicted;
(d) a report on the quality of work of each member of his
crew, or a statement that the master declines to give
an opinion thereon with a statement of his reasons for
so declining;
(e) every case of illness, hurt or injury happening to a
member of the crew with the nature thereof and the
medical treatment adopted (if any);
(f) every case of death happening on board and the cause
thereof, together with such particulars as may be
prescribed;
(g) every birth happening on board, with the sex of the
infant, the names of the parents and such other
particulars as may be prescribed;
(h) every marriage taking place on board with the names
and ages of the parties;
(i) the name of every seaman or apprentice who ceases
to be a member of the crew otherwise than by death,
with the place, time, manner and cause thereof;
(j) the wages due to any seaman or apprentice who dies

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during the voyage and the gross amount of all

deductions to be made therefrom;
(k) the money or other property taken over of any seaman
or apprentice who dies during the voyage;
(l) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed for
entry in the official log.
(2) The master of every such ship, upon its arrival at any port in
India or at such other time and place as the Central
Government may with respect to any ship or class of ships
direct, shall deliver or transmit, in such form as the Director-
General may specify, a return of the facts recorded by him
in respect of the birth of a child, or the death of a person on
board the ship to the Director-General.
(3) (a) The Director-General shall send a certified copy of such
of the returns received by him under sub-section (2)
as relate to citizens of India, to such officer as may be
specified in this behalf by the central Government; and
such officer shall cause the same to be preserved in
such manner as may be specified in this behalf by the
Central Government.
(b) Every such copy shall be deemed to be a certified
copy of the entry with respect to the person concerned,
registered under any law in force for the time being
relating to the registration of births and deaths.
215. (1) An official log book shall be kept in the manner required by Offences in respect
this Act, and an entry directed by this Act to be made therein of official logs
shall be made at the time and in the manner directed by
this Act.
(2) No person shall make or procure to be made or assist in
making any entry in any official logbook in respect of any
occurrence happening previously to the arrival of the ship at
her final port of discharge more than twenty-four hours after
such arrival.
216. The master of every ship for which an official log book is required Delivery of official
to be kept under this Act shall, within forty-eight hours after the logs to shipping
ship’s arrival at her final port of destination in India or upon the masters
discharge of the crew, whichever first happens, deliver the official
log book of the voyage to the shipping master before whom the
crew is discharged.
217. (1) If for any reason the official log ceases to be required in Official logs to be
respect of an Indian ship, the master or owner of the ship sent to shipping
shall, if the ship is then in India within one month, and if she master in case of
is elsewhere within six months, after the cessation, deliver transfer of ship or
or transmit to the shipping master at the port to which the loss
ship belonged the official log book duly completed up to the
time of cessation.

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(2) If a ship is lost or abandoned, the master or owner thereof

shall, if practicable and as soon as possible, deliver or
transmit to the shipping master at her port of registry the
official log book, duly completed up to the time of the loss
or abandonment.
National Welfare Board for Seafarers

Functions of National 218. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the official
Welfare Board for Gazette, constitute an advisory board to be called the
Seafarers National Welfare Board for Seafarers (hereinafter referred to
as the Board) for the purpose of advising the Central
Government on the measures to be taken for promoting the
welfare of seamen (whether ashore or on board ship)
generally and in particular the following:-
(a) the establishment of hostels or boarding and lodging
houses for seamen;
(b) the establishment of clubs, canteens, libraries and
other like amenities for the benefit of seamen,
(c) the establishment of hospitals for seamen or the
provision of medical treatment for seamen;
(d) the provision of educational and other facilities for
seamen.
(2) The Central Government may make rules providing for
(a) the composition of the Board and the term of office of
members thereof;
(b) the procedure to be followed in the conduct of business
by the Board;
(c) the traveling and other allowances payable to members
of Board;
(d) the levy of fees payable by owner of ships at such
rates as may be prescribed (which may be at different
rates for different classes of ships) for the purpose of
providing amenities to seamen and for taking other
measures for the welfare of seamen;
(e) the procedure by which any such fees may be
collected or recovered and the manner in which the
proceeds of such fees, after deduction of the cost of
collection, shall be utilised for the purpose specified
in clause (d).

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PART VII – Commentary
Part VII extending from Section 88 to Section 218 deals with seamen and apprentices
especially with respect to the classification of seamen; prescription1 of minimum manning scale;
education, training and issuance of certificate to seamen, forms, contents and terms of the engagement
and discharge of crew including, payment of wages, their right to wages, dispute between seamen
and employers, provisions for property of deceased seamen and apprentices, distressed seamen,
provisions for health and accommodation, protection of seamen in case of litigation and other matters,
provision regarding matters of discipline, duties of Shipping Master, business of Seamen’s employment
offices and function of National Welfare Board for seafarers, provisions for rule making powers for
imposition of the Board, term of office of members, procedure for conduct of business, levy of fee for
providing amenities to seamen and procedure for collection and recovery of levied fee.
Further, where agreement is made outside Indian territory, the MS Act 1958 also covers
recognition of seamen who are not Indian nationals or seamen who are citizens of India and who hold
a Certificate of Discharge or Continuous Certificate of Discharge issued under this Act.2 In the course
of time, shipowners focussing on earning more profit and incurring lesser expenses devised
competitiveness of employment pivoting around lesser wages and low quality conditions of employment
on board the vessel. This led to the employment process becoming more flexible and with lesser
accountability.
Working towards achieving uniformly acceptable standards of qualifications of seamen and

their safe working conditions, which in turn affects the safe navigation of ships/vessels, international
organisations like the International Labour Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the like
have worked together with International Maritime Organisation in developing acceptable norms, which
are uniformly observable and implementable by all the maritime nations of the world.3 The result of
their joint efforts include development of strategies ensuring safety, health and providing appropriate
environment/conditions of work on board the vessel. One of such instances is the development and
implementation of rules /norms governing Recruitment and Placement Service Providers.4
In order to bring in accountability and responsibility with regard to the recruitment and
placement service providers, the MS Act 1958 has specifically laid down that right from the appointment
of apprentices in sea service to the recruitment of seamen, it is mandatory that contracts must be
awarded to authorised persons before voyage of ship to sea from port in India. The seamen’s
1
Ziyad Ali Vs. Commissioner of Police and Others, 2012 (4) KHC 350, ILR 2012 (4) Ker.371
2
Section 102 of the MS Act 1958 makes it non-mandatory for the seaman to sign an agreement that “shall not be
necessary”.
3
For instance see the report of International Labour Organization and International Maritime Organization Sectoral
Activities Programme ILO//IMO/JMS/2011 on proposals to Revised Guidelines on the medical examination of seafarers
and ships medicine chests. WHO recommendations have also played vital consideration in concluding the proposals.
4
See Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2005; vide gazette notification G.S.R. 182 (E)
dated March 18, 2005. Also see Sabeeha Faikage & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. (2013) 1 SCC 262

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employment office is mandated to issue the license and to, regulate and control the recruitment and
placement service. Whereas, the Central Government has the power to classify and govern seamen
for prescription of minimum and divergent manning scale in accordance with the different categories
of ships on which the seamen are employed.
The fees involved in the process of certification are to be paid by the owner or master to the
shipping master5. And the same is prohibited6 from being levied from the recruited seamen. Further
the Act also prohibits supply of seamen by the recruitment and placement services or engagement
of seamen by the shipowner/master in contravention to the provisions of the MS Act 1958 or the
Rules made there-under.
The welfare of the seamen/seafarer being one of the important reasons behind the enactment
of MS Act 1958, caution and care is exercised in incorporating provisions on the agreement of
employment of crew. It describes the form and content of the agreement with crew, detailing all
aspects of employment including ship, employer / owner / master / recruitment / placement service
provider / agent; employee appointment; wages; conditions of employment and duration of work /
work in hours; capacity in which seamen are appointed; payment of compensation in the event of
accident amounting to personal injury / death arising out of and in the course of employment; list of
misconduct and regulations as to fines and lawful punishments; dispute settlement clauses; referral
of disputes to Indian Consular Officer and the like.
Further, special provision with regard to agreement with crew of Indian ships; renewal of
running agreements with the crew of a foreign going Indian ship; necessity of reporting changes in
crew and returned attestation of alterations with respect to crew agreement, are also dealt with under
the Act. In order to ensure/enforce compliance to the form, manner and contents of crew agreement
as prescribed under PART VII, the Act prescribes issuance of Certificate of Compliance by the
shipping master. Further, the Customs Collector will permit/clear any ship outwards only when the
aforementioned Certificate of Compliance is produced by the master requesting such clearance. The
master of every foreign going Indian ship is duty bound to submit the crew agreement to a shipping
master at the port of arrival in India, within 48 hours, where the crew is to be discharged. The Act also
deals with employment of children/young person7 including medical examination, maintenance of
register and rule making power.
5
For the powers of shipping master see ft note 2 of the commentary.
6
Section 96 read with S. 97 of the MS Act 1958
7
Section 3(59) defines “young person” as a person under eighteen years of age.

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The Certificate of Discharge or the Continuous Discharge Certificate8 and the Seafarer’s
Identity Document9 are the other important documents that a seaman10/seafarer11 should possess12
as an eligibility document for qualifying them to be engaged on board the vessel. The Certificate of
Discharge shall be in prescribed form and manner specifying the details as to the period of service,
the time and place of discharge. Moreover, a report as to the quality of work and performance of
obligations under the agreement or the decision to decline from expressing the opinion in the report
and the reasons thereof are to be furnished by master to the shipping master.
The Act postulates that the right to wages and provisions commences from the point in time
from which seamen starts working or that time specified in the agreement. Crewmen are entitled to
claim lien on vessel for wages. Wage lien arises from services rendered to ship from the date of
engagement till deportation. Thus, even if a vessel carrying smuggled goods was caught and
confiscated, the wage lien of the crewmen on the ship is held to be claimable.13 The yardstick to
determine wages is nothing but employment agreement and employment conditions stipulated therein
and shall not depend on freight14 See Section 140 Saba International Shipping & Project Investment
Pvt. Ltd. Vs. The Owners and Parties interested in the vessel M.V. Brave Eagle (previously known as
M.V. Lima –I) and Ors (2002) 1 CALLT 207 (HC), 2002 (2) CHN 280.; unforeseen events; premature
discharge from the employment contract and the like. While deciding the question of computing
compensation with regard to the premature discharge of seamen, the Court held that the contract
clause which stipulated the 2 months minimum wages was held to be not in compliance with the 3
months minimum wages requirement as stipulated under the Act.15
8
The engagement of seamen without Continuous Discharge Certificate is prohibited in Indian port.
9
Section 99 – A of MS Act 1958. International Labour Organisation Convention - Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention,
1958 (No. 108) Date of entry into force – February 19, 1961. Ratified by India on January 17, 2005, amendment came
into effect by virtue of Section 5 of MS Act 1958 (Amendment) Act, 2007. Total ratifications 66, denounced by 7.
10
Section 3(42) defines “seaman” as persons employed or engaged as a member of the crew of a ship except master,
pilot or apprentice, but in relation to S. 178, S. 179, S. 180, S. 181, S. 182, and S. 183 includes master.
11
Explanation (b) to Section 95 (3) defines “seafarer” as any person who is qualified to be employed or engaged in their
relevant competent capacities on board a sea-going ship other than a government ship used for military or non-
commercial purposes. Whereas the term “seafarer”, defined for purpose of Section 99 A by virtue of Explanation to
Section 99 A of MS Act 1958, only excludes the mandatory requirement in case of employment on board ships of war.
All other sea going ships including government ships used for non-commercial purpose will have to comply with
Section 99A
12
Section 99 A of the MS Act 1958 clearly stipulates prohibition of engagement of seafarer without seafarer’s identity
document
13
See Section 144. Decision in O. Konavalov v. Commander, Coast Guard Region & Ors. (2006) 4 SCC 620;
14
See Section 140 Saba International Shipping & Project Investment Pvt. Ltd. Vs. The Owners and Parties interested in
the vessel M.V. Brave Eagle (previously known as M.V. Lima – I) and Ors (2002) 1 CALLT 207 (HC), 2002 (2) CHN 280.
15
See Section 143. Steel Industries Kerala Ltd. V. Capt. S.M. Rebello & Ors 1985 AIR 760, 1985 SCR (2) 998

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The Act provides elaborate mode for recovery and disbursement of wages16 and remedies of
master for claiming wages. In the event of a dispute arising between seamen and their employees,
the same is referred to a tribunal constituted under Sec. 150 of MS Act 1958 as summary proceedings.
Further, the Act stipulates that as prescribed under the crew agreement, the conditions of the service
and employment shall remain unaffected. Section 152 to Section 160 deal with property of deceased
seamen and apprentices. The provisions includes reporting of death of seamen to his next of kin;
taking charge of property of the effects17 of deceased seamen and entry into the Official Log Book on
particulars of property; and reporting to the concerned Indian Consular Officer, if the ship remains for
48 hours at a foreign port before coming to India, and the like.
This Part under Section 157 of the MS Act 1958 also lays down that in case if the seamen
are lost with the ship, their wages can be recovered by the Central Government or by an officer
appointed by the owner, master of agent of the ship. The claim period stipulated under the Act,
depends on the official records or on other evidence that the ship left any port before 12 months or
more and that a ship that has not been heard of within twelve months after the departure is deemed
to have been lost with all hands on board. The Court has held that Section 157 (2) is not an
exception contemplated under Section 4 to Section 24 of the Limitation Act, 1963.18 Section 4 to
Section 24 of the Limitation Act, 196319 will arise when the suit is filed after the prescribed period of
2 years from the date on which cause of action arouse.20
As mentioned earlier in this Part, distressed seamen are to be given all facilities of safe
return to a proper port of return. To understand that a seaman is a distressed seaman, a certificate
issued by the Central Government specifying the name of seamen as distressed seamen is conclusive
proof under the Act to grant him all the privileges and protection under the Act. Apart from the
capacity to inspect the provisions, water, weights and measures and accommodation, in accordance
with Section 176, the MS Act 1958 stipulates requirement of the ship to carry sufficient provisions
including water of good quality ensuring good health, safe accommodation and sufficient medical
facilities to meet emergencies and inspection of the compliance to Section 176 is carried out by
concerned authority appointed by Central Government.
16
See Section 145 Fithaly Fernando Vs. Principal Officer and Shipping Master 2010 (3) KLT 741. The power vested in
the Central Government under Section 145 (2) of MS Act 1958 is delegated to Director General of Shipping by virtue
of Merchant Shipping Order, S.O. 3144 dated December 17, 1960 issued by Government of India, Ministry of Transport
& Communication
17
Section 3(10) defines “effects” as in relation to a seamen, includes clothes and documents
18
Leena Mathew Vs. Kerala Shipping Corporation 1988(1) KLT 98, ILR 1988(2) Ker.180
19
Limitation Act 1963 is the legislation enacted for prescribing the time period within which a claim can be successfully
instituted before a court of law in India. Condoning the delay is the discretion of the court and the discretion will be
applied on the basis of the validity and rationale behind the reason for delay in filing or instituting the claim before the
court.
20
Ibid

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The Central Government is also empowered to make rules in accordance with the Convention
Concerning the Prevention of Occupational Accidents to Seafarers adopted by the General Conference
of the International Labour Organization, 197021 on ensuring safe working conditions for Indian ships
of different classes and circumstances. Part VII also deals with provisions ensuring, protection of
seamen, and access to legal/judicial forum, recovery of debt till end of voyage, detention of property,
solicitation by lodging house keepers, boarding the ship before seamen leave the ship; and the like.
While prescribing privileges and protection of rights of seamen, the Act under Part VII also deals with
strict rules of discipline to be observed by seamen, including, avoidance of misconduct; desertion
and absence without leave; smuggling of goods; payment of fines and the like; proven non compliance
with regard to disciplinary provisions by seaman, would make him liable to be punishable under law.
The excuse that ratings abandoned the vessel and that they were not available at the schedule time
of departure solely because of the denial of certain additional amount was held to be not a reasonable
excuse under Section 191 (1)(b) and the ratings were held liable for desertion.22
Under the Act the Central Government is empowered to order for suspension of Certificate of
Discharge, imposition of fine; forfeiture of wages or property of seamen etc; as consequence for
proven non-compliances. Further, under Part VII an advisory board called the National Welfare Board
has been constituted for the purpose of advising the Central Government on adoption of measures
for promoting the welfare of seamen.23 Under the auspices of International Labour Organisation, the
Maritime Labour Convention 200624, provides for comprehensive rights and protection at work of
seafarers.25 The Convention is considered to be the “Fourth pillar26 of international maritime law”. The
MLC 2006 encompasses and harmoniously collates the existing standards stipulated in the
international maritime labour conventions and recommendations made by International Labour
Organisation. Further, Part VII is expected to undergo improvisation in the near future.
21
The ILO convention, Year of adoption is 1970.
22
Ibrahim & Ors. Vs. State of West Bengal and Anr. AIR 1968 SC 731
23
National Welfare Board for Seafarers Rules, 1963
24
Hereinafter referred as MLC.2006
25
Also see F. No.16 (5)/CR/2010-Vol-I, M.S. Notice No. 11 of 2013, dated 17.04.13 (Corrigendum to the M.S.
Notice No. 7 of 2013) on Implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 – voluntary inspection of
Indian flag ships.
26
The other conventions that are accounted as three pillars are (a) International Convention for the SOLAS
1974, (b) STCW 1978 and (c) MARPOL 73/78.

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PART VIII
PASSENGER SHIPS
Survey of passenger ships
Application of Part 219. This Part applies only to sea-going passenger ships fitted with
mechanical means of propulsion, but the provisions of this Part
relating to special trade passenger ships shall not apply -
(a) to any such ship not carrying more than thirty special trade
passengers; or
(b) to any such ship not intended to carry special trade
passengers to or from any port or place in India.
No ship to carry 220. (1) No ship shall carry more than twelve passengers between
passengers without a ports or places in India or to or from any port or place in
certificate of survey India from or to any port or place outside India, unless she
has a certificate of survey under this Part in force and
applicable to the voyage on which she is about to proceed
or the service on which she is about to be employed:
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any ship
which has been granted a certificate under section 235,
unless it appears from the certificate that it is inapplicable
to the voyage on which the ship is about to proceed on the
service on which she is about to be employed, or unless
there is reason to believe that the ship has, since the grant
of the certificate, sustained injury or damage or been found
unseaworthy or otherwise inefficient.
(2) No customs collector shall granted a port clearance, nor
shall any pilot be assigned, to any ship for which a certificate
of survey is required by this Part until after the production
by the owner, agent or master thereof of a certificate under
this Part in force and applicable to the voyage on which she
is about to proceed or the service on which she is about to
be employed.
(3) If any ship which a certificate of survey is required by this
Part leaves or attempts to leave any port of survey without a
certificate, any customs collector or any pilot on board the
ship may detain her until she obtains a certificate.
Power of surveyor 221. (1) The owner or agent of every passenger ship for which a
certificate of survey is required under this Part shall cause
it to be surveyed in the prescribed manner.
(2) For the purposes of a survey under this Part, a surveyor
may, at any reasonable time, go on board a ship, and may
inspect the ship and any part thereof, and the machinery,
equipment or articles on board thereof:
Provided that he does not unnecessarily hinder the loading

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or unloading of the ship, or unnecessarily detain or delay

her from proceeding on any voyage.
(3) The owner, agent, master and every officer of the ship shall
afford to the surveyor all reasonable facilities for a survey,
and all such information respecting the ship and her
machinery and equipment, or any part thereof, respectively,
as the surveyor reasonably requires.
222. Before a survey under this Part is commenced, the owner, agent Fees in respect of
or master of the ship to be surveyed shall pay to such officer as survey
the Central Government may appoint in this behalf -
(a) a fee calculated on the tonnage of the ship according to the
prescribed rates;
(b) when the survey is to be made in any port of survey other
than Bombay, Calcutta or Madras, such additional fee, in
respect of the expense (if any) of the journey of the surveyor
to the port as the Central Government may by order direct.
223. When a survey under this Part is completed, the surveyor making Declaration of survey
it shall forthwith, if satisfied that he can with propriety do so, deliver
to the owner, agent or master of the ship surveyed a declaration of
survey in the prescribed form containing the following particulars,
namely:
(a) that the hull and machinery of the ship are sufficient for the
service intended and in good condition;
(b) that the equipment of the ship is in such condition and that
the certificates of the master, mates, engineers or engine-
drivers and of the radio telegraphy operators, are such, as
are required by this Act or any other law for the time being
in force and applicable to the ship;
(c) the time (if less than one year) for which the hull, machinery
and equipment, of the ship will be sufficient;
(d) The voyages or class of voyages on which, as regards
construction, machinery and equipment, the ship is in the
surveyor’s opinion fit to ply;
(e) the number of passengers which the ship is, in the opinion
of the surveyor, fit to carry, distinguishing, if necessary,
between the respective numbers to be carried on the deck
and in the cabins and in different parts of the deck and
cabins; the number to be subject to such conditions and
variations, according to the time of year, the nature of the
voyage, the cargo carried or other circumstances as the
case requires; and
(f) any other prescribed particulars.
224. (1) The owner, agent or master to whom a declaration of survey Sending of declara-
is given shall, within fourteen days after the date of the receipt tion by owner, agent
thereof, send the declaration to such officer as the Central or master to Central
Government may appoint in this behalf. Government

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(2) If the owner, agent or master fails to do so, he shall forfeit a

sum not exceeding five rupees for every day during which
the sending of the declaration is delayed and shall pay any
sum so forfeited on the delivery of the certificate of survey.
Grant of certificate of 225. (1) Upon receipt of a declaration of survey, the Central
survey by Central Government shall, if satisfied that the provisions of this Part
Government have been complied with, cause a certificate in duplicate,
to be prepared and delivered, through such officer at the
port at which the ship was surveyed as the Central
Government may appoint in this behalf, to the owner, agent
or master of the ship surveyed, on his applying and paying
the sums (if any) mentioned in section 224 as payable on
the delivery of a certificate.
(2) A certificate granted under this section shall be in the
prescribed form; shall contain a statement to the effect that
the provisions of this Part with respect to the survey of the
ship and the transmission of the declaration of survey in
respect thereof have been complied with; and shall also set
forth
(a) the particulars concerning the ship which clauses (c),
(d) and (e) of section 223 require the declaration of
survey to contain; and
(b) any other prescribed particulars.
Power of Central 226. (1) If a surveyor making a survey under this Part refuses to give
Government to order a declaration of survey under section 223 with regard to any
a second survey ship, or gives a declaration with which the owner or agent or
master of the ship surveyed is dissatisfied, the Central
Government may, on the application of the owner, agent or
master, and the payment by him of such fee, not exceeding
twice the amount of the fee for the previous survey, as the
Central Government may require, direct any other surveyor
to survey the ship.
(2) The surveyor so directed shall forthwith survey the ship,
and may, after the survey, either refuse to give a declaration
or give such declaration as under the circumstances seems
to him proper, and his decision shall, save as otherwise
provided this Act, be final.
Duration of certifi- 227. (1) A certificate of survey granted under this Part shall not be in
cates of survey force-
(a) after the expiration of one year from the date of issue;
or
(b) after the expiration of the period, if less than one year,
for which the hull, boilers, engines or any of the
equipment have been stated in the certificate to be
sufficient; or

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(c) after notice has been given by the Central Government

to the owner, agent or master of the ship to which the
certificate relates that the Central Government has
cancelled or suspended it.
(2) If a passenger ship is absent from India at the time when
her certificate expires, the provisions of this Part relating to
certificate of survey shall not be deemed to be contravened
unless she first begins to ply with passengers after her next
return to India.
228. (1) Any certificate of survey granted under this Part may be Cancellation or
cancelled or suspended by the Central Government if it has suspension of survey
reason to believe - by Central Govern-
(a) that the declaration by the surveyor of the sufficiency of ment
the hull, boilers, engines or any of the equipment of the
ship has been fraudulently or erroneously made; or
(b) that the certificate has otherwise been issued upon
false or erroneous information.
(2) Before any certificate of survey is cancelled or suspended
under subsection (1), the holder of the certificate shall be
given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause why the
certificate should not be cancelled or suspended, as the
case may be:
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply where the
Central Government is satisfied that for some reason to be
recorded in writing it is not reasonably practicable to give to
the holder of the certificate an opportunity of showing cause.
229. (1) The owner, agent or master of a ship in respect of which a Alterations in ships
certificate of survey granted under this Part is in force, shall, subsequent to grant
as soon as possible after any alteration is made in the ship’s of certificate of
hull, equipment or machinery which affects the efficiency survey, and additional
thereof or the seaworthiness of the ship, give written notice surveys
to such person as the Central Government may direct
containing full particulars of the alteration.
(2) If the Central Government has reason to believe that since
the making of the last declaration of survey in respect of a
ship-
(a) any such alteration as aforesaid has been made in the
hull, equipment or machinery of the ship; or
(b) the hull, equipment or machinery of the ship have
sustained any injury or are otherwise insufficient;
the Central Government may require the ship to be again
surveyed to such extent as it may think fit, and, if such
requirement is not complied with, may cancel any certificate
of survey issued under this Part in respect of the said ship.

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Power to require 230. Every certificate of survey granted under this Part which has
delivery of expired or expired, or has been cancelled or suspended, shall be delivered to
cancelled certificate such person as the Central Government may direct.
of survey
231. The owner or master of every ship for which a certificate of survey
Certificate of survey has been granted under this Part shall forthwith, on the receipt of
to be affixed in the certificate, cause one of the duplicates thereof to be affixed,
conspicuous part of and kept affixed so long as the certificate remains in force and the
ship ship is in use on some conspicuous part of the ship where it may
be easily read by all persons on board thereof.
Ship not to carry 232. (1) No ship on any voyage shall carry or attempt to carry
passengers in passengers in contravention of section 220 or shall have on
contravention of Act board or in any part thereof a number of passengers which
is greater than the number set forth in the certificate of survey
as the number of passengers which the ship or the part
thereof is fit to carry on that voyage.
(2) If the master or any other officer of any ship which carries or
attempts to carry passengers in contravention of section
220 is a licensed pilot, he shall be liable to have his license
as a pilot cancelled or suspended for such period as the
Central Government may, by order, specify.
Keeping order in passenger ships
Offences in 233. (1) If, in the case of a ship for which a certificate of survey has
connection with been granted under this Part, -
passenger ship (a) any person being drunk or disorderly has been on that
account refused admission thereto by the owner or any
person in his employ and, after having the amount of his
fare (if he has paid it) returned or tendered to him,
nevertheless persists in attempting to enter the ship;
(b) any person being drunk or disorderly on board the ship
is requested by the owner or any person in his employ
to leave the ship at any place in India at which he can
conveniently do so, and after having the amount of his
fare (if he has paid it) returned or tendered to him,
does not comply with the request;
(c) any person on board the ship after warning by the
master or other officer thereof, molests or continues
to molest any passenger;
(d) any person having gone on board the ship at any place
and being requested, on account of the ship being full,
by the owner or any person in his employ to leave the
ship, before it has departed from that place, and having
had the amount of his fare (if he has paid it) returned or
tendered to him, does not comply with that request;
(e) any person travels or attempts to travel in the ship

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without first paying his fare and with intent to avoid

payment thereof;
(f) any person on arriving in the ship at the place for which
he has paid his fare knowingly and wilfully refuses or
neglects to quit the ship;
(g) any person on board the ship fails when requested by
the master or other officer thereof either to pay his fare
or to exhibit such ticket or other receipt, if any, showing
the payment of his fare as is usually given to persons
travelling by and paying fare for the ship; he shall be
guilty of an offence under this sub-section.
(2) No person on board any such ship shall wilfully do or cause
to be done anything in such a manner as to obstruct or
injure any part of the machinery or tackle of the ship or to
obstruct, impede or molest the crew or any of them in the
navigation or management of the ship or otherwise in the
execution of their duty on or about the ship.
(3) The master or other officer of any such ship and all persons
called by him to his assistance may, without warrant, detain
any person who commits any offence under this section
and whose name and address are unknown to the master
or officer and convey the offender with all convenient despatch
before the 1[nearest Judicial Magistrate of the first class or
the Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be], to be
dealt with according to law.
234. The master of any passenger ship may refuse to receive on board Power to exclude
thereof any person who by reason of drunkenness or otherwise is drunken passengers
in such state or misconducts himself in such a manner as to cause from passenger ships
annoyance or injury to passengers on board, and if any such person
is on board, may put him on shore at any convenient place; and a
person so refused admittance or put on shore shall not be entitled
to the return of any fare he has paid.
235. (1) When a ship requires to be furnished with a certificate of Ships with certifi-
survey under this Part and the Central Government is cates of survey or
satisfied - certificates of partial
(a) by the production of a certificate of survey that the survey granted
ship has been officially surveyed at a port in a country outside India
outside India;
(b) that the requirements of this Act are proved by that
survey to have been substantially complied with; and
(c) that certificates of survey granted under this Part are
accepted in such country in lieu of the corresponding
certificates required under the laws in force in that
country;

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the Central Government may, if it thinks fit, dispense with

any further survey of the ship in respect of the requirements
so complied with, and give a certificate which shall have the
same effect as a certificate given after survey under this
Part.
(2) When the Central Government has, by notification in the
Official Gazette, declared that it is satisfied that an official
survey at a port in a country outside India specified in the
declaration is such as to prove that the requirements of this
Act have been substantially complied with, any person
authorised by the central Government in this behalf may
exercise the power to dispense with a survey and to give a
certificate conferred on the Central Government by sub-
section (1) in the case of any ship furnished with a valid
certificate of survey granted at such port.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall be applicable in the
case of ships furnished with valid certificates of partial survey
including docking certificates, as if they were ships furnished
with like certificates granted at ports in countries outside
India subject to the modification that the powers of the Central
Government under the said sub-section may be exercised
by any person authorised by the Central Government in this
behalf.
Power to make rules 236. (1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of
as to surveys previous publication, make rules to regulate the making of
surveys under this Part and the provisions to be made for
the safety of life at sea.
(a) the times and places at which, and the manner in which,
surveys are to be made;
(b) the requirements as to construction, machinery,
equipment and marking of sub-division load lines, which
are to be fulfilled by ships generally or by any class of
ships in particular before a declaration of survey may
be granted;
(c) the survey of ships by two or more surveyors;
(d) the duties of the surveyor making a survey and, where
two or more surveyors are employed, the respective
duties of each of the surveyors employed;
(e) the form in which declarations of survey and certificates
of survey under this Part are to be made and the nature
of the particulars to be stated therein respectively;
(f) the rates according to which the fees payable in respect

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of surveys are to be calculated in the case of all or any

of the ports of survey;
(g) the closing of, and keeping closed, the openings in
ship’s hulls and in watertight bulkheads;
(h) the securing of, and keeping in place and the inspection
of contrivances for closing any such openings as
aforesaid;
(i) the operation of mechanisms of contrivances for closing
any such openings as aforesaid and the drills in
connection with the operation thereof; and
(j) the entries to be made in the official log book or other
record to be kept of any of the matters aforesaid.
Special trade passenger ships and pilgrim ships

237. (1) Neither a special trade passenger ship nor a pilgrim ship Ports or places where
shall depart or proceed from or discharge special trade special trade passen-
passengers or pilgrims, as the case may be, at any port or gers or pilgrims may
place within India other than a port or place appointed in embark or be
this behalf by the Central Government for special trade discharged
passenger ships or pilgrim ships, as the case may be.
(2) After a ship has departed or proceeded on a voyage from a
port or place so appointed, a person shall not be received
on board as a special trade passenger or pilgrim, as the
case may be, except at some other port or place so
appointed.
238. (1) The master, owner or agent of a special trade passengers Notice to be given of
ship or a pilgrim ship so departing or proceeding shall give sailing
notice to an officer appointed in this behalf by the Central
Government that the ship is to carry special trade
passengers or pilgrims and of her destination and of the
proposed time of sailing.
(2) The notice shall be given
(a) in the case of a special trade passenger ship, not less
than twenty-four hours before that time;
(b) in the case of a pilgrim ship at the original port of
departure, if in India, and in any other case at the first
port at which she touches in India, not less than three
days, and at all other ports not less then twenty-four
hours, before that time.
239. After receiving the notice under section 238 the officer appointed Power to enter on and
under that section or a person authorised by him in this behalf inspect ship
shall be at liberty at all times to enter on the ship and inspect her
and her fittings and the provisions and stores on board.

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Ship not to sail 240. [(1)

1
A ship intended to carry special trade passengers between
without certificates A ports or places in India shall not commence a voyage from
and B any port or place appointed under sub-section (1) of section
237, unless the master holds certificates to the effect
mentioned in sections 241 and 242.
(1A) A ship intended to carry special trade passengers from or
to a port or place in India to or from a port or place outside
India shall not commence a voyage from any port or place
appointed under sub-section (1) of section 237, unless the
master holds-
(i) a passenger ship safety certificate;
(ii) an exemption certificate;
(iii) a special trade passenger ship safety certificate;
(iv) a special trade passenger ship space certificate; and
(v) a certificate referred to in section 242.]
(2) The customs collector whose duty it is to grant a port
clearance for the ship shall not grant it 1[unless the master
holds the appropriate certificate for the voyage specified in
sub-section (1), or as the case may be, in sub-section (1A).]
Contents of certifi- [241. (1)
1
The first of the certificates referred to in sub-section (1) of
cate A section 240 (hereinafter called certificate A) shall be in the
prescribed form and contain such particulars as may be
prescribed.
foregoing power, certificate A shall contain the following
statements and particulars, namely
(i) that the ship is seaworthy;
(ii) that the ship is properly equipped, fitted and ventilated;
(iii) the number of special trade passengers the ship is
certified to carry; and
(iv) such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(3) Certificate A shall remain in force for a period of one year
from the date of issue or for such shorter period as may be
specified therein.]
Contents of certifi- 242. The second of the certificates (hereinafter called certificate B) shall
cate B be in the prescribed form and shall state-
(a) the voyage which the ship is to make, and the intermediate
ports (if any) at which she is to touch;
(b) that she has proper complement of officers and seamen;
1
[(c) that the master holds-
(i) a certificate of survey and certificate A; or

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(ii) a passenger ship safety certificate accompanied by

an exemption certificate, a special trade passenger
ship safety certificate and a special trade passenger
ship space certificate; or
(iii) a nuclear passenger ship safety certificate;]
(d) that she has on board such number of medical officers
licensed in the prescribed manner and such number of
attendants, if any, as may be prescribed;
(e) that food, fuel and pure water over and above what is
necessary for the crew, and the other things (if any)
prescribed for special trade passenger ships or pilgrim ships,
have been placed on board, of the quality prescribed, properly
packed, and sufficient to supply the special trade
passengers or pilgrims on board during the voyage which
the ship is to make (including such detention in quarantine
as may be probable) according to the prescribed scale;
(f) in the case of a special trade passenger ship, if ship is to
make a voyage in season of foul weather specified as such
in the rules made under section 262, and to carry upper-
deck passengers, that she is furnished with substantial
bulwarks and a double awning or with other sufficient
protection against the weather;
(g) in the case of a special trade passenger ship, the number
of cabin and special trade passengers embarked at the port
of embarkation;
(h) such other particular, if any, as may be prescribed for special
trade passenger ships or pilgrim ships, as the case may be.
243. The person by whom certificate A and certificate B are to be granted Officers entitled to
shall be the officer appointed under section 238 who is hereinafter grant certificates
referred to as the certifying officer.
244. After receiving the notice required by section 238, the certifying Survey of ship
officer may, if he thinks fit, cause the ship to be surveyed at the
expense of the master or owner by a surveyor, who shall report to
him whether the ship is, in his opinion, seaworthy and properly
equipped, fitted and ventilated for the service on which she is to be
employed:
1
[Provided that he shall not cause a ship holding a valid
certificate referred to in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii) or
sub-clause (iii) of clause (c) of section 242 to be surveyed
unless, by reason of the ship having met with damage or
having undergone alterations, or on other reasonable
grounds, he considers it likely that she may be found
unseaworthy or not properly equipped, fitted or ventilated
for the service on which she is to be employed.]

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Discretion as to grant 245. (1) The certifying officer shall not grant a certificate B if he has
of certificates B reason to believe that the weather conditions are likely to
be adverse or that the ship has on board any cargo likely
from its quality, quantity or mode of stowage to prejudice
the health or safety of the special trade passengers or
pilgrims.
(2) Save as aforesaid, and subject to the provision of sub-section
(3), it shall be in the discretion of the certifying officer to
grant or withhold the certificate, and when he withholds the
certificate, the reasons for so doing shall be communicated
to the person concerned.
(3) In the exercise of that discretion that officer shall be subject
to the control of the Central Government or of such authority
as the Central Government may appoint in this behalf.
Copy of certificate A 246. The master or owner shall post up in a conspicuous part of the
to be exhibited ship, so as to be visible to the persons on board thereof, a copy of
certificate A granted under this Part in respect of the ship and
shall keep that copy so posted up as long as it is in force.
Special trade passen- 247. (1) The master of a special trade passenger ship or any
gers or pilgrims to be contractor employed by him for the purpose shall not, without
supplied with pre- reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie
scribed provisions upon him, omit to supply to any special trade passenger
the prescribed allowance of food, fuel and water, and the
master of a pilgrim ship, or any contractor employed by him
for the purpose shall not, without reasonable excuse, the
burden of proving which shall lie upon him, omit to supply to
any pilgrim the prescribed allowances of food and of water
as required by the provisions of this Part.
(2) Where, under the terms of the ticket issued to a special
trade passenger he is not entitled to the supply of food by
the master or owner or agent of the ship, sub-section (1)
shall, in the case of such passenger, have effect as if the
reference to “food” in that sub-section were omitted.
Number of passen- 248. (1) A special trade passenger ship or a pilgrim ship shall not
gers on board not to carry a number of special trade passengers or pilgrims,
exceed that allowed which is greater that the number allowed for the ship by or
by or under this part under this Part.
(2) Any officer authorised in this behalf by the Central Government
may cause all special trade passengers or pilgrims over and
above the number allowed by or under this Part to disembark,
and may forward them to any port at which they may have
contracted to land, and recover the cost of so forwarding them
from the master, owner or agent of the ship as if the cost were
a fine imposed under this part, and a certificate under the hand
of that officer shall be conclusive proof of the amount of the
cost aforesaid.

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249. No master, owner or agent of special trade passenger ship or a Special trade passen-
pilgrim ship shall land any special trade passenger or pilgrim at ger or pilgrim not to
any port or place other than the port or place at which the special be landed at a place
trade passenger or pilgrim may have contracted to land, unless other than that at
with his previous consent, or unless the landing is made necessary which he has con-
by perils of the sea or other unavoidable accident. tracted to land
250. (1) If any special trade passenger from a ship which is on a Forwarding of pas-
voyage from any port or place in India finds himself without sengers by Indian
any neglect or default of his own at any port or place outside consular officers
India other than the port or place for which the ship was
originally bound or at which he has contracted that he should
land, the Indian consular officer at or near that port or place
may forward the passenger to his intended destination,
unless the master, owner or agent of the ship within forty-
eight hours of the arrival of the passenger gives to that officer
a written undertaking to forward the passenger within six
weeks thereafter to his original destination and forwards him
accordingly within that period.
(2) A passenger so forwarded by or by the authority of an Indian
consular officer shall not be entitled to the return of his
passage money or to any compensation for loss of passage.
251. (1) All expenses incurred under section 250 by an Indian Recovery of expenses
consular officer in respect of the forwarding of a passenger incurred in forwarding
to his destination including the cost of maintaining the passengers
passenger until forwarded to his destination shall be a debt
due to the Central Government jointly and severally from
the owner, charterer, agent and master of the ship on board
which the passenger had embarked.
(2) In any proceeding for the recovery of that debt a certificate
purporting to be under the hand of the Indian consular officer
and stating the circumstances of the case and the total
amount of the expenses shall be prima facie evidence of
the amount of the expenses and of the fact that the same
were duly incurred.
252. The master, owner or agent of a special trade passenger ship or a Ship not to make
pilgrim ship shall not, otherwise than by reason of perils of the sea voyage in contraven-
or other unavoidable accident, allow the ship to touch at any port tion of contract
or place in contravention of any express or implied contract or
engagement with the special trade passengers or pilgrims with
respect to the voyage which the ship was to make and the time
which that voyage was to occupy, whether the contract or
engagement was made by public advertisement or otherwise.
253. (1) The officer appointed by the Central Government in this behalf Information to be
at any port or place within India at which a special trade sent to ports of
passenger ship or a pilgrim ship touches or arrives, shall embarkation and
send any particulars which he may deem important discharge
respecting the special trade passenger ship or pilgrim ship

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and the special trade passengers or pilgrims carried therein,

to the officer at the port or place from which the ship
commenced her voyage, and to the officer at any other port
or place within India where the special trade passengers or
pilgrims or any of them embarked or are to be discharged.
(2) The officer aforesaid may go on board any ship referred to in
subsection (1) and inspect her in order to ascertain whether
the provision of this Act as to the number of special trade
passengers or pilgrims and other matters have been
complied with.
Reports, etc., under H254. In any proceeding for the adjudication of any penalty incurred under
section 253 to be this part, any document purporting to be a report of such particulars
admissible in evi- as are referred to in sub-section (1) of section 253, or a copy of the
dence proceedings of any court of justice duly authenticated, and also
any like document purporting to be made and signed by an Indian
consular officer shall be received in evidence, if it appears to have
been officially transmitted to any officer at or near the place where
the proceeding under this part is held.
Destination of ship 255. (1) The master, owner or agent of a special trade passenger
and time of sailing, ship departing or proceeding from any port or place in India
etc., to be advertised appointed in this behalf by the Central Government under
sub-section (1) of section 237 shall issue at such port or
place in the prescribed manner an advertisement containing
the particulars required to be stated in the notice under sub-
section (1) of section 238; and such advertisement shall be
issued before such reasonable and sufficient interval as may
be prescribed before the date of sailing of any such ship
from such port or place.
(2) The Central Government may, by order in writing, exempt
any class of ships from the operation of sub-section (1).
[(3)
1
The master, owner or agent of any ship, which is intended to
sail on a voyage as a pilgrim ship from any port or place in
India shall, before advertising such ship for the conveyance of
pilgrims or offering to convey any pilgrim by such ship or selling
or promising or permitting any person to sell a passenger ticket
to any pilgrim for conveyance by such ship, supply to the officer
appointed in this behalf (hereinafter referred to as the pilgrim
officer) at the port or place in India at which she is to touch for
the purpose of embarking pilgrims, full particulars as to the
name, tonnage and age of the ship, the maximum number of
passage tickets of each class to be issued, the maximum
price of each class of passage tickets, the probable date on
which the ship is to sail from that port or place, the ports, if
any, at which she is to touch, the place of her destination, and
the probable date of her arrival thereat.
H The heading “Special provisions relating to unberthed passenger ships” below Sec.254 omitted by
MS (Amend.) Act 1976

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(4) The master, owner or agent of the ship shall supply to the
pilgrim officer, within three days from the date of demand,
such further information in regard to the matters mentioned
in sub-section (3) as that officer may in writing demand from
him.
(5) (a) The master, owner or agent of the ship shall advertise
at such port or place and in such manner as may be
prescribed -
(i) the place of destination of the ship,
(ii) the price of each class of passage tickets which
shall not be in excess of the price communicated to
the pilgrim officer under sub-section (3), and
(iii) the provisional date of sailing from that port or
place.
(b) The master, owner or agent of the ship shall also
advertise the final date of sailing not less than fifteen
days before such date.
(6) No master, owner or agent shall -
(a) without reasonable cause, the burden of proving which
shall lie upon him, fail or refuse to supply any particulars
or information which he is by or under this section
required to supply or supply false particulars or
information; or
(b) advertise any ship for the conveyance of pilgrims, or
offer to convey pilgrims by any ship, or sell or promise
or permit any person to sell passage tickets to pilgrims
for conveyance by any ship, without having first
supplied the particulars required by sub-section (3) and
in accordance with the provisions of that sub-section;
or
(c) advertise a price for passage tickets at the port or place
in excess of the price communicated to the pilgrim
officer under sub-section (3); or
(d) offer to convey pilgrims by any ship from any port or
place in India or sell or promise or permit any person
to sell passage tickets to pilgrims for conveyance by
a ship from any such port or place without having
advertised as required by clause (a) of sub-section (5),
the matters specified in that clause; or
(e) sell or permit any person to sell to any pilgrim any
passage ticket at a price in excess of the price
communicated to the pilgrim officer under sub-section
(3).]

Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
130 [Act 44
Ship taking additional 256. [(1)] If any special trade passenger ship performing a voyage
1
passengers at between ports or places in India takes additional special

intermediate place trade passengers on board at an intermediate port or place,
the master shall obtain from the certifying officer [or such
other officer as the Central Government may appoint in this
behalf] at that port or place a supplementary certificate
stating -
(a) the number of special trade passengers so taken on
board; and
(b) that food, fuel and pure water over and above what is
necessary for the crew, and the other things, if any,
prescribed for the ship, have been placed on board, of
the quality prescribed, properly packed and sufficient
to supply the special trade passengers on board during
the voyage which the ship is to make including such
detention in quarantine as may be probable according
to the scale for the time being prescribed:
Provided that, if the certificate B held by the master of the
ship states that food, fuel and pure water over and above
what is necessary for the crew, and the other things, if any,
prescribed for her, have been placed on board, of the quality
prescribed, properly packed and sufficient to supply the full
number of special trade passengers which she is capable
of carrying, the master shall not be bound to obtain any
such supplementary certificate, but shall obtain from the
certifying officer an endorsement on the certificate B showing
the number of passengers taken on board, and the number
of passengers discharged, at that port or place.]
[(2)
2
In either of following cases, namely -
(a) if after a pilgrim ship has departed or proceeded on her
voyage, any additional pilgrims are taken on board at
a port or place within Indian appointed under this Part
for the embarkation of pilgrims, or
(b) if a pilgrim ship upon her voyage touches or arrives at
any such port or place, having previously received on
board additional pilgrims at any port or place outside
India, the master shall obtain a fresh certificate B from
the certifying officer or such other officer as the Central
Government may appoint in this behalf at that port or
place, and shall make an additional statement
specifying the number and the respective sexes of all
the additional pilgrims.]
Statements concern- 257. (1) The master of a special trade passenger ship departing or
ing passengers proceeding on a voyage from a port or place in India to a
1 Renumbered by MS (Amend.) Act 1976


Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
of 1958] 131
port or place outside India shall sign a statement in duplicate,

specifying the number and the respective sexes of all the
special trade passengers, and the number of the crew, and
shall deliver both copies to the certifying officer [or such
behalf,] who shall thereupon, after having first satisfied himself
that the entries are correct, countersign and return to the
master one copy of the statement.
(2) In either of the following cases, namely: -
(a) if after the ship has departed or proceeded on such a
voyage any additional special trade passengers are
taken on board at a port or place within India appointed
under this part for the embarkation of special trade
passengers; or
(b) if the ship upon her voyage touches or arrives at any
such port or place, having previously received on board
additional special trade passengers) at any port or place
outside India;
the master shall obtain a fresh certificate to the effect of
certificate B from the certifying officer 1[or such other officer
as the Central Government may appoint in this behalf] at
that port or place, and shall make an additional statement
specifying the number and the respective sexes of all the
additional passengers.
1
[(3) The master of every pilgrim ship departing or proceeding
from any port or place in India shall sign a statement in
duplicate in the prescribed form specifying the total number
of all the pilgrims embarked and the number of pilgrims of
each sex embarked and the number of the crew and such
other particulars as may be prescribed and shall deliver both
copies to the certifying officer or such other officer as the
Central Government may appoint in this behalf at the port or
place and such officer shall thereupon, after having first
satisfied himself that the entries are correct, countersign
and return to the master one copy of the statement.
(4) The master of every pilgrim ship arriving at any port or place
in India at which it may be intended to discharge pilgrims,
shall, before any pilgrims disembark, deliver a statement
signed by him specifying the total number of all the pilgrims
on board and the number of pilgrims of each sex and the
number of the crew, and such other particulars as may be
prescribed to the certifying officer or such other officer as
the Central Government may appoint in this behalf at the
port or place.]

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132 [Act 44
Death of special 258. (1) The master of any special trade passenger ship performing
trade passengers on a voyage between port or places in India, shall, on arrival at
voyage her port of destination, notify to the certifying officer or such
behalf the date and supposed cause of death of every special
trade passenger who may die on the voyage.
(2) The master of any special trade passenger ship performing
a voyage between a port or place in India and a port or place
outside India, shall note in writing on the statement or the
additional statement referred to in section 257 the date and
supposed cause of death of any special trade passenger
who may die on the voyage, and shall, when the ship arrives
at her port or place of destination or at any port or place
where it may be intended to land special trade passengers,
and before any passenger leaves the ship, produce the
statement with any additions made thereto-
(a) where such port or place is in India, to the certifying
officer or such other officer as the Central Government
may appoint in this behalf;
(b) where such port or place is outside India, to the Indian
consular officer.
(3) 1
[The master of every pilgrim ship shall note in writing on
the copy of the additional statement referred to in sub-section
(2) of section 256 or of the statement referred to in sub-
sections (3) and (4) of section 257, the date and supposed
cause of death of any pilgrim who may die on the voyage,
and shall, when the pilgrim ship arrives at her port or place
of destination or at any port or place where it may be
intended to discharge pilgrims, and before any pilgrims
disembark, produce the statement, with any additions made
thereto,
(a) where such port or place is in India, to the certifying
officer or such other officer as the Central Government
may appoint in this behalf;
(b) where such port or place is outside, to the Indian
consular officer.]
Certain ships to carry 259. (1) Every ship carrying special trade passengers and crew not
medical officer and exceeding one thousand in number, shall have one board
attendants as part of her complement at least on medical officer
possessing such qualifications as may be prescribed.
(2) Every ship carrying special trade passenger and crew
exceeding one thousand in number shall, in addition to a
medical officer, have on board as part of her complement
such number of medical attendants as may be prescribed.

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(3) Every ship carrying special trade passengers shall be

provided with a hospital with such medical stores and
equipment as may be prescribed.
[(4) (a)
1
Every pilgrim ship carrying pilgrims and crew not
exceeding one thousand in number shall have on board
a medical officer possessing such qualifications as may
be prescribed, and, if the number of pilgrims and crew
carried exceeds one thousand, a second medical officer
similarly qualified and also in all cases such medical
attendants as may be prescribed.
(b) A medical officer of every pilgrim ship shall perform
such duties and functions, keep such diaries and
submit such reports or other returns, as may be
prescribed.
(c) No medical officer or attendant on a pilgrim ship shall
charge any pilgrim on such ship for his services.]
260. No owner, agent or master of a special trade passenger ship shall Bringing passengers
carry or cause to be carried from any port or place outside India to from foreign port in
any port or place in India a number of passengers greater than- excess of authorised
number prohibited
(a) the number allowed for the ship by or under this Part, or
(b) the number allowed by the license or certificate, if any,
granted in respect of the ship at her port or place of departure,
whichever number is less.
261. (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, Passenger welfare
by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, there shall be cess
levied on the passage money paid by every passenger
carried by a special trade passenger ship departing or
proceeding from any port or place in India a cess to be
called the passenger welfare cess at such rate not exceeding
five per cent of the passage money as the Central
specify, and different rates may be specified in respect of
different classes of passengers and voyages.
(2) The passenger welfare cess shall be collected by the owner
or charterer of the special trade passenger ship or the agent
of the owner or charterer as an addition to the passage
money and shall, after deduction of such costs of collection,
if any, as the Central Government may determine, be paid
to such authority as the Central Government may specify.
(3) The proceeds of the passenger welfare cess shall, after due
appropriation made by Parliament by law, be utilised for the
purpose of providing amenities to passengers travelling by
special trade passenger ships.

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Explanation: In this section, “passage money” means the total amount of

all charges of whatever nature payable by a passenger in respect of his
carriage on a special trade passenger ship, and includes the charges, if
any, for provision of food on board the ship, but does not include the cess
payable under this section.
Bunks to be provided [261A. Every special trade passenger ship making a voyage the duration
1
for passengers of which, in ordinary circumstances, may extend to seventy-two

hours or more shall provide for each passenger on board a bunk of
the prescribed size and particulars.
Space to be provided 261B. Every special trade passenger ship making a voyage the duration
for passengers when of which, in ordinary circumstances, may not extend to seventy-
bunks are not two hours shall provide space for each passenger at the prescribed
provided scale.
Airing space to be 261C. Every special trade passenger ship shall have reserved as airing
provided for passen- space for the use of passengers on board, gratuitously by day and
gers by night, so much of the upper deck as is not required for the
airing space of the crew or for permanent structure:
Provided that the upper deck space so provided for passengers
shall in no case be less than 0.37 square metre for each
passenger.]
Power to make rules 262. The Central Government may, subject to the condition of previous
as to special trade publication, make rules to regulate, in the case of special trade
passenger ships passenger ships or any class of such ships, all or any of the
following matters, namely: -
(a) the classification of voyages with reference to the distance
between the port of departure and the port of destination,
the duration of the voyage, or any other consideration which
the Central Government may think fit to take into account
for the purpose;
(b) the seasons of fair weather and seasons of foul weather for
purposes of any voyage;
(c) the space to be allowed for special trade passengers in
respect of different classes of voyages and for seasons of
fair and foul weather;
(d) the disallowance of any space considered unsuitable by
the surveyor for the carriage of special trade passengers;
(e) the space to be set apart for alleyways, passages and the
like;
(f) the provision of airing space for special trade passengers;
(g) the scale according to which dining rooms, latrines, wash
places, baths, dressing rooms and other amenities are to
be provided;
(h) the provision of separate accommodation for women and
children;

Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
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(i) the prohibition or regulation of the carriage of cargo in any

space reserved for passengers;
(j) where the deck on which special trade passengers are
accommodated is not covered with wood, the nature of the
sheathing to be provided in the space reserved for
passengers;
(k) the disposal of baggage of passengers on board ship and
the provision of separate space in the between-decks for
the storage of light baggage;
(l) the conditions under which passengers may be allowed to
be carried in the upper deck in seasons of foul weather;
(m) the provision of bunks for special trade passengers or for
any proportion of such passengers on any specified classes
of voyages, and the size and other particulars relating to
the bunks to be so provided;
(n) the scale on which food, fuel and water are to be supplied to
passengers or to any class of passengers, and the quality
of the food, fuel and water;
(o) the nature and extent of hospital accommodation and the
medical stores and other appliances and fittings to be
provided on board for maintaining health, cleanliness and
decency;
(p) the licensing and appointment of medical officers and
attendants in cases where they are required by this Part to
be carried;
(q) the boats, anchors and cables to be provided on board;
(r) the instruments for purposes of navigation to be supplied;
(s) the functions of the master, medical officer (if any) and other
officers of the ship during the voyage;
(t) the access of between-decks passengers to the upper deck;
(u) the local limits within which, and the time and mode at and
in which, passengers are to be embarked or discharged at
any part or place appointed under this Part in that behalf;
(v) the time within which any ship of a specified class is to
depart or proceed on her voyage after commencing to take
passengers on board;
(w) the conditions under which live-stock may be allowed to be
carried;
(x) the licensing, supervision and control of persons engaged
in assisting persons to obtain special trade passenger
accommodation in ships departing or proceeding from any
port or place in India and the prohibition of unlicensed
persons from being so engaged;
(y) the manner of collection of the passenger welfare cess and
matters incidental thereto;

Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
136 [Act 44
(z) generally to carry out the purposes of this Part relating to

special trade passenger ships
Hospital accommoda- [263. Bunks to be provided for pilgrims. Omitted by the Merchant Shipping
1
tion (Amendment) Act, 1976 (69 of 1976), s. 15 (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).]

264. 2
[Every special trade passenger ship certified to carry more than
one hundred passengers on a voyage the duration of which, in
ordinary circumstances, may extend to forty-eight hours or more,
shall provide on board a hospital offering such conditions relating
to security, space, health and sanitation, and capable of
accommodating such proportion of the maximum number or
passengers the ship is certified to carry, as may be prescribed.]
[265. Statements concerning pilgrims to be delivered before ship departs.
3
Omitted by the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1976 (69 of

1976), s. 17 (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).
266. Pilgrim ship taking additional pilgrims at intermediate places. Rep.
by s. 17, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).
267. Particulars relating to deaths of pilgrims on voyage. Rep by s. 17
ibid. (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).
268. Statement concerning pilgrims to be delivered before pilgrims
disembark in India. Rep. by the Merchant Shipping (Amendment)
Act, 1976 (69 of 1976), s. 17 (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).
269. Certain pilgrim ships to carry medical officers and attendants. Rep.
by s. 17 ibid. (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).]
Bond where pilgrim 270. (1) Port clearance shall not be granted from any port in India to
ship proceeds on any pilgrim ship unless the master, owner or agent and two
outward voyage sureties resident in India have executed, in favour of the
Central Government, a joint and several bond for the sum of
ten thousand rupees or has given such other guarantee or
security as may be acceptable to that Government covering
all voyages which may be made by the ship in the current
pilgrim season, conditioned that -
(a) the master and medical officer shall comply with the
provisions of this Part and the rules made thereunder,
and
(b) the master, owner or agent, shall pay any sum claimed
by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of
section 277.
(2) A bond, guarantee or security may be given under this
section covering any or all of the pilgrim ships owned by
one owner, and in such cases the amount of the bond,
guarantee or security shall be ten thousand rupees for each
ship covered.
1 Sec. 263 and the heading “Special provisions regarding pilgrim ships” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1976
3 Sec. 265 to 269 (both cls incl) omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1976

Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
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271. (1) No pilgrim shall be received on board any pilgrim ship at Medical inspection
any port or place in India unless and until he has been and permission
medically inspected, at such time and place, and in such required before
manner, as the Central Government may fix in this behalf, embarkation of
nor until the certifying officer has given permission for the pilgrims
embarkation of pilgrims to commence.
(2) The medical inspection of female pilgrims shall, subject to
any rules which may be made under this Act and as far as
may be practicable, be carried out by women.
(3) No pilgrim shall be received on board any pilgrim ship unless
he produces a medical certificate signed by a person who
is duly qualified to grant such certificate, showing that such
pilgrim -
(a) has been inoculated against cholera within such period
before the inspection, as may be prescribed: and
(b) has been vaccinated against small-pox within such
period before the inspection as may be prescribed:
Provided that the officer making the inspection may dispense
with the certificate of vaccination, if in his opinion the pilgrim
has marks showing that he has had small-pox.
(4) If, in the opinion of the officer making an inspection under
this section, any pilgrim is suffering from cholera or choleraic
indisposition, or any dangerously infectious or contagious
disease, or shows any signs of the same or any other
suspicious symptoms, such pilgrim shall not be permitted
to embark.
(5) All articles which have been contaminated by persons
suffering from cholera or choleraic indisposition, or any
dangerously infectious or contagious disease, or are
suspected of having been so contaminated shall, before
being taken on board a pilgrim ship, be disinfected, under
the supervision of a medical officer appointed by the Central
Government for the purpose, in such manner as may be
prescribed.
272. (1) If in any case a pilgrim ship does not proceed on her voyage Medical inspection
within forty-eight hours after all the pilgrims have been after embarkation in
received on board, and there is reason to suspect that any certain cases
person on board is suffering from cholera or choleric
indisposition or any person on board is suffering from cholera
or choleric indisposition or any dangerously infectious or
contagious disease, a medical inspection of all persons on
board may be held in such manner as the Central
Government may direct.
(2) If on such inspection any person is found to be suffering
from cholera or choleric indisposition or any dangerously
infectious or contagious disease, or shows any signs of the

Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
138 [Act 44
same or any other suspicious symptoms, he shall, together

with all articles belonging to him, be at once removed from
the ship.
Pilgrims to arrange 273. No pilgrim shall be received on board any pilgrim ship at any port
return passages or place in India unless he-
(a) is in possession of a return ticket, or
(b) has deposited with the officer authorised in this behalf by
the Central Government such sum for the purpose of
defraying the cost of a return ticket as that Government
may specify by notification in the Official Gazette:
Provided that the authorised officer may exempt any pilgrim
from all or any of the aforesaid requirements, if he is satisfied
that it is inexpedient, in the special circumstances of the
case, to enforce them.
Issue or production or 274. (1) Every pilgrim travelling on a pilgrim ship shall be entitled, on
tickets payment of his passage money and fulfilment of other
prescribed conditions, if any, to receive a ticket in the
prescribed form, and shall be bound to produce it to such
officers and on such occasions as may be prescribed and
otherwise to deal with it in the prescribed manner:
Provided that no pilgrim, who has not been exempted under
the proviso to section 273, shall be given a ticket other than
a return ticket unless he has made the deposit required by
that section.
(2) Any ticket issued to a pilgrim for voyage on a pilgrim ship
shall entitle him to receive food and water, on the scale and
of the quality prescribed and medicines free of further charge,
throughout the voyage.
Refund of passage 275. (1) Every pilgrim prevented from embarking under section 271,
money and deposits or removed from the ship under section 272, or otherwise
prevented from proceeding shall be entitled to the refund of
any passage money, which he may have paid, and of any
deposit, which he may have made under section 273.
(2) Any pilgrim who, within one year of his sailing from India,
satisfies the Indian consular officer at Jeddah than he intends
to return to India by a route other than the route by which he
came from India, shall be entitled to a refund of any deposit
made by him under section 273, or, if he is in possession of
a return ticket, to a refund of half the passage money paid
by him.
(3) Where any pilgrim dies in the Hedjaz or on the voyage
thereto, any person nominated by him in this behalf in writing
in the prescribed manner, or, if no person has been so
nominated, the legal representative of the pilgrim, shall be
entitled to a refund of any deposit made by the pilgrim under

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section 273, or, if the pilgrim was in possession of a return

ticket, to a refund of half the passage money paid by him.
(4) Where any pilgrim fails to return to India from the Hedjaz
within one year of his sailing from India, or returns to India
by a route other than the route by which he came from India,
he or any person nominated by him in this behalf in writing
in the prescribed manner shall be entitled to a refund of any
deposit made by such pilgrim under section 273, or, if such
pilgrim was in possession of a return ticket, to a refund of
half the passage money paid by such pilgrim, except where
such deposit or passage money has already been refunded
under this section.
(5) Refunds under this section of deposits shall be subject to
such conditions and of passage money to such deductions
and conditions as may be prescribed.
276. If any pilgrim- Disposal of un-
(a) who is entitled to a refund passage money under sub-section claimed passage
(1) of section 275, does not claim such refund within the money and deposits
prescribed period, or
(b) who has purchased a return ticket, does not on the basis of
such ticket obtain a return passage from the Hedjaz within
the prescribed period and the value of the return half of such
ticket has not been refunded under section 275, or
(c) who is entitled under section 275 to a refund of any deposit
made under section 273 does not claim such refund within
the prescribed period,
such passage money or value or deposit shall, subject to
the exercise of the rights conferred by sub-section (4) of
section 275, be made over to such authority administering
any fund maintained for the assistance of pilgrims as the
Central Government may, by general or special order,
designate in this behalf.
277. (1) The master, owner or agent of every pilgrim ship shall make Cost of return journey
all arrangements for ensuring the return of all pilgrims in of pilgrims on ships
possession of a return ticket issued in India who are carried other than those for
to the Hedjaz by such ship, within a period of ninety days which return ticket is
after the Haj day in a year: available
Provided that, for the purpose of computing the said period
of ninety days, no period shall be taken into account during
which the ship is prevented from carrying pilgrims on the
return passage by reason of the port of Jeddah having been
declared by proper authority to be infected or by reason of
war, disturbance or any other cause not arising from any
act or default of the master owner or agent.

Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
140 [Act 44
(2) Where any such pilgrim who has notified to the prescribed
authority in the prescribed manner his desire to embark for
the return voyage is, owing to his inability to obtain
accommodation within the period of ninety days aforesaid
in a ship for which the return ticket is available, detained at
Jeddah beyond the said period, the master, owner or agent
of the ship in which such pilgrim was carried to the Hedjaz
shall pay to the Central Government in respect of such pilgrim
such sum not exceeding double the sum received by the
master, owner or agent in respect of the return ticket as the
Central Government claims as the cost of repatriating the
pilgrim together with a sum of rupees five for each day after
the expiry of the period aforesaid during which the pilgrim
has been detained at Jeddah.
(3) A certificate of such detention purporting to be made signed
by the Indian consular officer at Jeddah shall be received in
evidence in any court in India without proof of the signature
or of the official character of the person who has signed the
same.
[278. Notice of sailing of Pilgrim ship. omitted by the Merchant Shipping
1
(Amendment) Act. 1976 (69 of 1976), s. 17 (w.e.f. 1-12-1976).]

Compensation for 279. (1) If a pilgrim ship fails to proceed from any port or place on
delay in sailing the date advertised under 2[clause (b) of sub-section (5) of
section 255] as the final date of sailing therefrom, the master,
owner or agent shall become liable to pay as compensation
to each pilgrim who has paid his passage money on or before
such date the sum of three rupees for each completed day
during which the sailing of the ship is delayed after that
date:
Provided that such compensation shall not be payable in
respect of any period during which the departure of the ship
is impossible owing to any cause not arising from the act or
default of the master, owner or agent, and the burden of
proving such cause shall lie on such master, owner or agent:
Provided further that where compensation has been paid or
has become payable to any pilgrim in respect of delay in
the sailing of the ship from any port or place and the sailing
of the ship from any other port or place is thereafter delayed
beyond the date advertised in that behalf, the pilgrim shall
be entitled to compensation only in respect of any period
by which the duration of such further delay exceeds the
duration of the delay in respect of which he has already
received or become entitled to compensation.
1 Sec. 278 omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1976


Tel: 91-022-2444 4248
of 1958] 141
(2) In the event of such failure, the master, owner or agent shall
be bound forthwith to inform the pilgrim officer at the port or
place at which the delay occurs of the number of passage
tickets of each class which have been issued for the voyage
on or before the advertised final date of sailing.
(3) Any sum payable as compensation under sub-section (1)
shall be paid on behalf of the pilgrims entitled thereto to the
pilgrim officer at the port or place at which the delay occurs
on receipt by the master, owner or agent of a notice from
that officer specifying the sum payable, and that officer shall,
in such manner as may be prescribed, pay to each such
pilgrim the compensation paid in respect of his detention:
Provided that, if an objection is made by the master, owner
or agent that the sum specified in any such notice or any
part of such sum is not payable by him, the sum paid or, as
the case may be, the balance thereof remaining after
payment to the pilgrims entitled thereto of compensations
the right to which is not in dispute, shall be held in deposit
until the objection has been decided:
Provided further that, if for any reason the compensation
due to any pilgrim cannot be paid to him at the time of
embarkation or at or before the time of his disembarkation
at the port of his destination, the sum so remaining unpaid
shall be made over to such authority administering any fund
maintained for the assistance of pilgrims as the Central
Government may, by general or special order, designate in
this behalf.
(4) If the master, owner or agent objects that the sum specified
in the notice issued under sub-section (3) or any part thereof
is not payable by him, he may, at the time of payment of
such sum, give to the pilgrim officer notice of his objection,
together with a statement of the grounds thereof, and the
pilgrim officer shall thereupon either cancel or modify the
aforesaid notice in accordance with the objection and refund
the sum held in deposit under sub-section (3), or refer the
objection for decision to a 1[Metropolitan Magistrate or a
Judicial Magistrate of the first class] exercising jurisdiction
at the port or place at which the ship is delayed, whose
decision on such reference shall be final; and there shall be
refunded to the master, owner or agent any amount allowed
to him by such decision.
(5) On the failure of any pilgrim ship to proceed from any port or
place on the date advertised under 2[clause (b) of sub-section
(5) of Section 255] as the date of final sailing therefrom, the


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pilgrim officer at that port or place shall forthwith give notice

of such failure to the officer authorised to grant port clearance
to ships thereat, and such officer shall refuse port clearance
to the pilgrim ship until the master, owner or agent produces
to him a certificate of the pilgrim officer that all sums payable
by way of compensation under this section up to the day on
which the ship is to proceed have been paid.
Substitution of ships 280. Notwithstanding anything contained in section 1[255] of section
279, where any ship which has been advertised under section 1[255]
for the conveyance of pilgrims has been or is likely to be delayed
beyond the advertised final date of sailing, the owner or agent may,
with the permission in writing of the pilgrim officer, substitute for it
any other ship which is capable of carrying not less than the same
number of pilgrims of each class, and on such permission being
given the advertisement shall be deemed to have been made in
respect of the ship so substituted, and all the provisions of those
sections shall apply accordingly in respect of such ship.
Sanitary taxes 281. The master of every pilgrim ship shall be bound to pay the whole
payable by master of amount of the sanitary taxes imposed by lawful authority at the
pilgrim ship ports visited and such amount shall be included in the cost of the
tickets issued to the pilgrims.
Power to make rules 282. The Central Government may, subject to the condition of previous
relating to pilgrim publication, make rules to regulate all or any of the following
ships matters, namely:
(a) the boats, anchors and cables to be provided on board pilgrim
ships;
(b) the instruments to be supplied for purposes of navigation;
(c) the fittings and other appliances to be provided in the upper
and between-decks for the comfort and convenience of
pilgrims;
(d) the scale on which, and the manner in which, cooked and
uncooked food and water are to be supplied to pilgrims, and
the quality of such food and water;
(e) the kinds of food to be provided for pilgrims on payment, in
addition to the food to be supplied in accordance with the
rules made under clause (d), and the charges which may
be made for the same;
(f) the quality, quantity and storage of the cargo to be carried;
(g) the allotment of the upper deck space between the various
classes of pilgrims;
(h) the distribution or disposal of the baggage of pilgrims on
board ship;
(i) the nature and extent of the hospital accommodation and

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the medical stores, disinfectants, and other appliances and

fittings to be provided on board free of charge to pilgrims for
maintaining health, cleanliness and decency;
(j) the form of the statements to be furnished by the master
under 1[section 257] and the particulars to be entered therein;
(k) the appointment of medical officers and other attendants in
cases where they are required by the provisions of this Part
relating to pilgrim ships to be carried, and the diaries, reports
and other returns to be kept or submitted by such medical
officer;
(l) the manner in which contaminated articles shall be
disinfected before being taken on board a pilgrim ship;
(m) the manner in which, and the persons by whom, the medical
inspection of women shall be carried out;
(n) the manner in which deposits shall be made for the purposes
of section 273, and any matter in respect of which provision
is, in the opinion of the Central Government, necessary or
expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of
that section;
(o) the manner in which provisional bookings may be made,
the acceptance of deposits for such bookings and the
forfeiture of any part of the deposit in cases in which any
such booking are cancelled;
(p) the supply of tickets to intending pilgrims, the form of such
tickets and the conditions and other matters to be specified
thereon, and the amount of the sanitary taxes to be included
in the cost thereof;
(q) the refund of passage money and deposits under section 275
and the manner in which persons shall be nominated under
that section for the purpose of entitling them to a refund;
(r) the period after which unclaimed passage money and
deposits liable to be refunded shall be disposed of in the
manner specified in section 276;
(s) the manner in which the dates of sailing shall be advertised
under 1[section 255] the appointment of pilgrim officers for
the purposes of that section and sections 279 and 280; the
manner in which payment, shall be made under section 279
to pilgrims and to the pilgrim officer; and the procedure to
be followed by masters, owners or agents and by pilgrim
officers and 2 [Metropolitan Magistrates or Judicial
Magistrates of the first class, as the case may be,] in
proceedings under that section;
(t) the function of the master, medical officer and other ship’s
officers during the voyage;


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(u) the local limits within which, and the time and mode at and
in which, pilgrims shall be embarked or discharged at any
port or place appointed under this Part in that behalf;
(v) the time within which a pilgrim ship shall depart or proceed
on her voyage after commencing to take pilgrims on board;
(w) providing that a pilgrim shall not be received on board any
pilgrim ship, unless he is in possession of a passport or a
pilgrim’s pass, regulating the issue of pilgrims, passes, and
prescribing the form of and fees which may be charged for
such passes; H
1
[(ww) the fees that may be levied for the survey or inspection of
pilgrim ships with respect to sanitary conditions, provision
of stores, medical facilities available on such ships and such
other purposes that may be relevant for compliance with
the provisions of this Part relating to pilgrim ships and the
manner in which such fees may be collected;]
(x) generally, to carry out the provisions of this Part relating to
pilgrim ships.

H Word “and” occuring at end of clause (w) omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1983.

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PART VIII-Commentary
The MS Act 1958 under Part VIII limits its application to the sea-going1 passenger ship2
fitted with mechanical means of propulsion. In case of special trade passenger ships Part VIII applies
to passenger ships that is carrying more than 30 unberthed passengers3 or to any ship which is
intended to carry special trade passengers to or from any port or place in India. Part VIII exclusively
deals with various aspects of passenger ships, their survey, Certificate of survey4, powers of surveyor5,
fee6, duration of survey and the like. An exception to the mandatory requirement of possession of
Certificate of Survey is provided to the ships with certificate of survey or certificates of partial survey
granted outside India7, but the certificate should specifically be applicable to the voyage that the ship
intends to undertake or about to be employed or that the ship should not have sustained/found
injured or damaged or unseaworthy or inefficient. Further, the MS Act 1958 also stipulates the
detention of passenger ship which does not possess valid certificate of survey issued under the Act.8
The Act under Part VIII also stipulates the power given to the master and any other officer to
whom the master prescribes, to detain the offenders, who are found to have committed offenses
under Section 233, and to produce them before the nearest judicial forum having jurisdiction to be
dealt with under the law 9. Similarly, the master has the power to refuse to receive and exclude
drunken passengers or those who misconducts themselves from entering the passenger ship.10
Further, the MS Act 1958 provides for power of the Central Government in framing Rules with respect
to the surveys, time, place, manner of survey, requirements of compliances by ships, construction,
machinery, equipment, and marking of loadline, number of surveyors, declaration of surveys, fees
payable, operations of mechanisms of contrivances, schedule of operation and making entries in the
official log book.
1
Section 3(41) of the MS Act 1958 defines the term “seagoing”, which determines application of the Part VIII.
2
Section 3 (25) defines “passenger ship” as “ship carrying more than twelve passengers”
3
Section 3 (24) defines “passenger” as any person except employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship in
the course of business of ship or in pursuance of obligations laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed
or other persons or by reason of circumstances which the neither the master nor the charterer could have foreseen
OR child under one years of age.
4
Section 220 of the MS Act 1958 makes it mandatory that the Certificate of Survey should be valid and voyage specific.
5
Powers include to go on board the ship, inspect the ship, machinery and equipment without unnecessarily/unreasonably
delaying/hindering/detaining the ship
6
The power vested in the Central Government under Section 222 of MS Act 1958 is delegated to Director General of
Shipping by virtue of Merchant Shipping Order, S.O. 3144 dated December 17, 1960 issued by Government of India,
Ministry of Transport & Communication.
7
Section 235 of the MS Act 1958
8
Section 220 (3) empowers, the Customs Collector or the pilot on board the passenger ship to detain the ship until the
ship obtains valid certificate of survey.
9
In 1983, the judicial forum as “Judicial Magistrate of the first class or the Metropolitan Magistrate” has been inserted in
Section 233 (3).
10
Section 234 of the MS Act 1958.

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This part also contains provision for special trade passenger ships and pilgrim ships11,
including certification, survey, embarkation and discharge, statements, death on board, necessity of
medical officers and attendants, comfort and conveniences and the power to the Central Government
to make Rules. This Part and the Rules made there-under will witness more changes in the near
future. At the international level, the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and
their Luggage by Sea 197412 and the Protocol of 200213 is expected to come into force14 on 23rd April
2014. India has not yet ratified the convention or the protocol. But, in the light of innovations and
technologies introduced, the sea transportation of passengers could gain more importance and
hence, to adopt uniform measures and applicable standards, India too, is expected to reconsider the
decision and might adopt the convention and related Protocol.
11
Section 237 to Section 282 of the MS Act 1958.
12
PAL Convention 1974, which was adopted on December 13, 1974 entered into force on April 28, 1987
13
2002 Protocol to PAL Convention was adopted on November 01, 2002.
14
2002 Protocol mandates that the entry into force is 12 months after being accepted by 10 States

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PART IX
SAFETY
283*. The Central Government, if satisfied, Countries to which
(a) that the Government of any country has accepted or Load Line Convention
denounced the Load Line Convention, or, as the case may or Safety Convention
be, the Safety Convention; or applies
(b) that the Load Line Convention or, as the case may be, the
Safety Convention extends, or has ceased to extend to any
territory.
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make a
declaration to that effect.
1
[283A. (1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, Definitions
(a) “existing ship” or “existing vessel” means a ship or
vessel which in not a new ship or a new vessel,
(b) “new ship” or “new vessel” means a ship or vessel
whose keel is laid or which is at a similar stage of
construction on or after the material date as defined
in sub-section (2).
(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1) “material date”
(i) in relation to an Indian ship, means the 21st July, 1968;
(ii) in relation to a foreign ship belonging to a country to which
the Load Line Convention applies, means the date as
from which it is declared under section 283 that the
Government of such country has accepted the Load Line
Convention or, as the case may be, that the said
Convention has been applied to such country.]
Construction of ships
284. (1) The Central Government may make rules (in this Act called Construction rules
the construction rules), prescribing the requirements that
the hull, equipment and machinery of Indian 2[passenger or
cargo ships] shall comply with.
(2) The rules made under sub-section (1) shall include such
requirements as appear to the Central Government to
implement the provisions of the Safety Convention prescribing
the requirements that the hull, equipment and machinery of
passenger or cargo ships shall comply with, except so far
as those provisions are implemented by rules for life saving
appliances, the radio rules, the rules for direction finders or
the collision regulations:
3
[Provided that different requirements may be specified for
special trade passenger ships.]
* Sub. Section (2) omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1970

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(3) The powers conferred on the Central Government by this

section shall be in addition to the powers conferred by any
other provision enabling it to prescribe the requirements that
passenger or cargo ships shall comply with.
Prevention of collisions
Collision regulations 285. (1) The Central Government may make regulations for the
prevention of collisions at sea, and may thereby regulate
the lights and shapes to be carried and exhibited , the fog
and distress signals to be carried and used, and the steering
and sailing rules to be observed by Indian ships and sailing
vessels registered in India.
(2) The collision regulations, together with the provisions of this
Part relating thereto or otherwise relating to collisions, shall
be observed by all foreign ships and sailing vessels within
Indian jurisdiction, and in any case arising in any court in
India concerning matters arising within Indian jurisdiction,
such ships and sailing vessels shall, so far as respects the
collision regulations and the said provisions of this Act, be
treated as if they were Indian ships or sailing vessels
registered in India, as the case may be.
Observance of 286. (1) The owner or master of every ship and the owner or tidal of
collision regulations every sailing vessel to which section 285 applies shall obey
the collision regulations, and shall not carry or exhibit any
lights or shapes or use any fog or distress signals, other
than those required by the said regulations.
(2) If any damage to person or property arises from the non-
observance by any such ship or sailing vessel of any of the
collision regulations, the damage shall be deemed to have
been occasioned by the willful default of the person in charge
of the ship or the sailing vessel, as the case may be, at the
time unless it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that
the circumstances of the case made a departure from the
regulations necessary.
Inspectors of light 287. (1) The Central Government may appoint persons to inspect in
and shapes and fog any port ships or sailing vessels to which the collision
and distress signals regulations apply, for the purpose of seeing that such ships
or sailing vessels are properly provided with lights and
shapes and with the means of making fog and distress
signals, in pursuance of such regulations.
(2) If an inspector appointed under sub-section (1) finds that
any ship or sailing vessel is not so provided, he shall give to
the owner, master or tindal, notice in writing pointing out the
deficiency, and also what, in his opinion, is requisite in order
to remedy the same.
(3) Every notice so given shall be communicated in the
prescribed manner to the customs collector at any port from

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which such ship or sailing vessel may seek to clear; and no

customs collector to whom such communication is made
shall grant such ship a port clearance or allow her to proceed
to sea without a certificate under the hand of some person
appointed as aforesaid, to the effect that the said ship or
sailing vessel is properly provided with lights and shapes
and with the means of making fog and distress signals in
pursuance of the said regulations.
Life saving appliances and fire appliances
288. (1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of Power to make rules
previous publication, make rules prescribing the life saving as to life saving
appliances to be carried by every Indian ship going to sea appliances
from any port or place in India.
following matters, namely:-
(a) the arranging of ships into classes, having regard to
the services in which they are employed, the nature
and duration of the voyage and the number of persons
carried;
(b) the number, description and mode of construction of
the boats, life-rafts, line throwing appliances, life-
jackets and life-buoys to be carried by ships according
to the classes in which the ships are arranged;
(c) the equipment to be carried by any such boats and
rafts and the method to be provided to get the boats
and other life saving appliances into the water, including
oil for use in stormy weather;
(d) the provision in ships of a proper supply of lights
inextinguishable in water and fitted for attachment to
life-buoys;
(e) the quantity, quality and description of buoyant
apparatus to be carried on board ships either in addition
to or in substitution for boats, life-rafts, life-jackets and
life-buoys;
(f) the position and means of securing the boats, life-rafts,
life-jackets, life-buoys and buoyant apparatus;
(g) the marking of boats, life-rafts, and buoyant apparatus
so as to show their dimensions and the number of
persons authorised to be carried on them;
(h) the manning of life-boats and the qualifications and
certificates of life-boatmen;
1
[(hh) the training of crew in launching and using life-rafts;]

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(i) the provision to be made for mustering the persons on

board and for embarking them in the 1[boats or rafts]
(including provision for the lighting of, and the means
of ingress to and egress from, different parts of the
ship);
(j) the provision of suitable means situated outside the
engine room whereby any discharge of water into the
[boats or rafts] can be prevented;
(k) the assignment of specific duties to each member of
the crew in case of emergency;
(l) the manner in which a notice given under section 287
or section 290 shall be communicated to the customs
collector;
(m) the practice in ships of boat drills, and fire drills;
(n) the provision in ships of means of making effective
distress signals by day and by night;
(o) the provision in ships, engaged on voyages in which
pilots are likely to be embarked, of suitable pilot ladders,
and of ropes, lights and other appliances designed to
make the use of such ladders safe;
(p) the periodical examination of any appliances or
equipment required by any rules made under this Act
to be carried by ships; and
(q) the fees to be charged for the grant of any certificate
under sub-section(3) of section 290.
Rules relating to fire 289. The Central Government may make rules prescribing the methods
appliances to be adopted and the appliances to be carried by every Indian
ship going to sea from any port or place in India for the prevention,
detection and extinction of fire on the ship (hereinafter referred to
as fire appliances).
Inspection of life 290. (1) A surveyor may, at any reasonable time, inspect any ship
saving appliances for the purpose of seeing that she is properly provided with
and fire appliances life saving and fire appliances in conformity with the rules
made under this Act.
(2) If the said surveyor finds that the ship is not so provided he
shall give to the master or owner notice in writing pointing
out the deficiency, and also pointing out what in his opinion
is requisite to remedy the same.
(3) Every notice so given shall be communicated in the
prescribed manner to the customs collector of any port at
which the ship may seek to obtain a clearance and the ship
shall be detained until a certificate signed by such surveyor
is produced to the effect that the ship is properly provided
with life saving and fire appliances in conformity with the
said rules.

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Installation of radio telegraphy, radio telephony

and direction finders
291. 1
[(1) Every Indian passenger ship and every Indian cargo ship of Radio requiremens
three hundred tons gross tonnage or more, shall, in
accordance with the rules made under section 296, be
provided with a radio installation and shall maintain a radio
telegraph service or a radio telephone service of the
prescribed nature and shall be provided with such certificated
operators as may be prescribed.]
(2) The radio installation required under the said rules to be
provided for a passenger ship or for Subs. by MS (Amend.)
Act 1966 [any cargo ship of sixteen hundred tons gross or
more shall be a radio telegraph installation; and that required
to be provided for a cargo ship of less than sixteen hundred
tons gross] shall be either a radio telegraph installation or a
radio telephone installation at the option of the owner.
2
[(3) The Central Government may, having regard to the length of
the voyage or voyages on which a ship or a class of ships is
engaged and the maximum distance such ship or class of
ships will be from the shore during such voyage or voyages,
exempt, by order in writing and subject to such conditions
and restrictions as may be specified therein, any ship or
class of ships from compliance with all or any of the
obligations imposed by or under this section, if that
Government is satisfied that such compliance would be
unreasonable or unnecessary :
Provided that an exemption from the obligation to provide
with radio telegraph installation in respect of any passenger
ship or in respect of any cargo ship of sixteen hundred tons
gross tonnage or more shall be subject to the condition that
she shall have on board a radio telephone installation;
Provided further that no exemption shall be granted under
this section, if it will have an adverse effect on the general
efficiency of the distress service for the safety of ships.]
292. 3
[(1) Every Indian ship of sixteen hundred tons gross or more Radio direction
shall be provided with a radio direction finder of the prescribed finding apparatus
description.
(2) The Central Government may, by order in writing and subject
to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified
therein, exempt any ship under five thousand tons gross
tonnage from the obligation imposed by sub-section (1), if
that Government is satisfied, having regard to the area or
areas in which the ship is engaged on a voyage or voyages
2 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act. 1966
3 Sec. 292 renumbered as sub-section (1) and Ins. sub-section (2) by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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and the value of radio direction finder as a navigational

instrument and as an aid to locating ships, aircraft or survival
craft, that such compliance would be unreasonable or
unnecessary.]
Radio log 293. (1) Every ship compulsorily equipped under the provisions of
section 291 with a radio telegraph or radio telephone
installation shall maintain in the radio telegraph or radio
telephone room a radio log in which shall be entered such
particulars relating to the operation of the radio telegraph or
radio telephone installation and as to the maintenance of
the radio telegraph or radio telephone service as may be
prescribed.
(2) The provisions of section 215 shall apply to the radio log
kept under this section as if it were an official log.
Powers of radio 294. (1) A radio inspector may inspect any ship for the purpose of
inspectors seeing that she is properly provided with a radio telegraph
or radio telephone installation and certificated operators in
conformity with this Part, and for this purpose may go on
board any ship at all reasonable times and do all things
necessary for the proper inspection of the ship for the
purpose of the provisions of this Part relating to radio
telegraphy or radio telephony and may also require the
master of the ship to supply him with any information which
it is in the power of the master to supply for that purpose,
including the production of any certificate granted under this
Part in respect of the installation, and of the certificates of
the operators H on the ship :
Provided that if a valid safety convention certificate is produced
in respect of any ship other than an Indian ship, the inspection
shall be limited to seeing that the ship is provided with a radio
telegraph or radio telephone installation and that the number
of certified operators corresponds substantially with the
particulars stated in the certificate.
(2) If a radio inspector finds that a ship is not so provided, he
shall give to the master or owner notice in writing pointing
out the deficiency, and also pointing out what in his opinion
is requisite to remedy the same.
(3) Every notice given under sub-section (2) shall be
communicated in the prescribed manner to the customs
collector of any port at which the ship may seek to obtain
port clearance, who shall order that the ship shall be detained
until a certificate under the hand of a radio inspector is
produced to the effect that the ship is properly provided with
a radio telegraph or radio telephone installation and certified
operators in conformity with this Part.
H
The words “and watchers” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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295. The provisions of this Part relating to radio telegraphy, radio telephony Application of this
and direction finders shall apply to ships other than Indian ships while Part to ships other
they are within any port in India in like manner as they apply to Indian than Indian ships
ships
purposes of this Part relating to radio telegraphy or radio
telephony 2[or radio direction finders.]
foregoing power, such rules may prescribe -
(a) the nature of the radio telegraph or radio telephone
installation and radio direction finding apparatus to be
provided and of the service to be maintained, the form
of the radio log and the particulars to be entered therein,
and the number, grades and qualifications of certified
operators to be carried;
1
[(aa) the nature of radio telegraph installation to be provided
on motor life-boats and survival craft;]
(b) the manner in which a notice given under section 294
shall be communicated to the customs collector;
(c) the charging of fees for the grant of the certificate
referred to in sub-section (3) of section 294, the amount
of such fees and the manner in which they shall be
recoverable.
Signaling lamps
297. Every Indian ship exceeding one hundred and fifty tons gross shall, Signalling lamps
when proceeding to sea from any port or place in India to any port
or place outside India, be provided with a 2[signalling lamp which
shall not be solely dependent upon the ship’s main source of
electrical power and which shall be of the type approved] by the
Central Government.
Stability information
298. (1) There shall be carried on board every Indian ship whose Information about
keel was laid after the 15th day of June, 1953, such ship’s stability
information in writing 2[as is necessary to enable the master
by rapid and simple processes to obtain accurate guidance
as to the stability of the ship under varying conditions of
service.]
2
[(2) The information shall be in such form as may be approved
by the Central Government (which may approve the provision
of the information in the form of a diagram or drawing only)
and shall be suitably amended whenever any alterations
are made to the ship so as to materially affect such
information.


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(2A) The information shall be based on the determination of the

ship’s stability by means of an inclining test of the ship and
any amendment thereto shall be effected, if necessary, after
re-inclining the ship:
Provided that the Central Government may, by a general or
special order -
(a) in the case of any ship, allow the information or an
amendment thereto to be based on a similar
determination of the stability of a sister ship;
(b) in the case of a ship specially designed for the carriage
of liquids or ore in bulk, or of any class of such ships,
dispense with such tests if it is satisfied from the
information available in respect of similar ships that
the ship’s proportions and arrangements are such as
to ensure more than sufficient stability in all probable
loading conditions.]
(3) When any information 1[(including any amendment thereto)]
under this section is provided for any ship, the owner shall
send a copy thereof to the Director-General.
(4) It is hereby declared that for the purpose of section 208 (which
requires documents relating to navigation to be delivered by
the master of a ship to his successor) information 1[(including
any amendment thereto)] under this section shall be deemed
to be a document relating to the navigation of the ship.
2
[Safety certificates, safety equipment certificates, safety radio
certificates, exemption certificates, etc.]
Safety certificates, 299. (1) Where, on receipt of a declaration of survey granted under
and qualified safety Part VIII in respect of a passenger ship, the Central
certificates for Government is satisfied that the ship complies with the
passenger ships construction rules and with the provisions of this Act and
the rules made thereunder relating to life saving and fire
appliances 2[radio installation] 1[and radio direction finder]
applicable to such ship and is provided with lights and shapes
and the means of making fog and distress signals required
by the collision regulations, the Central Government may
issue in respect of the ship a certificate in the prescribed
form to be called a 3[passenger ship safety certificate.]
(2) Where on receipt of a declaration of survey granted under
Part VIII in respect of a passenger ship the Central
Government is satisfied that there is in force in respect of
the ship an exemption certificate granted under section 302
and that the ship complies with all the requirements referred
to in sub-section (1) other than those from which the ship is
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1966 exempt under that certificate, the Central Government may
2 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 2002 issue in respect of the ship a certificate in the prescribed

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form to be called a 1[qualified passenger ship safety

certificate.]
2
[(3) Where on receipt of a declaration of survey granted under
Part VIII in respect of a special trade passenger ship*, the
Central Government is satisfied that the ship complies with
the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder
relating to construction, life saving appliances and space
requirements, it may in addition to the certificates referred
to in sub-section (1) and (2), issue in respect of the ship a
special trade passenger ship safety certificate and a special
trade passenger ship space certificate.]
3
[(4) The certificates issued under sub-sections (1) and (2), sub-
sections (1) and (2) of section 300 and section 301 shall be
supplemented by a record of equipment in the prescribed form.]
4
[299A. (1) Where in respect of any Indian cargo ship 5[the Central Safety construction
Government or any person authorised by it in this behalf] is certificates and
satisfied that the ship has been surveyed in the manner construction certifi-
prescribed under section 299B and that she complies with cates for cargo ships
the construction rules made under section 284, 5[the Central
Government or the authorised person] may issue in respect
of the ship-
(a) 6
[if the ship is of five hundred tons gross or more and
performs international voyages], a certificate in the
prescribed form to be called a cargo ship safety
construction certificate;
(b) in other cases, a certificate in the prescribed form, to
be called a cargo ship construction certificate.
(2) Where in respect of any such ship as is referred to in sub-
section (1) there is in force an exemption certificate granted
under section 302 5[and the Central Government or any person
authorised by it in this behalf] is satisfied that the ship complies
with all the requirements referred to in that sub-section other
than those from which the ship is exempt under that certificate,
5
[that Government or the authorised person] may issue in
respect of the ship a certificate in the prescribed form to be
called a qualified cargo ship safety construction certificate or a
qualified cargo ship construction certificate.
3
[(3) The owner of every ship in respect of which a certificate is
issued under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), sub-section

* Words “or a Pilgrim ship” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 2002

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156 [Act 44
(1) or sub-section (2) of section 300 or section 301 shall,

so long as the certificate remains in force, cause the ship
to be surveyed in the manner as specified in the Safety
Convention or in cases where such specified manner is
not applicable, in such manner as the rules made in this
behalf prescribe, as the case may be.]
Power to make rules 299B. (1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of
previous publication, make rules to regulate the making
of surveys of cargo ships under this Part.
foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of
the following matters, namely :-
(a) the times and places at which, and the manner in
which, surveys are to be made;
(b) the requirements as to construction, machinery,
equipment and marking of sub-division load-lines
which are to be fulfilled by cargo ships generally or
by any class of cargo ships in particular;
(c) the duties of the surveyor making a survey;
(d) the rates according to which the fees payable in
respect of surveys are to be calculated in the case
of all or any of the places or ports of survey;
(e) the closing of, and keeping closed, the openings in
ships’ hulls and any water-tight bulk-heads;
(f) the securing of, and keeping in place, and the
inspection of, contrivances for closing any such
openings as aforesaid;
(g) the operation of mechanisms of contrivances for
closing any such openings as aforesaid and the drills
in connection with the operation thereof; and
(h) the entries to be made in the official log book or
other record to be kept of any of the matters
aforesaid.]
Cargo ship safety [300. (1)
1
Where in respect of an Indian cargo ship the Central
equipment and cargo Government or any person authorised by it in this behalf
ship equipment is satisfied that the ship complies with the provisions of
certificates for ships this Act and the rules made thereunder relating to life
other than passenger saving and fire appliances applicable to such ship and is
ships. provided with lights and shapes and the means of making
fog and distress signals required by the collision
regulations, that Government or the authorised person may
issue in respect of the ship-
(a) If the ship is of five hundred tons gross or more and
performs international voyages, a certificate in the
prescribed form to be called a cargo ship safety
equipment certificate;

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of 1958] 157
(b) in other cases, a certificate in the prescribed form to

be called a cargo ship equipment certificate.
(2) Where, in respect of a ship referred to in sub-section (1), there
is in force an exemption certificate granted under section 302
and the Central Government or any person authorised by it in
this behalf is satisfied that the ship complies with all the
requirements referred to in that sub-section, other than those
from which the ship is exempt under that certificate, that
Government or the authorised person may issue a certificate
in the prescribed form to be called a qualified cargo ship safety
equipment certificate or a qualified cargo ship equipment
certificate, as the case may be.]
1
[301. The owner or master of any Indian cargo ship, which is required by Cargo ship radio
the provisions of section 291 to be provided with a radio installation telegraphy and
shall, if the Central Government or any person authorised by it in telephony certificates
this behalf is satisfied that the ship complies with all the provisions
of this Act and the rules made thereunder relating to radio
installation applicable to such ship, receive-
(a) in the case of a ship of three hundred tons gross or more, a
certificate in the prescribed form to be called a cargo ship
safety radio certificate;
(b) in the case of ship of three hundred tons gross or more but
less than three thousand tons gross performing voyages
only between ports or places in India, a certificate in the
prescribed form to be called a qualified cargo ship safety
radio certificate; and
(c) in other cases, a certificate in the prescribed form to be
called a cargo ship radio certificate.]
302. The owner or master of an Indian ship which is exempt from any of Exemption certifi-
the provisions of the construction rules or of this Act and the rules cates
made thereunder relating to life saving and fire appliances and
radio telegraphy or radio telephony installation shall, on application
to the officer appointed in this behalf by the Central Government,
receive from such officer a certificate in the prescribed form to be
called an exemption certificate.
1
[303. (1) A passenger ship safety certificate, a qualified passenger Duration of certifi-
ship safety certificate, a special trade passenger ship safety cates
certificate and a special trade passenger ship space
certificate issued under this Part shall be in force for a period
of twelve months from the date of its issue or for such shorter
period as may be specified in the certificate.
(2) A cargo ship safety equipment certificate, a qualified cargo
ship safety equipment certificate, a cargo ship equipment
certificate, a qualified cargo ship equipment certificate, a

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cargo ship safety construction certificate, a qualified cargo

ship safety construction certificate, a cargo ship construction
certificate, a qualified cargo ship construction certificate, a
cargo ship safety radio certificate, a qualified cargo ship
safety radio certificate and a cargo ship radio certificate
issued under this Part shall be in force for a period of five
years from the date of its issue or for such shorter period as
may be specified in the certificate.
(3) An exemption certificate issued under section 302 shall be
in force for the period for which the certificate to which it
relates remains in force or for such shorter period as may
be specified in the exemption certificate.
(4) Notwithstanding the requirements of sub-section (1), (2) and
(3) when the survey is completed within three months before
the expiry date of the existing certificate, the new certificate
may be valid from the date of completion of the survey,-
(a) for a passenger ship, a date not exceeding twelve
months; and
(b) for a cargo ship, a date not exceeding five years, from
the date of expiry of the existing certificate.
(5) The Central Government or any person authorised by it in
this behalf may grant an extension of any certificate issued
under this Part in respect of an Indian ship-
(a) where the ship is not in a port in which it is to be
surveyed, on the date when the certificate would, but
for the extension, have expired, for such period not
exceeding three months from the said date as may be
sufficient to enable the ship to complete its voyage to
the port in which it is to be surveyed;
(b) where the ship is engaged on a short voyage and whose
certificate has not been extended under clause (a), for
a period up to one month from the date when the
certificate would have expired;
Provided that any extension granted under clause (a) shall
cease to be operative upon the ship’s arrival at the port
referred to in that clause:
Provided further that no extension shall be granted under
clause (b) in respect of a certificate extended under clause
(a).
(6) Where an existing certificate of a ship has been extended
under sub-section (5) and when survey is completed, the
new certificate shall be valid up to,–
months; or

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of 1958] 159
(b) for a cargo ship, a date not exceeding five years,

from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.
(7) In special circumstances where the Central Government so
determines, a new certificate, need not be dated from the date
of expiry of the existing certificate, shall be valid up to,-
months;
(b) for a cargo ship, a date not exceeding five years,
from the date of completion of the survey.
(8) Where a certificate referred to in sub-section (2) is issued
for a period of less than five years, the Central Government
or any person authorised by it in this behalf may extend the
validity of the certificate beyond the expiry date to the
maximum period specified in sub-section (2) if appropriate
surveys, applicable when a certificate is issued for a period
of five years, are carried out.
(9) If a survey has been completed and a new certificate cannot
be issued or placed on board the ship before the expiry
date of the existing certificate, the Central Government or
any person authorised by it in this behalf may endorse the
existing certificate and such certificate shall be in force for
a further period which shall not exceed five months from the
expiry date of the existing certificate.
(10) If annual, intermediate or periodical surveys in the manner as
specified in the Safety Convention or in cases where such
specified manner is not applicable, in such manner as the
rules made in this behalf prescribe, as the case may be, are
completed before the period stipulated therefore, then –
(a) the anniversary date mentioned on the relevant
certificate shall be amended by endorsement to a date
which shall not be more than three months later than
the date on which the survey was completed;
(b) the subsequent surveys shall be completed at the
stipulated intervals using the new anniversary date so
endorsed;
(c) the expiry date may remain unchanged provided one
or more annual, intermediate or periodical surveys, as
the case may be, are carried out so that the maximum
stipulated intervals between the surveys are not
exceeded.
(11) A certificate issued under section 299A, section 300 or
section 301 shall cease to be valid, –
(a) if the relevant surveys specified in the Safety Convention

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160 [Act 44
or in cases where such specified manner is not

applicable, in such manner as the rules made in this
behalf prescribe, as the case may be, are not
completed within the stipulated period;
(b) if the certificate is not endorsed; or
(c) if the ship ceases to be an Indian ship.]
Modification of safety 304. (1) If an Indian ship in respect of which 1[a passenger ship safety
convention certifi- certificate] 2[or a special trade passenger ship safety certificate]
cates as respects life issued under section 299 is in force has on board in the course
saving appliances of a particular voyage a total number of persons less than the
number stated in the certificate to be the number for which the
life saving appliances on the ship provide, the owner or master
of the ship may obtain from the authority issuing the certificate,
or any person authorised by the authority for the purpose, a
memorandum to be attached to the certificate stating the total
number of persons carried on the ship on that voyage, and the
modifications which may be made for the purpose of that voyage
in the particulars with respect to life saving appliances stated
in the certificate.
(2) Where a valid 3[passenger ship safety certificate or special
trade passenger ship safety certificate] is produced in
respect of a passenger ship other than an Indian ship and
there is attached to the certificate a memorandum which-
(a) has been issued by or under the authority of the
Government of the country in which the ship is
registered, and
(b) modifies for the purpose of any particular voyage, in
view of the number of persons actually carried on that
voyage, the particulars stated in the certificate with
respect to life saving appliances,
the certificate shall have effect for the purpose of that voyage
as if it were modified in accordance with the memorandum.
Recognition of 305. A valid safety convention certificate issued in respect of a ship
certificates issued other than an Indian ship by the government of the country to which
outside India the ship belongs shall, subject to such rules as the Central
Government may make in this behalf, have the same effect in India
as the corresponding certificate issued in respect of an Indian ship
under this Part.
Issue of certificates 306. (1) The Central Government may, at the request of the
to foreign ships in Government of a country to which the safety Convention
India and Indian applies, cause an appropriate safety convention certificate
ships in foreign to be issued in respect of a ship 1[registered or to be
countires registered] in that country, if it is satisfied in like manner as

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of 1958] 161
in the case of an Indian ship that such certificate can properly

be issued, and, where a certificate is issued at such a request,
it shall contain a statement that it has been so issued.
(2) The Central Government may request the Government of a
country to which the Safety Convention applies, to issue an
appropriate safety convention certificate 1[in respect of a ship
registered or to be registered in India] and a certificate issued
in pursuance of such a request and containing a statement
that it has been so issued shall have effect for the purpose of
this Act as if it had been issued by the Central Government.
307. 2
[(1) No Indian passenger ship shall proceed on a voyage from Prohibition on
any port or place in India to any port or place outside India- proceeding to sea
(a) if the ship is a ship, other than a special trade passenger without certificates
ship, unless there is in force in respect of the ship either-
(i) a passenger ship safety certificate issued under
section 299; or
(ii) a qualified passenger ship safety certificate issued
under section 299 and an exemption certificate issued
under section 302;
(b) if the ship is a special trade passenger ship, unless
there is in force in respect of the ship the certificate
referred to in sub-clause (i) of clause (a) or the
certificates referred to in sub-clause (ii) of that clause
and a special trade passenger ship safety certificate
and a special trade passenger ship space certificate,
being in each case a certificate which by the terms
thereof is applicable to the voyage on which the ship
is about to proceed and to the trade in which she is for
the time being engaged.]
(2) No sea-going 1[Indian cargo ship of five hundred tons gross
or more] shall proceed on a voyage from any place in India
to any place outside India unless there is in force in respect
of the ship
(a) such certificate or certificates as would be required in
her case by the provisions of sub-section (1) if she
were a passenger ship, or
1
[(b) a cargo ship safety construction certificate issued
under section 299A, a cargo ship safety equipment
certificate issued under section 300 and a cargo ship
safety 3[radio certificate] issued under section 301, or]
(c) a 2[qualified cargo ship safety equipment certificate]
issued under section 300 and an exemption certificate


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162 [Act 44
issued under section 302 being certificates which by

the terms thereof are applicable to the voyage on which
the ship is about to proceed and to the trade in which
she is for the time being engaged.
[(2A) No sea-going Indian cargo ship, less than five hundred tons
1
gross, shall proceed on a voyage from any port or place in

India to any port or place in India or to any port or place
outside India unless there is in force in respect of the ship a
cargo ship construction certificate issued under section 299
A and a cargo ship equipment certificate issued under section
300 and,-
(i) a cargo ship safety radio certificate if the ship is three
hundred tons gross or more;
(ii) a qualified cargo ship safety radio certificate if the ship
is operating within ports or places in India and is of
three hundred to five hundred tons gross; or
(iii) a cargo ship radio certificate if the ship is less than
three hundred tons gross, issued under section 301]
(3) No sea-going 1[Indian cargo ship of five hundred tons gross
or more] shall proceed on a voyage between ports or places
in India unless there is in force in respect of the ship
(a) 2
[(a cargo ship 1[safety construction certificate or cargo
ship construction certificate issued under section 299A)]
(b) a 1[cargo ship equipment certificate or a;]
(c) a 2[cargo ship] 1[safety radio certificate or a qualified
cargo ship safety radio certificate, if the ship operates
between ports or places in India and is between five
hundred to three thousand tons gross] issued under
section 301 or an exemption certificate issued under
section 302;
being a certificate which by the terms thereof is applicable
to the voyage on which the ship is about to proceed and to
the trade in which she is for the time being engaged.
(4) The master of every ship to which this section applies shall
produce to the customs collector from whom a port clearance
for the ship is demanded the certificate or certificates required
by the foregoing provisions of this section to be in force when
the ship proceeds to sea, and the port clearance shall not be
granted and the ship may be detained until the said certificate
or certificates are so produced.
Production of
certificates by ships 308. (1) The master of 2[every ship, being passenger ship or being a
other than Indian cargo ship of three hundred tons gross or more] belonging
ships to a country to which the Safety Convention applies, shall

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of 1958] 163
produce a valid safety convention certificate to the customs

collector from whom a clearance for the ship is demanded
in respect of a voyage from a port or place in India to a port
or place outside India and a clearance shall not be granted
and the ship may be detained until such a certificate is so
produced.
(2) Where a valid safety convention certificate is produced in
respect of a shipH, the ship shall not be deemed to be unsafe
for the purpose of section 342 by reason of the defective
condition of her hull, equipment or machinery unless it
appears that the ship cannot proceed to sea without danger
to the passengers or crew owing to the fact that the actual
condition of the ship does not correspond substantially with
the particulars stated in the certificate.
1
[(3) Nothing in this section shall apply in respect of an Indian
ship or a nuclear ship]
309. The provisions of sections 228 to 231(inclusive) shall apply to and Application of certain
in relation to every certificate issued by the Central Government sections to certifi-
under sections 299, 1[299A], 300, 301 and 302 in the same manner cates
as they apply to and in relation to a certificate of survey.
1
[309A. Where any survey of a ship for the purpose of issue under this Part Alterations pending
of a safety convention certificate has been completed, then, issue of a safety
notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the owner, agent convention certificate
or master of the ship shall not, until such certificate has been
issued, make, or cause to be made, any alteration, in the structural
arrangements, machinery, equipment and other matters covered
by the survey without the prior written permission of the Central
Government or a person appointed by that Government in this
behalf.]
Load lines
310. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of Ships exempt from
this Part relating to load lines shall apply to all sailing vessels provisions relating to
as they apply to ships, and accordingly, the expression ship load lines
in the said provisions of this Part shall be constructed as
including a sailing vessel.
(2) The provisions of this Part relating to load lines shall not
apply to -
(a) 2[any sailing vessel, being an existing vessel of less
than one hundred and fifty tons gross, or a new vessel
of less than twenty-four metres in length, and in either
case employed in plying coastwise between ports
situated within India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon;]

* The words “other than an Indian Ship” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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164 [Act 44
(b) any ship solely engaged in fishing;

(c) any pleasure yacht.
(3) The Central Government may, on such conditions as it may
think fit, exempt from the provisions of this Part relating to
load lines -
(a) any ship plying between the near neighbouring ports
of two or more countries, if the Central Government
and the Governments of those countries are satisfied
that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyages
between those ports make it unreasonable or
impracticable to apply to ships so plying the provisions
of this Part relating to load lines;
(b) any ship plying between near neighbouring ports of
the same country, if the Central Government is satisfied
as aforesaid;
(c) wooden ships of primitive build, if the Central
Government considers that it would be unreasonable
or impracticable to apply the said provisions to them;
1
[(d) any coasting ship, being an existing ship of less than
one hundred and fifty tons gross or a new ship of less
than twenty- four metres in length :
Provided that any such ship does not carry cargo;
(e) any ship which embodies features of a novel kind, if
the Central Government is satisfied that the application
of the provisions of this Part relating to load lines to
such a ship might seriously impede research into
development of such features and their incorporation
in ships and the Central Government and the
Governments of the countries to be visited by the ship
are adequate for the purposes for which the ship is
intended and are such as to ensure the overall safety
of the ship;
(f) any ship which is not normally engaged on voyages to
ports outside India but which in exceptional
circumstances is required to undertake such voyage if
the Central Government is satisfied that the ship
complies with safety requirements which are adequate
for such voyage.]
Power ot make rules 311. The Central Government may, subject to the condition of previous
as to load lines publication, make rules (hereafter in this Act referred to as the
load line rules) regulating the survey of ships for the purpose of
assignment and marking of load lines and prescribing the conditions
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the conditions of assignment)
on which load lines may be assigned.
Marking of deck line 312. (1) No Indian ship, being a ship of which the keel was laid 1[on
and load lines or after the 21st day of July, 1968,] and not being exempt

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of 1958] 165
from the provisions of this Part relating to load lines, shall

proceed to sea unless
(a) the ship has been surveyed in accordance with the
load line rules;
(b) the ship complies with the conditions of assignment;
(c) the ship is marked on each side with a mark (hereafter
in this Act referred to as a deck line) indicating the
position of the uppermost complete deck as defined
by the load line rules, and with marks (hereafter in this
Act referred to as load lines) indicating the several
maximum depths to which the ship can be safely
loaded in various circumstances prescribed by the load
line rules;
(d) the deck line and load lines are of the description
required by the load line rules, the deck line is in the
position required by those rules, and the load lines are
of the number required by such of those rules as are
applicable to the ship; and
(e) the load lines are in the position required by such of
the load line rules as are applicable to the ship.
(2) No Indian ship, being a ship of which the keel was laid
1
[before the 21st day of July, 1968,] and not being exempt
from the provisions of this Part relating to load lines, shall
proceed to sea unless
(a) the ship has been surveyed and marked in accordance
with clauses (a), (c) and (d) of sub-section(1);
(b) the ship complies with the conditions of assignment in
principle and also in detail so far as, in the opinion of
the Central Government, is reasonable and practicable
having regard to the efficiency of the protection of
openings, the guard rails, the freeing port and the means
of access to the crew’s quarters provided by the
arrangements, fittings and appliances existing on the
ship at the time when she is first surveyed under this
section; and
(c) 1[the load lines are in the position required by clause
(e) of sub-section (1).]
(3) Any ship attempting to proceed to sea without being surveyed
and marked as required by this section may be detained until
she has been surveyed and marked, and any ship which does
not comply with the conditions of assignment to the extent
required in her case by this section shall be deemed to be
unsafe for the purpose of section 336.
1
[312A. Where any survey under this Part of a ship for the purpose of Alterations after
assignment and marking of load lines has been completed, then, sruvey

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166 [Act 44
notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the owner, agent

or master of the ship shall not make or cause to be made any alteration
in the structure, equipment, arrangements, material or scantlings
covered by the survey without the prior written permission of the Central
Government or a person authorised by that Government in this behalf.]
Submersion of load 313. (1) An Indian ship (not being exempt from the provisions of this
lines Part relating to load lines) shall not be so loaded as to
submerge in salt water, when the ship has no list, the
appropriate load line on each side of the ship, that is to say,
the load line indicating or purporting to indicate the maximum
depth to which the ship is for the time being entitled under
the load line rules to be loaded.
(2) Without prejudice to any other proceedings under this Act,
any ship which is loaded in contravention of this section
may be detained until she ceases to be so loaded.
Inspection of ships 314. (1) No owner or master of an Indian ship which has been marked
with respect to load in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part, shall
lines without reasonable cause, fail to keep the ship so marked.
(2) No person shall conceal, remove, alter, deface or obliterate, or
suffer any person under his control to conceal, remove, alter,
deface or obliterate any mark placed on any such ship in
accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part except
with the authority of a person entitled under the load line rules
to authorise the alteration of the mark or except for the purpose
of escaping capture by an enemy or by a foreign ship of war in
the exercise of some belligerent right.
Inspection of ships 315. A surveyor may inspect any Indian ship for the purpose of seeing
with respect to load that the provisions of this Part relating to load lines have been
lines complied with and for this purpose may go on board the ship at all
reasonable times and do all things necessary for the proper
inspection of the ship and may also require the master of the ship
to supply him with any information which it is in the power of the
master to supply for that purpose, including the production of any
certificate granted under this Part in respect of the ship.
Load line certificates
Issue of load line 316. (1) Where an Indian ship has been surveyed and marked in
certificates and effect accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Part and
thereof complies with the conditions of assignment to the extent
required in her case by those provisions, there shall be issued
to the owner of the ship on his application and on payment
of the prescribed fee, -
1
[(a) in the case of an existing ship which is of one hundred
and fifty tons gross or more or a new ship of twenty-
four metres or more in length, and which in either case
carries cargo or passengers, a certificate to be called
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1970 “an international load line certificate;”

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of 1958] 167
(aa) in the case of a ship which is exempted under clause

(e) or clause (f) of sub-section (3) of section 310, a
certificate to be called “an international load line
exemption certificate”; and]
(b) in the case of any other ship, a certificate to be called
an Indian load line certificate .
(2) Every such certificate shall be issued either by the Central
Government or by such other person as may be authorised
in that behalf by the Central Government and shall be issued
in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the load
line rules.
country to which the Load Line Convention applies, to issue
a load line certificate in the form of an international load line
certificate under that Convention in respect of an Indian ship
and a certificate issued in pursuance of such an request
and containing a statement that it has been so issued shall
have effect for the purposes of this Part as if it had been
issued by the Central Government.
(4) Where a load line certificate, issued in pursuance of this
section and for the time being in force, is produced in respect
of a ship, the ship shall, for the purposes of the foregoing
provisions of this Part, be deemed to have been surveyed
as required by those provisions, and if the deck line and
load lines on the ship are of the number and description
required by the load line rules and the position of the deck
line and load lines corresponds with the position specified
in the certificate, the ship shall be deemed to be marked as
required by those provisions.
317. 1
[(1) Every certificate issued in respect of a ship under clause Duration and cancel-
(a) or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 316 and every lation of certificates
certificate issued under clause (aa) of that sub-section to a
ship referred to in clause (e) of sub-section (3) of section
310 shall be in force for a period of five years from the date
of its issue or for such shorter period as may be specified in
the certificate but subject to the provisions of this Part, a
new certificate may be issued in respect of such ship :
Provided that where it is not possible to issue such new
certificate to any ship before the expiry of its existing
certificate, the Central Government or any other person
authorised by it to issue such certificate may, on being
satisfied that no alterations affecting the ship’s free board
have been made in the structure, equipment, arrangements,
material or scantlings, after the last survey of the ship under
sub-section (5), extend the validity of the existing certificate
for such period not exceeding five months as the Central
Government or such person may deem fit.

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1
[Provided further that when the survey for the purpose of
issue of certificate under sub-section (1) of section 316 is
completed within three months before the expiry date of the
existing certificate, the new certificate may be valid from
the date of completion of such survey to a date not exceeding
five years from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.]
(2) Every certificate issued under clause (aa) of sub-section (1)
of section 316 to a ship referred to in clause (f) of sub-
section (3) of section 310 shall cease to be valid upon the
completion of the voyage in respect of which such certificate
was issued.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing
provisions of this section, any certificate issued in respect
of a ship under sub-section (1) of section 316 2[shall cease
to be valid when-
(a) the ship ceases to be an Indian ship;
(b) material alterations such as would necessitate the
assignment of an increased free board have taken place
in the hull or superstructure of the ship;
(c) the fittings and appliances for the protection of
openings, the guard rails, freeing ports, or the means
of access to the crew’s quarters are not maintained in
an effective condition;
(d) the structural strength of the ship is lowered to such
an extent as to render the ship unsafe;
(e) the certificate is not endorsed to prove that the ship has
been surveyed as required under sub-section (5); or
(f) the marking of the deck line and load lines on the ship
have not been properly maintained;]
*[(4) The Central Government may, by order in writing, cancel any
certificate issued in respect of a ship under sub-section (1)
of section 316 if it is satisfied that-
(a) material alterations such as would necessitate assignment
of an increased free board have taken place in the hull or
superstructure of the ship,
(b) the fittings and appliances for the protection of openings,
the guard rails, freeing ports, or the means of access to the
crew’s quarters are not maintained in an effective condition,
(c) the structural strength of the ship is lowered to such an
extent as to render the ship unsafe,
(d) the markings of the deck line and load lines on the ship
have not been properly maintained :
Provided that no such order shall be made unless the person
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 2002 concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity to
2 Subs MS (Amend.) Act 2002 represent his case.]
* Subsection (4) Omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 2002

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(5) The owner of every ship in respect of which any certificate

has been issued under sub-section (1) of section 316 shall,
so long as the certificate remains in force, cause the ship
to be surveyed in the prescribed manner 1[and the certificate
endorsed once at least in each year during the period
commencing three months before and ending three months
after the anniversary date of expiry of the certificate for the
purpose of ensuring that-
(a) alterations have not been made to the hull or
superstructure which would affect the calculations
determining the position of the load lines;
(b) the fittings and the appliances for the protection of
openings, the guard rails, freeing ports, or the means
of access to the crew’s quarters are maintained in an
effective condition;
(c) the free board marks are correctly and permanently
marked; and
(d) the stability information required under section 298 is
readily available on board]
1
[(6) If an annual survey is completed before the period specified
in sub-section (5) then,-
(a) the anniversary date mentioned on the certificate shall
be amended by endorsement to a date which shall not
be more than three months later than the date on which
the survey was completed;
(b) the subsequent annual survey required by sub-section
(5) shall be completed using the new anniversary date;
(c) the expiry date of the certificate may remain unchanged
provided one or more annual survey is carried out so
that the maximum interval between the surveys
specified under sub-section (5) is not exceeded.
(7) If a certificate under sub-section (1) of section 316 is issued
for a period of less than five years, the Central Government
or any person authorised by it in this behalf, may extend
the validity of the certificate beyond the expiry date to a
maximum period specified in sub-section (1):
Provided that annual surveys referred to in sub-section (5)
are carried out as may be appropriate.
(7A) If a ship at the time when a certificate expires is not in a
port at which it is to be surveyed, the Central Government
or any person authorised by it in this behalf may extend the
period of validity of the certificate, but this extension shall
be granted only for the purpose of allowing the ship to
complete the voyage to the port in which it is to be surveyed
and also only in cases where it appears proper and
reasonable to do so:
1 Subs MS (Amend.) Act 2002

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170 [Act 44
Provided that no certificate shall be extended for a period

longer than three months and the ship to which an extension
is granted shall not on its arrival at the port in which it is to
be surveyed leave that port without having a new certificate:
Provided further that when the survey is completed, the new
certificate shall be valid to a date not exceeding five years
from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.
(7B) A certificate, issued to a ship engaged in short voyage which
has not been extended under sub-section (7A), may be
extended by the Central Government or any person
authorised by it in this behalf for a period up to one month
from the date of expiry and when the survey is completed,
the new certificate shall be valid up to a date not exceeding
five years from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.
(7C) In special circumstances where the Central Government so
determines a new certificate, need not be dated from the
date of expiry of the existing certificate, shall be valid up to
a date not exceeding five years from the date of completion
of the survey.]
(8) Where any certificate has ceased to be valid or been cancelled
under this section, the Central Government may require the
owner or master of the ship to which the certificate relates to
deliver up the certificate as it directs and the ship may be
detained until such requirement has been complied with.
(9) On the survey of any ship in pursuance of this section, there
shall be paid by the owner of the ship such fee as may be
prescribed.
Ships not to proceed 318. (1) No Indian ship shall proceed to sea unless there is in force
to sea without in respect of the ship a load line certificate issued under the
certificate provisions of section 316.
(2) The master of every Indian ship shall produce to the customs
collector, from whom a port clearance for the ship is
demanded, the certificate which is required by the foregoing
provisions of this section to be in force when the ship
proceeds to sea, and the port clearance shall not be granted,
and the ship may be detained, until that certificate is so
produced.
Publication of load 319. (1) When a load line certificate has been issued in pursuance
line certificate and of the foregoing provisions of this Part in respect of an Indian
particulars relating to ship other than a home-trade ship of less than two hundred
depth of loading tons gross
(a) the owner of the ship shall forthwith on the receipt of
the certificate cause it to be posted up in some
conspicuous place on board the ship, and to be kept
so posted up and legible so long as the certificate
remains in force and the ship is in use; and
(b) the master of the ship, before making any other entry

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in any official log book, shall enter or cause to be

entered therein the particulars as to the position of the
deck line and load lines specified in the certificate.
(2) Before any such ship leaves any dock, wharf, harbour or
other place for the purpose of proceeding to sea, the master
thereof shall -
(a) enter or cause to be entered in the official log book
such particulars relating to the depth to which the ship
is for the time being loaded as the Central Government
may by rules made in this behalf prescribe; and
(b) cause a notice, in such form and containing such of the
said particulars as may be required by the said rules, to
be posted up in some conspicuous place on board the
ship and to be kept so posted up and legible until the
ship arrives at some other dock, wharf, harbour or place:
Provided that the Central Government may by the said rules exempt
home-trade ships or any class of home-trade ships from the
requirements of clause (b) of this sub-section.
320. (1) Before an agreement with the crew of any ship in respect of Insertion of particu-
which a load line certificate is in force, is signed by any lars as to load lines
member of the crew, the master of the ship shall insert in in agreements with
the agreement the particulars as to the position of the deck crew
line and load lines specified in the certificate.
(2) In the case of a ship required by this Act to engage its crew
before a shipping master, the shipping master shall not
proceed with the engagement of the crew until -
(a) there is produced to him a load line certificate for the
time being in force in respect of the ship; and
(b) he is satisfied that the particulars required by this section
have been inserted in the agreement with the crew.
Special provisions as to ships other than Indian ships
321. 1
[(1)] The Central Government may, at the request of a country to Issue of load line
which the Load Line Convention applies, issue an certificates to foreign
international load line certificate in respect of a ship ships in India and
1
[registered or to be registered] in that country if it is satisfied Indian ships in
in like manner as in the case of an Indian ship that it can foreign countries
properly issue the certificate and where the certificate is
issued at such a request, it shall contain a statement that it
has been so issued.
2
[(2) The Central Government shall, as soon as may be, after the
issue of a certificate in respect of a ship under sub-section
(1), forward to the Government at whose request such
certificate was issued a copy each of the certificate, the
1 Sec. 321 renumbered as sub-sec. (1) by MS (Amend.) Act 1970


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172 [Act 44
survey report used in computing the free board of the ship

and of the computations.]
Recognition of load 322. An international 1[load line certificate or, as the case may be, an
line certificates and international load line exemption certificate] issued in respect of
international load line any ship other than an Indian ship by the Government of the country
exemption certifi- to which the ship belongs shall, subject to such rules as the Central
cates issued outside Government may make in this behalf, have the same effect in
India India as a 1[load line certificate or, as the case may be, an
international load line exemption certificate] issued in respect of
an Indian ship under this Part
Inspection and contry 323. (1) 1
[A surveyor may, at any reasonable time, go on board any
of Load Line ship (other than an Indian ship) carrying cargo or passengers
Covention ships other and registered in a country to which the Load Line Convention
than Indian ships applies, when such ship is within any port in India, for the
purpose of demanding the production of any international
load line certificate or, as the case may be, international
load line exemption certificate for the time being in force in
respect of the ship:
Provided that such ship is an existing ship of one hundred
and fifty tons gross or more or a new ship of twenty-four
metres or more in length.]
(2) If a valid international load line certificate is produced to the
surveyor on any such demand, the surveyor’s powers of
inspecting the ship with respect to load line shall be limited
to seeing -
(a) that the ship is not loaded beyond the limits allowed
by the certificate;
(b) that the position of the load lines on the ship
corresponds with the position specified in the
certificate;
(c) 1[that no material alterations as would necessitate the
assignment of an increased free board have taken place
in the hull or super-structure of the ship;]
(d) that the fittings and appliances for the protection of
openings the guard rails, the freeing ports and the
means of access to the crew’s quarters have been
maintained on the ship 1[in an effective condition.]
2
[(2A) If a valid international load line exemption certificate is
produced to the surveyor on demand made under sub-section
(1), the surveyor’s powers of inspecting the ship with respect
to load lines shall be limited to seeing that the conditions
stipulated in the certificate are complied with.]
(3) If it is found 1[on any inspection under sub-section (2) or, as
the case may be, sub-section (2A)] that the ship is loaded
beyond the limits allowed by the certificate the ship may be
detained and the provisions of section 342 shall apply.

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the case may be, sub-section (2A)] that the load lines on
the ship are not in the position specified in the certificate,
the ship may be detained until the matter has been rectified
to the satisfaction of the surveyor.
the case may be, sub-section (2A)] that the ship has been
so materially altered in respect of the matters referred to in
clauses (c) and (d) of sub-section (2) that the ship is
manifestly unfit to proceed to sea without danger to human
life, the ship shall be deemed to be unsafe for the purpose
of section 336 (in the case of an Indian ship) or for the
purpose of section 342 (in the case of any other ship) :
Provided that where the ship has been detained under either of
the last mentioned sub-sections, the Central Government shall
order the ship to be released as soon as it is satisfied that the
ship is fit to proceed to sea without danger to human life.
(6) If a valid international load line certificate 2[or, as the case
may be, international load line exemption certificate] is not
produced to the surveyor on such demand as aforesaid, the
surveyor shall have the same power of inspecting the ship,
for the purpose of seeing that the provisions of this Part
relating to load lines have been complied with as if the ship
were an Indian ship.
(7) For the purposes of this section a ship shall be deemed to
be loaded beyond the limits allowed by the certificate if she
is so loaded as to submerge in salt water, when the ship
has no list, the appropriate load line on each side of the
ship, that is to say, the load line appearing by the certificate
to indicate the maximum depth to which the ship is for the
time being entitled under the Load Line Convention, to be
loaded.
324. The master of every ship other than an Indian ship, being a ship of one Certificates to be
hundred and fifty tons gross or more carrying cargo or passengers, produced to customs
and belonging to a country to which the Load Line Convention applies, by ships other than
shall produce to the customs collector from whom a port clearance Indian ships regis-
for the ship from any port in India is demanded- tered in non-Conven-
(a) in a case where port clearance is demanded in respect of a tion countries
voyage to a port outside India, a valid international load line
certificate;
(b) in a case where port clearance is demanded in respect of
any other voyage, either a valid international load line
certificate or a valid Indian load line certificate.
and the port clearance shall not be granted, and the ship
may be detained, until the certificate required by this section
is so produced.

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174 [Act 44
Marking of deck line 325. The provisions of section 312 shall apply to ships other than Indian
and load lines of ships proceeding or attempting to proceed to sea from ports in
ships other than India as they apply to Indian ships subject to the following
Indian ships modifications, namely:
(a) the said section shall not apply to a ship other than an
Indian ship if a valid international load line certificate is
produced in respect of the ship; and
(b) subject to the provisions of clause (a), a ship other than an
Indian ship which does not comply with the conditions of
assignment to the extent required in her case by section 323
shall be deemed to be unsafe for the purpose of section 342.
Submersion of load 326. The provisions of section 313 shall apply to ships other than Indian
line of ships other ships, while they are within any port in India as they apply to
than Indian ships Indian ships subject to the following modifications, namely:
1
[(a) no ship belonging to a country to which the Load Line
Convention applies being an existing ship of one hundred
and fifty tons gross or more or being a new ship of twenty-
four metres or more in length shall be detained and no
proceedings shall be taken against the owner or master
thereof by virtue of the said section except after an inspection
by a surveyor as provided by section 323; and]
(b) the expression the appropriate load line in relation to any
ship other than an Indian ship shall mean
(i) in the case of a ship in respect of which there is
produced on such an inspection as aforesaid a valid
international load line certificate, 1[or, as the case may
be, an international load line exemption certificate] the
load line appearing by the certificate to indicate the
maximum depth to which the ship is for the time being
entitled under the Load Line Convention, to be loaded;
(ii) in any other case, the load line which corresponds with
the load line indicating the maximum depth to which the
ship is for the time being entitled under the load line rules
to be loaded, or, if no load line on the ship corresponds
Inspection of ships as aforesaid, the lowest load line thereon.
other than Indian 327. The provisions of section 315 shall apply, in the same manner as
ships belonging to they apply to Indian ships, to all ships registered in a country to
non-convention which the Load Line Convention does not apply while they are
countries within Indian jurisdiction.
Load line certificates 328. (1) The provision of this Part relating to the issue, effect, duration
and international load 1
[and cancellation of Indian load line certificates or, as the
line exemption case may be, international load line exemption certificates]
certificates of ships shall apply to ships other than Indian ships as they apply to
other than Indian Indian ships subject to the following modifications, namely:
ships (a) any such certificate may be issued in respect of any
such ship as in respect of an Indian ship provided that

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1
[any such certificate issued in respect of a ship carrying
cargo or passengers being an existing ship of one
hundred and fifty tons gross or more or being a new
ship of twenty-four metres or more in length] and
registered in a country to which the Load Line
Convention applies, shall only be valid so long as the
ship is not plying on voyages from or to any port in
India or from any place outside India and shall be
endorsed with a statement to that effect and shall be
cancelled by the Central Government if it has reason to
believe that the ship is so plying; and
(b) the survey required for the purpose of seeing whether
the certificate should remain in force shall take place
when required by the Central Government.
(2) If the Central Government is satisfied -
(a) that provision has been made for the fixing, marking
and certifying of load lines by the law in force in any
country outside India with respect to ships (or any class
or description of ships) of that country and has also
been so made (or has been agreed to be so made) for
recognising Indian load line certificates as having the
same effect in ports of that country as certificates issued
under the said provision; and
(b) that the said provision for the fixing, marking and
certifying of load lines is based on the same principles
as the corresponding provisions of this Part relating to
load lines and is equally effective, it may, by notification
in the Official Gazette, direct that load line certificates
issued in pursuance of the said provision or in respect
of ship (or that class or description of ships) of that
country, shall have the same effect for the purpose of
this Part as Indian load line certificate :
1
[Provided that such direction shall not apply to any ship
carrying cargo or passengers being an existing ship of one
hundred and fifty tons gross or more or being a new ship of
twenty-four metres or more in length if such ship is registered
in a country to which the Load Line Convention applies, and
is engaged in plying on voyages from or to any port in India
to or from any port outside India.]
329. The master of every ship registered in a country to which the Load Certificate of Load
Line Convention does not apply shall produce to the customs Line Convention
collector from whom a port clearance for the ship from any port in ships other than
India is demanded, either an Indian load line certificate or a certificate Indian ships to be
having effect under this Act as such a certificate, being a certificate produced to customs
for the time being in force in respect of the ship, and the port
clearance shall not be granted and the ship may be detained until
the certificate required by this section is so produced.

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176 [Act 44
Loading of timber
Power to make rules 330. (1) The Central Government shall, subject to the condition of
as to timber cargo previous publication, make rules (hereafter in this section
referred to as the timber cargo rules) as to the conditions
on which timber may be carried as cargo in any uncovered
space on the deck of any Indian ship.
(2) The timber cargo rules may prescribe a special load line to
be used only when the ship is carrying timber as cargo on
deck and the conditions on which such special load line
may be assigned, and may further prescribe either generally
or with reference to particular voyages and seasons the
manner and position in which such timber is to be stowed
and the provisions which are to be made for the safety of
the crew.
(3) Any surveyor may at any reasonable time, inspect any Indian
ship carrying timber as cargo in any uncovered space on
her deck for the purpose of seeing whether the timber cargo
rules have been complied with.
(4) The foregoing provisions of this section and the timber cargo
rules shall apply to ships other than Indian ships while they
are within Indian jurisdiction as they apply to Indian ships.
Dangerous goods and grain cargoes
Carriage of danger- 331. (1) The Central Government may make rules for regulating in
ous goods the interests of safety the carriage of dangerous goods in
ships.
[(2)
1
In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing power, such rules may provide for the classification,
packing, labelling and marking of such goods or any class
of such goods, stowing of such goods (whether with or
without other cargo) including plans for stowing, the fixing
of the maximum quantity of any such class of goods which
may be carried in different ships or classes of ships, and
such other matters relating to dangerous goods as require
to be provided for implementing the provisions of the Safety
Convention.]
(3) The owner, master or agent of a ship carrying or intending
to carry any dangerous goods as cargo and about to make
a voyage from a port in India shall furnish in advance the
prescribed particulars of the ship and the cargo to such
authority as may be prescribed for the purpose.
(4) A surveyor may inspect the ship for the purpose of securing
that any rules under this section are complied with.
(5) If any of rules made in pursuance of this section is not

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complied with in relation to any ship, the ship shall be deemed

for the purpose of this Part to be an unsafe ship.
(6) This section shall apply, in the same manner as it applies
to Indian ships, to ships other than Indian ships while they
are within any port in India or are embarking or disembarking
passengers or are loading or discharging cargo or fuel within
Indian jurisdiction.
Explanation : expression dangerous goods means goods which
by reason of the nature, quantity or mode of stowage are either
singly or collectively liable to endanger the life or the health of
persons on or near the ship or to imperil the ship, and includes all
substances within the meaning of the expression explosive as
defined in the Indian Explosives Act, 1884, and any other goods
which the Central Government may by notification in the Official
Gazette specify as dangerous goods 1[but shall not include,-
(a) any fog or distress signals or other stores or equipment
required to be carried by the ship under this Act or the rules
or regulations thereunder;
(b) particular cargoes carried in ships specially built or converted
as a whole for that purpose, such as tankers.]
2
[331A. (1) No grain shall be loaded on board any Indian ship anywhere Grain loading plan
unless there is in force in respect of such ship a grain-loading
plan approved under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4).
(2) The grain-loading plan shall be in such form and contain
such particulars as to the stability of the ship. circumstances
of loading on departure and arrival, the main characteristics
of the fittings used to prevent the shifting of cargo and such
other matters as may be prescribed, having regard to the
rules made under sub-section (5) of section 332.
(3) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (4), the grain-
loading plan shall be submitted to the Central Government
for approval and that Government may, having regard to the
rules made under sub-section (5) of section 332, the stability
of the ship and the circumstances of loading on departure
and arrival, approve the plan with such modifications, if any,
as it may deem necessary.
country to which the Safety Convention applies to approve
the grain-loading plan of an Indian ship and an approval given
in pursuance of such a request and containing a statement
that it has been so given shall have effect for the purposes
of this section as if the approval had been given by the Central
Government.


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(5) The Central Government may, at the request of the

Government of a country to which the Safety Convention
applies, approve the grain-loading plan of a ship registered
in that country if the Central Government is satisfied, in the
like manner as in the case of an Indian ship, that such
approval can properly be given and where approval is given
at such a request, it shall contain a statement that it has
been so given.
(6) It is hereby declared that for the purpose of section 208
(which requires documents relating to navigation to be
delivered by the master of a ship to his successor) the plan
shall be deemed to be a document relating to the navigation
of the ship.]
Carriage of grain 332. (1) Where grain is loaded on board any Indian ship anywhere
or is loaded within any port in India on board any other ship,
all necessary and reasonable precautions shall be taken to
prevent the grain from shifting; and if such precautions as
aforesaid are not taken, the owner or the master of the ship
or any agent of the owner who was charged with the loading
or with sending the ship to sea laden with grain shall be
guilty of an offence under this sub-section and the ship shall
be deemed for the purposes of this Part to be unsafe by
reason of improper loading.
(2) Where any ship which is loaded with grain outside India
without all necessary and reasonable precautions having
been taken to prevent the grain from shifting, enters any
port in India so laden, the owner or master of the ship shall
be guilty of an offence under this sub-section and the ship
shall be deemed for the purposes of this Part to be unsafe
by reason of improper loading.
[(2A) Where grain is loaded on board an Indian ship in accordance
1
with a grain-loading plan approved under section 331A or

where grain is loaded on board any other ship in accordance
with a grain-loading plan approved by or on behalf of the
Government of the country in which that ship is registered,
the ship shall be deemed, for the purposes of sub-sections
(1) and (2), to have been loaded with all necessary and
reasonable precautions.]
(3) On the arrival at a port in India from a port outside India of
any ship carrying a cargo of grain, the master shall cause
to be delivered at the port to such customs or other officer
as may be specified by the Central Government in this behalf,
a notice stating -
(a) the draught of water and free board of said the ship
after the loading of the cargo was completed at the
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1966 final port of loading;H
H “and” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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[(b) the kind of grain carried and quantity thereof stated in

1
cubic feet, quarters, bushels or tons weight; and

(c) the mode in which the grain is stowed and the precautions
taken to prevent the grain from shifting and where the
grain has been stowed in accordance with the ships’
grain-loading plan, if any, that it has been so stowed].
1
[(4) Any person authorised in this behalf, by general or special
order of the Central Government may, for securing the
observance of the provisions of this section, go on board a
ship carrying a cargo of grain and require the production of
the grain-loading plan of the ship and inspect the mode in
which the cargo is stowed in the ship].
(5) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of
previous publication, 1[make rules in relation to grain-loading
plans and the loading of ships] with grain generally or of
ships of any class specifying the precautions to be taken,
and when such precautions have been prescribed, they shall
be treated for the purposes of this section to be included in
the expression necessary and reasonable precautions.
(6) In 1[section 331A and this section], the expression grain
includes wheat, maize, oats, rye, barley, rice, pulses and
seeds, and the expression ship carrying a cargo of grain
means a ship carrying a quantity of grain exceeding one-
third of the ship’s registered tonnage reckoning one hundred
cubic feet or two tons of weight of grain as equivalent to one
ton of registered tonnage.
Sub-division load lines
333. (1) Where - Submersion of sub-
(a) an Indian passenger ship has been marked with sub- division load lines in
division load lines, that is to say, load lines indicating case of passenger
the depth to which the ship may be loaded having regard ships
to the extent to which she is sub-divided and to the
space for the time being allotted to passengers, and
(b) the appropriate sub-division load line, that is to say,
the sub-division load line appropriate to the space for
the time being allotted to passengers on the ship, is
lower than the load line indicating the maximum depth
to which the ship is for the time being entitled under
the provisions of this Part to be loaded,
the ship shall not be so loaded as to submerge in salt
water the appropriate sub-division load line on each
side of the ship when the ship has no list.
(2) Without prejudice to any other proceeding under this Act, any
such ship which is loaded in contravention of this section may
be detained until she ceases to be so loaded.

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180 [Act 44
Unseaworthy ships
Unseaworthy ship not 334. (1) Every person who sends or attempts to send an Indian ship
to be sent to sea to sea from any port in India in such an unseaworthy state
that the life of any person is likely to be thereby endangered
shall, unless he proves that he used all reasonable means
to insure her being sent to sea in a seaworthy state or that
her going to sea in such unseaworthy state was under the
circumstances reasonable and justifiable, be guilty of an
offence under this sub-section.
(2) Every master of an Indian ship who knowingly takes such
ship to sea in such unseaworthy state that the life of any
person is likely to be thereby endangered shall, unless he
proves that her going to sea in such unseaworthy state was,
under the circumstances, reasonable and justifiable, be
guilty of an offence under this sub-section.
(3) For the purpose of giving such proof, every person charged
under this section may give evidence in the same manner
as any other witness.
(4) No prosecution under this section shall be instituted except
by, or with the consent of, the Central Government.
(5) A ship is unseaworthy within the meaning of this Act when
the materials of which she is made, her construction, the
qualifications of the master, the number, description and
qualifications of the crew including officers, the weight,
description and stowage of the cargo and ballast, the
condition of her hull and equipment, boilers and machinery
are not such a to render her in every respect fit for the
proposed voyage or service.
Obligation of owner to 335. (1) In every contract of service, express or implied between the
crew with respect to owner of an Indian ship and the master or any seaman
sea worthiness thereof, and in every contract of apprenticeship whereby
any person is bound to serve as an apprentice on board any
such ship, there shall be implied, notwithstanding any
agreement to the contrary, an obligation on the owner that
such owner and the master, and every agent charged with
the loading of such ship or the preparing thereof for sea, or
the sending thereof to sea, shall use all reasonable means
to ensure the seaworthiness of such ship for the voyage at
the time when such voyage commences, and to keep her in
a seaworthy state during the voyage.
(2) For the purpose of seeing that the provisions of this section
have been complied with, the Central Government may, either
at the request of the owner or otherwise, arrange for a survey
of the hull, equipment or machinery of any sea-going ship
by a surveyor.

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Detention of unsafe ships by the Central Government

336. (1) Where an Indian ship in any port to which the Central Power of detain
Government may specially extend this section is an unsafe unsafe ship and
ship, that is to say, is by reason of the defective condition of procedure for deten-
her hull, equipment or machinery, or by reason of overloading tion
or improper loading, unfit to proceed to sea without serious
danger to human life, having regard to the nature of the service
for which she is intended, such ship may be provisionally
detained for the purpose of being surveyed and either finally
detained or released as follows, namely :
(a) The Central Government, if it has reason to believe, on
complaint or otherwise, that any such ship is unsafe,
may order the ship to be provisionally detained as an
unsafe ship for the purpose of being surveyed.
(b) A written statement of the grounds of such detention
shall be forthwith served on the master of such ship.
(c) When the Central Government provisionally orders the
detention of a ship, it shall either refer the matter to the
court of survey for the port where the ship is detained,
or forthwith appoint some competent person to survey
such ship and report thereon; and, on receiving the
report, may either order the ship to be released or if in
its opinion the ship is unsafe, may order her to be finally
detained, either absolutely or until the performance of
such conditions with respect to the execution of repairs
or alterations, or the unloading or reloading of cargo,
as the Central Government thinks necessary for the
protection of human life.
(d) Before an ordered for final detention is made, a copy
of the report shall be served upon the master of the
ship, and within seven days after such service the owner
or master may appeal against such report, in the
manner prescribed, to the court of survey for the port
where the ship is detained.
(e) Where a ship has been provisionally detained and a
person has been appointed under this section to survey
such ship, the owner or master of the ship, at any time
before such person makes that survey, may require
that he shall take with him as assessor such person
as the owner or master may select, being a person
named in the list of assessors for the court of survey
or, if there is no such list, or if it is impracticable to
procure the attendance of any person named in such
list, a person of nautical, engineering or other special
skill and experience. If the surveyor and assessor agree
that the ship should be detained or released, the Central
Government shall cause the ship to be detained or

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released accordingly, and the owner or master shall have

right of appeal. If the surveyor and assessor differ in their
report, the Central Government may act as if the requisition
had not been made, and the owner or master shall have
a right of such appeal touching the report of the surveyor
as is herein before provided in this section.
(f) Where a ship has been provisionally detained, the
Central Government may at any time if it thinks it
expedient, refer the matter to the court of survey for the
port where the ship is detained.
(g) The Central Government may at any time, if satisfied
that a ship detained under this section is not unsafe,
order her to be released either upon or without any
conditions.
(2) Any person appointed by the Central Government for the
purpose (in this Act referred to as a detaining officer) shall
have the same power as the Central Government has under
this section of provisionally ordering the detention of a ship
for the purpose of being surveyed, and of appointing a person
to survey her; and if he thinks that a ship so detained by him
is not unsafe, may order her to be released.
(3) A detaining officer shall forthwith report to the Central
Government any order made by him for the detention or
release of a ship.
(4) A ship detained under this section shall not be released by
reason of her Indian register being subsequently closed.
Costs of detention and damages incidental thereto
Liability of Central 337. If it appears that there was not reasonable and probable cause, by
Government for costs reason of the condition of the ship or the act or default of the owner
and damage when or the master, for the provisional detention of a ship, the Central
ship wrongly detained Government shall be liable to pay to the owner of the ship his costs
of and incidental to the detention and survey of the ship, and also
compensation for any loss or damage sustained by him by reason
of the detention or survey.
Liability of ship owner 338. If a ship is finally detained under this Part or if it appears that a ship
for costs when ship provisionally detained was at the time of such detention unsafe, or
rightly detained if a ship is detained in pursuance of any provision of this Part which
provides for the detention of a ship until a certain event occurs, the
owner of the ship shall be liable to pay to the Central Government
its costs of and incidental to the detention and survey of the ship;
and the ship shall not be released until such costs are paid.
Method of calculating 339. For the purposes of this Act, the costs of and incidental to any
costs of detention proceeding before a court of survey, and a reasonable amount in respect
and survey of the remuneration of the surveyor or any person appointed to
represent the Central Government before the court, shall be deemed
to be part of the costs of the detention and survey of the ship.

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340. When a complaint is made to the Central Government or a detaining Power to require from
officer that an Indian ship is unsafe, it shall be in the discretion of complainant security
the Central Government or the detaining officer, as the case may for costs, etc.
be, to require the complainant to give security to the satisfaction
of the Central Government or the detaining officer for the costs and
compensation which such complainant may become liable to pay
as hereinafter mentioned:
Provided that, where the complaint is made by one-fourth, being not
less than three, of the seamen belonging to the ship, and is not in the
opinion of the Central Government or the detaining officer frivolous or
vexatious, such security shall not be required; and the Central
Government or the detaining officer shall, if the complaint is made in
sufficient time before the sailing of the ship, take proper steps to
ascertain whether the ship ought to be detained under this Part.
341. Where a ship is detained in consequence of any complaint and the Costs, etc., payable
circumstances are such that the Central Government is liable under by Central
this Part to pay to the owner of the ship any costs or compensation, Government
the complainant shall be liable to pay to the Central Government all recoverable from
such costs and compensation as the Central Government incurs, or complainant
is liable to pay, in respect of the detention and survey of the ship.
342. When a ship other than an Indian ship is in a port in India and is, Application to ships
whilst at that port, unsafe by reason of the defective condition of other than Indian
her hull, equipment or machinery, or by reason of overloading or ships of provisions as
improper loading, the provisions of this Part with respect to the to detention
detention of ships shall apply to that ship as if she were an Indian
ship with the following modifications, namely:
(a) a copy of the order for the provisional detention of the ship
shall forthwith be served on the consular officer for the country
to which the ship belongs at or nearest to the port in which
such ship is detained;
(b) the consular officer, at the request of the owner or master of
the ship, may require that the person appointed by the
Central Government to survey the ship shall be accompanied
by such person as the consular officer may select, and in
that case, if the surveyor and that person agree, the Central
Government shall cause the ship, to be detained or released
accordingly; but, if they differ the Central Government may
act as if the requisition had not been made, and the owner
and master shall have the like right of appeal to a court of
survey touching the report of the surveyor as is hereinbefore
provided in the case of an Indian ship; and
(c) where the owner or master of the ship appeals to the court of
survey, the consular officer, at the request of the owner or
master, may appoint a competent person to be assessor in
the case in lieu of the assessor who, if the ship were an Indian
ship, would be appointed otherwise than by the Central
Government.

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Exemption of ships 343. (1) Nothing in this Part -

from certain provi- (a) Prohibiting a ship from proceeding to sea unless there
sions of this part are in force in relation to the ship, or are produced the
appropriate certificates issued under this Part or the
appropriate safety convention certificates;
(b) requiring information about a ship’s stability to be
carried on board; shall, unless in the case of information
about a ship’s stability the Central Government
otherwise orders, apply to any troop ship, pleasure
yacht or fishing vessel or to 1[any cargo ship of less
than three hundred tons gross] or to any ship not fitted
with mechanical means of propulsion.
(2) Nothing in the preceding sub-section shall affect the
exemption conferred by any other provision of this Act.
(3) Nothing in this part shall apply to any ship other than an Indian
ship while it is within any port in India if it would not have been
within such port but for stress of weather or any other
circumstance that neither the master nor the owner nor the
charterer, if any, of the ship could have prevented or forestalled.
Power to make rules 344. (1) The Central Government may, subject to the condition of
respecting certifi- previous publication, make rules to carry out the purposes
cates under this part of this Part relating to certificates granted under this Part.
foregoing power, such rules may prescribe
2
[(a) the form of any certificate and record of equipment
issued under this Part;
(aa) the manner of surveys required to be made in respect
of ships to which the manner of surveys specified in
the Safety Convention is not applicable;]
(b) the circumstances in which a certificated purporting
to have been issued outside India in accordance with
the provisions of the Safety Convention or the Load
Line Convention shall be recognised in India;
(c) the fees to be charged in respect of any certificate
issued under this Part and the manner in which such
fees may be recovered.
[(d)
3
the fees to be charged for the survey or inspection of hull,
machinery, boilers, electrical appliances and other fittings
and the materials used for their construction, fire appliances,
life saving appliances, radio communications equipment,
radar, echo sounding device and gyro compass, or testing
or approval of any of the foregoing equipments or materials
used for their manufacture, or examination of plans of
construction of any part of ship’s hull, machinery, electrical
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1966 appliances and other equipment aforesaid and the manner
2 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 2002 in which such fees may be recovered.]

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PART IX – Commentary
Safety of ship and life at sea, including that of seafarers, passengers etc are primary concerns
of the International Maritime Organisation, which ensures that the flag states assures that the vessels
flying their flag are safe and seaworthy and the port states ensures that they will not permit unseaworthy
ships from entering its waters. At the international level various Conventions touching the divergent
dimensions of vessel, which includes engineering, nautical and life on board the ship, were convened
to bring about uniformity of observance and compliance. Under the auspices of IMO, the International
Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, 19741 touches the aspects of different standards of construction,
equipment and operation, with primary focus on safety.
SOLAS 1974 in its present form is considered to be one of the most important legal
instruments governing safety of ships, which specifies minimum standards for the construction,
equipment and operation of ships. The convention makes it obligatory for the member States to
monitor and to ensure compliance by means of certification and on board inspections. In other
words, requisite certificates are required to be carried on board ship to show that they have been
inspected and have met the required standards. In other words these certificates carried on board the
vessel are normally accepted as proof by authorities from other States that the vessel concerned has
reached the required standard, but in some cases further action can be taken. Amended from time to
time, the present form of the Convention, which has the tacit acceptance procedure for amendment
implementation, had its previous versions adopted in the 1914, 1929, 1948 and 1960. Maritime
Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO has played a vital role in improvising the Convention SOLAS, 1974.
Further, the International Convention on Load Lines 1966, which stipulates marking of load
line as mandatory to indicate the draft of the ship and the limit to which a ship may be loaded in order
to assure safe navigation. The determination of the freeboard2 of ships are verified by classification
societies International Convention on Load Lines 1966 provides for ship’s surveys and the issuance,
duration, validity and acceptance of International Load Line Certificates. It also stipulates for relevant
State control measures subject to agreed exemptions and exceptions. Later, a Protocol to amend
the International Convention on Load Lines 1966 was adopted in the year 1988. The adoption of the
1998 Protocol is to harmonise the survey and certification requirement of the International Convention
on Load Lines 19663 with requirements contained in the SOLAS 1974 and the International Convention
for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships, 1973/19784.
1
Hereinafter referred to as SOLAS 1974
2
Section 3(14) defines “free board” as the distance measured vertically downwards, amidships from the upper edge
of the deckline to the upper edge of the related loadline.
3
See Section 3(20) which defines Load Line Convention 1966, “as amended from time to time”. The International
Convention on Load Lines, signed in London on 5 April 1966 and further revised in 2003; hereinafter referred as CLL
66/88.
4
Popularly known as MARPOL 73/78.

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India notified adoption of SOLAS 1974, by accession5, on 16 June 1976 and the same
entered into force on 25 May 1980. Part IX of the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 stipulates the duty of
Central Government to notify in the official gazette, the list of States, where the conventions of CLL
66/88 and the Safety Convention6 are inapplicable. As mentioned earlier, the Central Government is
empowered to prescribe requirements of issuance of Safety Convention Certificates7 pertaining to
safety of hull, equipment and machinery of Indian ships through Rules, whereby which the obligations
that India has undertaken by ratification of the international conventions. Further, the technical
requirements as provided under the COLREGS,8 as ratified by India,9 are implemented by in the MS
Act 1958 provisions10 by means of Rules11 and executive orders12.
MS Act 1958 ensures that India as a flag-State should ensure that the Indian ships/vessels
should comply with COLREGS 1972 and India as a port-State has mandated that foreign ships and
vessels sailing within Indian jurisdiction should also comply with the same. Also as a condition
precedent the ships/vessels have to possess relevant and applicable statutory certificates failing
which the port clearance will be denied and detained.
The Central Government is also entrusted with the power to make Rules and Regulations
pertaining to Life Saving Appliances (LSA) and Fire Appliances, Radio /communication, direction
finders, signalling lamp and stability information requirements and the like. MS Act 1958 assures the
compliance of the statutory requirements through inspections on board the vessel by surveyors.
Further, the inspectors are also entrusted with the duty to inspect the ship as and when the same is
decided to be conducted.
The Part also deals with the provisions relating to Safety Certificates, Safety equipment
certificates, Safety radio telegraphy Certificates, exemption certificates, issuance of load lines
certificates, and provisions relating to ships other than Indian ships, issuance of certificates both
5
See Article 15 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969.
6
Section 3(37) of the MS Act 1958 of 1958 defines “Safety Convention” as convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
signed at London on the 01st day of November, 1974 as amended from time to time.
7
MS Act 1958 under Section 3 (38) defines “safety convention certificates” as certificates issued under PART IX or
PART IX A, which are to mean passenger ship safety certificate, special trade passenger ship safety certificates,
special trade passenger ship space certificate, qualified passenger ship safety certificate, cargo safety construction
certificate, qualified cargo ship safety construction certificate, cargo ship safety equipment certificate, qualified cargo
ship safety equipment certificate, cargo ship safety radio telegraphy certificates, cargo ship safety radio telephony
certificate, exemption certificates, nuclear passenger ship safety certificate, and nuclear cargo ship safety certificate
8
COLREGS is the short form for the International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea, 1972.
9
Ratified COLREGS on 30th May 1973 and entered into force on 15th July 1977.
10
Section 285 to Section 287. On liability aspects of collision and / or accidents at Sea is dealt with under Part X of the
MS Act 1958.
11
Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Collision at Sea) Regulations 1975 conforms with COLREG 1972; Merchant Shipping
(Prevention of Collision at Sea) Regulations 1975 CORRIGENDA; Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Collision at Sea)
Amendment Regulations, 1986 conforming to the 1981 amendments; Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Collision at
Sea) Amendment Regulations, 1990 conforming to the 1987 amendments; Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Collision
at Sea) Amendment Regulations, 1990- corrigendum; and Merchant Shipping Notice No. 9 of 1998 on the Contravention
of International Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea (IRPCs) 1972.
12
Merchant Shipping Notice 17 of 2010, no: 70-NT(1)/2008-pt, dated 08.11.2010, Prevention of Collision of Ships in Ports
and at High Seas

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inside and outside India. Under this Part, the Act also focuses on nature of cargo such as timber
cargo, carriage of dangerous goods, grain loading plan and carriage of grain and safe handling
and carriage of such cargoes. Further, it vests powers with the Central Government to make Rules
pertaining to the provisions of the Act.
A ship is unseaworthy if the construction, qualifications of master, number description and

qualification of crew and officers, weight, description and stowage of cargo and ballast, conditions of
equipment, boilers and machinery are not fit for the purpose of voyage.13 With respect to
unseaworthiness of ships, the Act clearly lays down that, irrespective of a ship being an Indian ship14
or not, any ship within a port in India, which is found to be “unsafe” either with respect to defective
hull, equipment, machinery, improper loading, or found unfit to proceed to sea; will be provisionally
detained for survey. According to the results of the survey, the ship is either finally detained or
released. If the ship involved is a Foreign flag, the order of provisional detention to has to be served to
the the consular officer of the country to which the ship belongs.
Part IX also extends to the sub division load lines, liability for cost of detention and certain
ships that are exempted from application of this Part, either due to the nature of its functions or due
to the purpose of use. Further, as provided in all other Parts, the Central Government is empowered
to issue certificates and formulate Rules under this Part. This of MS Act 1958 is very dynamic in its
improvisation. For instance, it is very evident that the Director General of Shipping along with the
legislative body is acting at a good pace in adopting the amendments that have been brought to the
SOLAS 1974. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted SOLAS Protocol, 198815, which
dealt with a harmonised survey system for ships, in order to lessen the problems caused by survey
dates and intervals between surveys which do not coincide, covering international shipping regulations
including the codes and conventions.
The SOLAS Protocol 1988 replaces and abrogates the earlier Protocol of 1978 rooted in
the Convention 1974. The parties to the Convention undertake to bring into effect the Protocol and its
Annex, which modifies and adds provisions to the Annex of the Convention concerning, inter alia,
definition of terms, inspection, surveys and control of ships, and issuance, endorsement and duration
of certificates. The parties agree to communicate to the Secretary-General of the IMO, inter alia the
measures they have adopted on the various matters within the scope of the Protocol (art. III). The
1988 Protocol relating to harmonized surveys and certification were not adopted by India earlier.
Later by virtue of Merchant Shipping notice No. 14 of 2001, it has been made clear that in cases
where any extension of surveys including inspection of the outside of the ships bottom or dry-dock
etc. are granted due to some unavoidable circumstances, harmonized surveys and certification is to
be implemented.
13
Sealand shipping and Export Pvt. Ltd. ……Vs. Kin Ship Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. …… 2011(5) Bom CR 572, 2011 (7)
ALL M R 19, 2011(113) BOM LR 2142.
14
In case of an Indian ship the power to detain is provided under Section 336 of the MS Act 1958 and in the case of
foreign flag ship, the detention will be carried out as provided under Section 342 of the MS Act 1958
15
Entered into force on 3rd February, 2000.

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1 [PART IXA
NUCLEAR SHIPS
Application of Act to 344A. (1) This part applies only to nuclear ships.
nuclear ships
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a nuclear ship
shall not be required to obtain or produce any certificate referred
to in sub-clauses (i) to (ix) of cause (38) of section 3 or, as the
case may be, any like valid safety convention certificate.
Gazette, direct that any of the provisions of this Act (other
than the provisions of this Part and the provisions of section
456) specified in the notification
(a) shall not apply to nuclear ships; or
(b) shall apply to nuclear ships, only with such exceptions,
modification and adaptations as may be specified in
the notification.
(4) A copy of every notification proposed to be issued under
sub-section (3) shall be laid in draft before both Houses of
Parliament for a period of not less than thirty days while
they are in session and it shall not be issued until it has
been approved, whether with or without modification, by each
House of Parliament.
Nuclear passenger 344B. (1) If in respect of any Indian nuclear passenger or cargo ship
ship safety certifi- the Central Government is satisfied that the ship has been
cates and nuclear surveyed in accordance with this Act and has been
cargo ship safety inspected by a person appointed in this behalf by the Central
certificates Government and has complied with such special
requirements, if any, as that person has, after such
inspection, specified, the Central Government may issue-
(a) in the case of a passenger ship, a nuclear passenger
ship safety certificate;
(b) in the case of a cargo ship, a nuclear cargo ship safety
certificate;
(2) A certificate issued under sub-section (1) shall be in force
for a period of twelve months from the date of issue or for
such shorter period as may be specified in the certificate.
Prohibition of pro- 344C. (1) No Indian nuclear ship shall proceed on a voyage from any
ceeding to sea port or place in India to any port or place outside India unless
without certificates there is in force in respect of the ship-
(a) a nuclear passenger ship safety certificate, if she is a
passenger ship;
(b) a nuclear cargo ship safety certificate, if she is a cargo
ship.

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(2) The master of a ship to which this section applies shall

produce to the customs collector from whom a port clearance
for the ship is demanded the certificate required by sub-
section (1) when the ship proceeds to sea and the port
clearance shall not be granted and the ship may be detained
until the said certificate is so produced.
344D. (1) Every Indian nuclear ship shall have on board a safety Safety assessment
assessment and an operating manual in such form and and operating manual
containing such particulars and approved by such authority
as may be prescribed.
(2) The safety assessment and the operating manual shall be
prepared, maintained and kept up-to-date in such manner
344E. (1) No nuclear ship, other than an Indian ship, shall enter the Foreign nuclear ships
territorial waters of India unless the master, owner or agent to give advance
thereof has given such advance notice of the ship’s intended notice of arrival
arrival in India as may be prescribed, to such authority as
may be specified by the Central Government, and has
forwarded along with the notice a true copy of the ship’s
safety assessment to that authority.
(2) If on the examination and evaluation of the ship’s safety
assessment the authority referred to in sub-section (1) is of
opinion that the entry of the ship will involve unreasonable
radiation or other hazards to the crew, passengers, members
of the public, waterways, food or water resources, he may
direct the nuclear ship not to enter the territorial waters of
India and ship shall comply with such direction.
344F. (1) The master of every nuclear ship shall, on arrival at a port in Control on arrival of
India, give notice of the ship’s arrival in the prescribed form nuclear ships
to such authority as the Central Government may specify in
this behalf.
(2) Any person authorised in this behalf (hereinafter referred to
as the authorised person), by general or special order of the
Central Government, may go on board such ship for the
purpose of verifying that she has on board a valid nuclear
passenger ship safety certificate or, as the case may be,
nuclear cargo ship safety certificate and for the purpose of
satisfying himself after examining the safety assessment
and operating manual and such other things as he deems
fit that there are no unreasonable radiation or other hazards
to the crew, passengers, members of the public, waterways,
food or water resources.
(3) If the authorised person is satisfied after such examination
that there are no unreasonable radiation or other hazards to
the crew, passengers, members of the public, waterways, food
or water resources, he may issue a certificate to that effect.

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Notice of accidents 344G. (1) Where an Indian nuclear ship meets with an accident and
to nuclear ships such accident is likely to lead to environmental hazards, the
master of the ship shall forthwith give notice of the accident
(a) to such officer or authority as may be specified in this
behalf by the Central Government; and
(b) if the ship is in or intends to enter the territorial waters
of a foreign State, also to the appropriate Governmental
authority of the State.
(2) Where a nuclear ship other than an Indian ship meets with an
accident of the nature specified in sub-section (1) while she is
in the territorial waters of, or at a port in, India, the master of
the ship shall forthwith give notice of the accident to the officer
or authority specified under clause (a) of sub-section (1).
(3) On receipt of notice under sub-section (1) or sub-section
(2), the officer or authority specified under clause (a) of sub-
section (1) shall issue such directions as he thinks
necessary and expedient in the circumstances of the case
and investigate into the causes of the accident in such manner
(4) A copy of the directions issued under sub-section (3) and a
report of the findings of the investigation shall be sent to the
Central Government within such time as may be prescribed.
(5) Where a nuclear ship other than an Indian ship meets with
an accident of the nature specified in sub-section (1) at any
port or place outside India and intends to enter the territorial
waters of India in a damaged condition, the master of such
ship shall give notice of the nature of the accident and the
condition of the ship in such form as may be prescribed to
the officer or authority specified under clause (a) of sub-
section (1) and shall comply with such directions as that
officer or authority may give.
(6) The provisions of this section are in addition to and not in
derogation of the provisions of Part XII of this Act.
Application of certain 344H. (1) The provisions of sections 228 to 231 (inclusive) shall, so far
sections to or in as may be, apply to and in relation to every certificate issued
relation to certain by the Central Government under section 344B in the same
certificates under manner as they apply to and in relation to a certificate of survey.
section 344B (2) The provisions of section 309A shall apply to and in relation
to a nuclear ship surveyed for the purpose of issue of a
certificate under section 344B as they apply to and in relation
to a ship surveyed for the purpose of issue of a safety
convention certificate under Part IX.
Power to make rules 344I. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Part.

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(a) the design, construction and standards of inspection
and assembly of the reactor installations of nuclear
ships;
(b) the standards of safety of nuclear ships;
(c) the manner of survey of nuclear ships;
(d) the forms in which certificates under this Part may be
issued;
(e) the form and manner in which the safety assessment
and operating manual of a nuclear ship are to be
prepared, maintained and kept up-to-date and the
particulars to be contained therein;
(f) the form of notices under this Part and the time when
such notices should be given;
(g) the manner in which investigations may be made into
causes of accidents to a nuclear ship;
(h) the special precautions to be taken against
unreasonable radiation or other nuclear hazards to the
crew, passengers and other persons, to waterways
and to food and water resources;
(i) the manner in which radio-active waste from nuclear
ships is to be stowed and disposed of;
(j) the manner in which the reactor fuelling, defuelling and
refuelling and maintenance of nuclear ships are to be
carried out;
(k) the special training for and qualifications of, masters
and seamen of nuclear ships;
(l) the special requirements relating to approach, entry into,
stay in or departure from, an Indian port of a nuclear ship;
(m) the procedure to be followed for determining the
operational conditions of a nuclear ship;
(n) the protection and closure of the reactor installation of
nuclear ships in the case of a collision, grounding,
fire, leakage of radio-active material or other accident;
(o) the fees to be charged for any inspection survey or
certificate under this part;
(p) any other matter which has to be or may be
prescribed.]

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PART IX – A - Commentary
Part IX A deals with nuclear ships, its design, construction and standards of inspection,
standards of safety, manner of survey, certification and forms of certifications, investigations and
precautions and safety measures for crew against unreasonable radiation and health hazards, disposal
of radioactive wastes, special training and qualifications of master and seamen, and anything and
everything related to certifications including Nuclear Passenger Certificate and Nuclear Cargo Ship
Safety Certificate. This Part is in compliance with the Chapter VIII of SOLAS, 1974, which refers to
Safety of Nuclear Merchant Ships as adopted by General Assembly of International Maritime
Organisation.
The safety certification requirements and possession of the updated Safety Assessment
Operating Manual on board are mandatory under the MS Act 1958, and hence, the same is a
condition precedent for any Indian nuclear ship to proceed on any voyage from any port or place in
India. Further, the Act also stipulates the foreign nuclear ships to give advance notice of arrival, failing
which the nuclear ship will be refused permission to enter Indian territorial waters. Further, the Act
vests the Central Government with the power to make Rules with respect to the provisions mentioned
in Part IX – A and on allied matters such as inspection fees, survey or certification. Although the
application of safety regulations is quite negligible due to lack of existence of nuclear powered
commercial ships that fall within the ambit of MS Act 1958; in the long run, India expected to
transform the usage of fuel in sea transportation from the conventional resources to the usage of
nuclear fuel.

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PART IXB*
SECURITY OF SHIPS AND PORT FACILITIES
344J. (1) Subject to sub-section (2), this Part shall apply to- Application
(a) the following types of ships engaged on international voyages,
namely-
(i) passenger ships Including high speed passenger craft;
(ii) cargo ships including high speed craft of five hundred
gross tonnage and above;
(iii) mobile offshore drilling units:
Provided that the Central Government may extend the application
of this Part to those ships which are exclusively engaged on coastal
voyages;
(b) the port facilities serving ships referred to in clause (a):
Provided that the Central Government may, after taking decision,
on the basis of port facility security assessment having carried out under
this Part, extend the application of this Part to those port facilities which,
although used primarily by ships not engaged on international voyages, are
occasionally required, to serve ships arriving or departing on international
voyages.
(2) This Part shall not apply to war ships, naval auxiliaries, or
other ships owned or operated by the Central Government
and used only for non-commercial service by that Government.
344K. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,- Definitions
(a) “company” means the owner of the ship who, or any organization
which has assumed the responsibility of operation of the ship from
the owner of such ship and who or which has agreed to take over all
the duties and responsibilities imposed by the International Safety
Management Code;
(b) “declaration of security” means an agreement between ships or a
ship and a port facility specifying therein the security measures to
be complied with;
(c) “designated authority” means such authority as the Central
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify;
(d) “International Ship and Port Facility Security Code” means the
code for the security of ships and port facilities provided in the
Safety Convention;
(e) “port facility” means any location or area including anchorages or
waiting berths or approaches from seaward and determined by the
Central Government or the designated authority, as the case may
be, where interface between ships or a ship and a port takes place;
* Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 40 of 2007

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(f) “recognized security organization: means any organization,

company, firm or body of individuals having expertise in matters
relating to security and knowledge of ship, and port operations,
which or who are authorized by the Central Government by
notification in the Official Gazette, to carry out assessment or
verification or approval or certification required by this Part or by the
International Ship and Port Facility Code;
(g) “security level” means the qualification of the degree of risk
associated which the threat or an unlawful act against a ship, or
against a port facility or any other area connected therewith;
(h) words and expressions used in this Part but no defined in this Part
shall have the respective meanings as assigned to them in the
Safety Convention.
Ship identification 344L. (1) The Central Government or the designated authority, as the
number case may be, shall provide every Indian ship of one hundred
gross tonnage and above and every Indian cargo ship of three
hundred gross tonnage and above, a ship identification
number, which conforms to the relevant scheme formulated
by the International Maritime Organisation.
(2) All the certificates issued under this Act and all certified
copies thereof shall bear the ship identification number.
Security measures 344M. (1) The Central Government or the designated authority, as the
case may be, shall set security levels taking into
consideration human element such shore leave and provide
information thereof to all the Indian ships, as may be
prescribed.
(2) The Central Government or the designated authority, as the
case may be, shall set security levels and provide information
thereof to port facilities within India and to every ship prior to
entering an Indian port or while in a port within India, as may
be prescribed.
Provided that the Central Government may authorize any recognized
security organization to carry out any of the security measures under this
section, on behalf of it, with such conditions as may be prescribed.
Port facility 344N. The Central Government shall carry out port facility assessment in
assessment. the manner as may be prescribed.
Obligations of 344O. Every company, ship port facility shall comply with the relevant
Companies, etc requirement under the safety Convention and the international code
for the security of ships and Port Facility.
Obligations of Port 344P. Every port facility in India shall comply with requirement of this
facility Part or the rules made thereunder.
International Ship 344Q. The Central Government or the designated authority or the authorized
Security Certificate. person, as the case may be, shall issue every Indian Ship to which
this part applies, an International ship Security Certificate or an

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Interim International Ship Security Certificate or an Interim

International Ship Security Certificate, as the case may be, in the
form and manner as may be prescribed.
344R. Every Indian Ship shall be provided with such ship security Alert Ship Security Alert
System, as may be prescribed. System
344S. Every ship to which this Part applies shall be subject To such control Control Measures.
measures as may be prescribed.
344T. (1) The Central Government may, having regard to the provisions Power to make
of the Safety Convention, make rules to carry out the purposes
of this Part.
provisions of sub-section (I), such rules may provide-
(a) for alternative or equivalent security levels;
(b) fee to be levied for any service rendered;
(c) any other matter which by this Part is to be, or may be,
prescribed’

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PART IX – B - Commentary
With a view to enhance maritime security of ships and port facilities, the International Ship
and Port Facility Security Code1 was adopted. ISPS Code provides for the mandatory requirements
regarding the provisions of Chapter XI – 2 of the SOLAS, 1974 as amended. The comprehensive set
of measures involves international cooperation between member States and respective authorities to
detect security threats and to take preventive measures against security incidents affecting ships or
port facilities used in international trade; to delegate roles and responsibilities to local government to
ensure maritime security, collection and exchange of information; design effective response plans
and to ensure adequate and proportionate security measure ready for immediate response.2
The ISPS Code provides for a standardized, comprehensive and uniform frame work of
measures to enhance, the security and ship and port facilities. The said frame work includes among
others, risk evaluation and recommendations to State-Parties regarding adoption of measures in
events of vulnerability of ships and port facilities, as a direct or indirect consequence of threat and
determination of appropriate security3 levels and measures. This Code applies to the ships engaged
on international voyages including passenger ships, high-speed passenger craft; cargo ships, including
high-speed craft of 500 gross tonnage and upwards and mobile offshore drilling units; and port facilities
serving such ships engaged on international voyages. Further, the ISPS code also provides for
exemptions that can be exercised by member States is in excluding a particular class or category of
vessel or port facility from its application.
Adopting ISPS Code into the Indian legal regime and incorporating the same into the MS Act
1958 falls under Part IX, Section 344 J to Section 344 T. The statute limits its applicability to the
category of measures mentioned in Section 344 J. Under its provisions the MS Act 1958 empowers
the Central Government to prescribe Rules4 pertaining to security measures, alternative or equivalent
security levels, fees to be levied for services rendered, ship security alert system, obligations of
shipping companies and port facilities5, control measures to be adopted by ships, and any other
1
Hereinafter referred as ISPS Code. The Code was brought into force on July 01st, 2004.
2
See ISPS Code Clause 1.2 “Objectives”, SOLAS/CONF.5/34 ANNEX 1
3
See ISPS Code Clause 3.1 on “Application”
4
See NT Branch Circular No.NT/ISPS/SHIP/09/2004 ISPS Circular NO: 44 on “Guidelines on application of security
provisions under SOLAS and the ISPS Code to Trans-Shippers and Port Service Vessels” NT/ISPS/04/2004, -NT(4)/
ISPS/SHIP-PLAN/2003 dated April 19, 2004
5
See Section 344 K which defines “port facility” as any “location or area including anchorages or waiting berths or
approaches from seaward and determined by the Central Government or the designated authority, as the case may
be, where interface between ships or ship and a port take place”.

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measures to implement Part IX B6. Further the Act prescribes the duty of the Central Government to
implement “ship identification number and International Ship Security Certificate”.7
In order to ensure compliance with the ISPS Code, complementary provisions in the Indian
Ports Act 19088 had undergone amendments. Section 68 D bridges the gap between Merchant
Shipping Act 1958 and Indian Ports act 1908, with respect to implementation of ISPS Code in the
port facilities.9
6
See Section 344 T of MS Act 1958. Amendment to NT Branch Circular No.NT/ISPS/SHIP/09/2004, Guide on preparation/
Minor amendments to ship security plan (superseded vide ISPS Cir. 1 of 2007), Reporting security incidents by port
facilities, amendment to NT branch Circular No. NT/ISPS/SHIP/02/2006-Guide lines on preparation/Minor amendments to
ship security plan, instructions to ship owners on ISPS verification audits for foreign going and coastal vessels,
instructions to port facility security officers on ISPS verification audits for major ports, non major ports and shipyards.
7
See Section 344 L and Section 344 M of MS Act 1958.
8
Indian Ports Act 1908 (Act 15 of 1908)
9
Section 68 D of the Indian Ports Act reads that “A port facility in India shall comply with all the requirements contained
in Chapter IX – B of the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 (44 of 1958) or the rules made there under so far as they are not
inconsistent with this Act”. Also see Explanation to Section 68 -D.

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PART X
COLLISION, ACCIDENTS AT SEA ANDH LIABILITY
Division of loss in 345. (1) Whenever by the fault of two or more ships damage or loss
case of collision is caused to one or more of them or to the cargo of one or
more of them or to any property on board one or more of
them, the liability to make good the damage or loss shall be
in proportion to the degree in which each ship was at fault:
Provided that -
(a) if, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, it
is not possible to establish different degrees of fault,
the liability shall be apportioned equally;
(b) nothing in this section shall operate so as to render
any ship liable for any loss or damage to which her
fault has not contributed;
(c) nothing in this section shall affect the liability of any
person under any contract, or shall be construed as
imposing any liability upon any person from which he
is exempted by any contract or by any provision of law,
or as affecting the right of any person to limit his liability
in the manner provided by law.
(2) For the purposes of this Part, references to damage or loss
caused by the fault of a ship shall be construed as including
references to any salvage or other expenses, consequent
upon that fault, recoverable in law by way of damages.
Damages for per- 346. (1) Whenever loss of life or personal injuries are suffered by any
sonal injury person on board a ship owing to the fault of that ship and of
any other ship or ships, the liability of the owners of the
ships concerned shall be joint and several.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as depriving any
person of any right of defence on which, independently of
this section, he might have relied in an action brought against
him by the person injured, or any person entitled to sue in
respect of such loss of life, or shall affected the right of any
person to limit his liability in cases to which this section
relates in the manner provided by law.
Right of contribution 347. (1) Whenever loss of life or personal injuries are suffered by a
person on board a ship owing to the fault of that ship and of
any other ship or ships and a proportion of the damages is
recovered from the owner of one of the ships which exceeds
the proportion in which she was in fault, the said owner may
recover by way of contribution the amount of the excess
from the owners of the other ship or ships to the extent to
which those ships were respectively in fault:
* The words “Limitation of” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1970

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Provided that no amount shall be so recovered which could

not, by reason of any statutory or contractual limitation of,
or exemption from, liability, or which could not for any other
reason, have been recovered in the first instance as
damages by the persons entitled to sue therefor.
(2) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the person
entitled to any contribution under sub-section (1) shall, for
the purpose of recovering the contribution, have, subject to
the provisions of this Act, the same rights and powers as
the persons entitled to sue for damages in the first instance.
348. In every case of collision between two ships it shall be the duty of Duty of master of
the master or person in charge of each ship, if and so far as he can ship to assist in case
do so without danger to his own ship, crew and passengers, if any of collision
(a) to render to the other ship, her master, crew and passengers,
if any, such assistance as may be practicable and may be
necessary to save them from any danger caused by the
collision and to stay by the other ship until he has ascertained
that she has no need of further assistance and
(b) to give to the masters or persons in charge of the other
ships the name of his own ship and of the port to which she
belongs and also the names of the ports form which she
comes and to which she is bound.
349. In every case of collision in which it is practicable so to do, the Collision to be
master of every ship concerned shall, immediately after the entered in official log
occurrence, cause a statement thereof and of the circumstances
under which the same occurred to be entered in the official log
book, if any, and the entry shall be signed by the master and also
by the mate or one of the crew.
350. When a ship has sustained or caused any accident occasioning Report to Central
loss of life or any serious injury to any person or has received any Government of
material damage affecting her seaworthiness or her efficiency either accidents to ships
in her hull or is so altered in any part of her machinery as not to
correspond with the particulars contained in any of the certificates
issued under this Act in respect of the ship, the owner or master
shall, within twenty-four hours after the happening of the accident
or damage or as soon thereafter as possible, transmit to the Central
Government or the nearest principal officer a report of the accident
or damage and of the probable cause thereof stating the name of
the ship, her official number, if any, her port of registry and the
place where she is.
351. If the owner or agent of any Indian ship has reason, owing to the Notice of loss of
non-appearance of the ship or to any other circumstance, to Indian ship to be
apprehend that the ship has been wholly lost, he shall, as soon as given to Central
conveniently may be, send to the Central Government notice in Government
writing of the loss and of the probable cause thereof stating the
name of the ship, her official number, if any, and her port of registry.

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PART X – Commentary
Despite each and every measure of safety and security being adopted, accidents that may
extend from collision to personal injury to loss of life to loss of ship herself, might happen at sea.
Under Part X, the MS Act 1958 is equipped to tackle similar situations as mentioned above. The Act
prescribes disbursement/fixation/allocation of liability in the event of incident of collision and/or accident
and the consequences arising thereof. Part X-C prescribes the joint liability of ships involved in
collision and thereby causing damage to cargo or property on board the ship. The standard of
fixation of liability mentioned in the Act is “fault based” and the degree of fault determines contribution
towards damages. Under Part X, the word “damage” encompasses a wider definition and includes
“salvage or a consequence of a proven fault recoverable in law by way of damages”.
For loss of life or personal injury suffered by person on board the ship arising out of fault of
two or more ships, the owners are held jointly and severally liable,1 unless ousted by special contractual
arrangement or exemption by application of statute. If the damages recovered from the ship owner
exceeds his proportion of fault, the ship owner who has made the excess payment can recover the
same from other shipowner(s).2
The master or person in charge of the ship(s) involved in collision is/are duty bound to render
assistance as much as is practical (without danger to his on crew and passengers) and necessary
to save the master, crew and passengers of the other ship involved in the accident. Moreover, the
identity of the ship and her port of registry/ports included in the voyage has to be disclosed. The Act
under Part X speaks about the entry of requirement of statement pertaining to collision in the official
log and reporting to the Central Government within 24 hours by means of notice. In the event of or
apprehension of non appearance of ship, the owner or agent of any Indian Ship should send notice in
writing on loss and reasons to the Central Government. MS Act 1958 provides for specialised provisions
pertaining to shipping casualties and reporting under Part XII.3
1
See Section 345 (2) of the MS Act 1958.
2
Section 347 (1)
3
Detailed commentary available under Part XII.

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1 [PART XA
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
352. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, - Definitions
(a) “claim” means a personal claim or property claim;
2
[(b) “Convention” means the Convention on Limitation of Liability
for Maritime Claims, 1976 as amended from time to time;]
(c) “Fund”, in relation to a vessel, means the limitation Fund
constituted under section 352C;
(d) “liability”, in relation to owner of a vessel, includes liability of
the vessel herself;
(e) “occurrence” means an occurrence referred to in sub-section
(1) of section 352A;
(f) “personal claim” means a claim resulting from loss of life or
personal injury;
(g) “property claim” means any claim other than a personal claim
arising from an occurrence.
3
[(h) “salvor” means any person rendering services in direct
connection with salvage operations.
Explanation- For the purpose of this clause, “salvage
operations” includes-
(i) the raising, removal, destruction or the rendering a ship
harmless which is sunk, wrecked, stranded or
abandoned including anything that is or has been on
board such ship;
(ii) the removal, destruction or rendering the cargo of a
ship harmless; and
(iii) the measures taken to avert or minimise loss to a ship
or its cargo or both;
(i) “ship owner” means owner, charterer, manager and operator
of a sea-going ship;
(j) “Special Drawing Rights” means Special Drawing Rights as
determined by the International Monetary Fund.]
2
[352A. (1) The ship owner, salvor, any person for whose act, neglect or Limitation of liability
default the ship owner or salvor, as the ease may be, is for damages in
responsible, and an insurer of liability for claims to the same respect of section
extent as the assured himself, may limit his liability as claims
provided under section 352B in respect of.-
(a) claims arising from loss of life of or personal injury to,
or loss of or damage to, property (including damage to
harbour works, basins and waterways and aids to

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navigation), occurring on board or in direct connection

with the operation of the ship or with salvage operations,
and consequential loss resulting therefrom;
(b) claims arising out of loss resulting from delay in the
carriage by sea of cargo and passengers or their
luggage;
(c) claims arising out of other loss resulting from
infringement of rights other than contractual rights,
occurring in direct connection with the operation of the
ship or salvage operations;
(d) claims of a person other than the person liable in
respect of measures taken in order to avert or minimise
loss for which the person liable may limit his liability in
accordance with the provisions of the Convention or
the rules made in this behalf prescribe, as the case
may be, and such further loss caused by such
measures;
(e) claims for the loss of life or personal injury to
passengers of a ship brought by or on behalf of any
person,-
(i) under the contract of passenger carriage; or
(ii) who, with the consent of the carrier, is
accompanying a vehicle for live animals which are
covered by a contract for the carriage of goods, carried
in that ship;
Provided that the limits for passengers claim specified in
the rules made under this Part shall not be applicable to the
passengers carried in and around the coast of India in
respect of whom separate limits shall be prescribed.
(2) Claims set out in sub-section (1) shall be subject to limitation
of liability even if brought by way of recourse or for indemnity
under a contract or otherwise:
Provided that claims set out in clause (d) of sub-section (1)
shall not be subject to limitation of liability to the extent that
they relate to remuneration under a contract with the person
liable.
(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to –
(a) claims for salvage or contribution in general average;
(b) claims for oil pollution damage within the meaning of
the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil
Pollution Damage, 1992 as amended from time to time;
(c) claims by servants of the ship owner or salvor whose
duties are connected with the ship or the salvage
operations, including claims of their heirs, dependents

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or other persons entitled to make such claims, if under

the law governing the contract of service between the
ship owner or salvor and such servants of the ship
owner or salvor is not entitled to limit his liability in
respect of such claims, or if he is by such law only
permitted to limit his liability to an amount greater than
that provided for in the provision of the Convention or
the rules made under this Part prescribe;
(d) claims subject to any International Convention or any
law for the time being in force in India governing or
prohibiting limitation of liability for nuclear damage;
(e) claims against the ship owner of a nuclear ship for
nuclear damage.
Explanation 1 – For the purpose of this section, the act of
involving limitation of liability shall not constitute an admission
of liability.
Explanation 2 – For the purpose of this Part, the liability of
a ship owner shall include liability in an action brought
against the ship herself.]
1
352B. [(1) The amount to which any person referred to in sub-section Limitation of liability
(1) of section 352A may limit his liability in accordance with
the provisions of the Convention and in cases where the
provisions of the Convention are not applicable, the limit shall
be in accordance with the rules made in this behalf prescribe.]
1
352C. [(1) Where any liability is alleged to have been incurred by a Limitation Fund and
person referred to in sub-section (1) of section 352A in respect consolidation of
of claims arising out of an occurrence, and legal proceedings claims *[against
are instituted in respect of claims subject to limitation, then owners]
such person may apply to the High Court for the setting up
of a limitation Fund for the total sum representing the amounts
set out in the Convention or the rules made in this behalf
under this Part applicable to claims for which that person
may be liable together with interest thereon from the date of
occurrence giving rise to the liability until the date of the
constitution of the Fund.]
(2) The High Court to which the application is made under sub-
section (1) may determine the amount of the owner’s liability
and require him to deposit such amount with the High Court
1
[or produce a guarantee acceptable or produce a bank
guarantee in respect of the amount as in the opinion of the
High Court is satisfactory and the amount so deposited or
guarantee so given] shall constitute a limitation Fund for
the purposes of the claims referred to in sub-section (1) and
shall be utilised only for the payment of such claims.
* Omitted as per MS (Amend.) Act 2002

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(3) After the Fund has been constituted, no person entitle to

claim against it shall be entitled to exercise any right against
any other assets of the owner in respect of his claim against
the Fund, if that Fund is actually available for benefit of the
claimant.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the High Court may
distribute the amount constituting the Fund rateably amongst
the several claimants and may stay any proceedings pending
in any other court in relation to the same matter and may
proceed in such manner and subject to such rules of the
High Court as to making persons interested parties to the
proceedings, and as to the exclusion of any claims which
do not come in within certain time, and as to requiring
security from the owner, and as to payment of any costs,
as the High Court thinks fit.
1
[(5) Where the person referred to in sub-section (1) or his insurer
establishes that he has paid in whole or in part any claims
in respect of which he can limit his liability under this Part,
the High Court shall place him in the same position and to
the same extent in relation to the Fund as the claimant
whose claim has been paid and allow to acquire by
subrogation the rights which the person so compensated
would have enjoyed under this Part:
Provided that the right of subrogation provided for in this
sub-section may also be exercised by persons other than
those therein mentioned in respect of any amount of
compensation which they might have paid to that extent if
prescribed by the rules made in this behalf under this Part.]
(6) Where the person liable or any other person has established
that he may at a later date be required to pay in whole or in
part, any of the claims under this Part, which could be settled
from the Fund, the High Court may notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this section order that a sufficient
sum may be provisionally set aside for the purpose to enable
the person to enforce his claim against the Fund at a later
date in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (5).]
(7) If the owner is entitled to make a claim against a claimant
arising out of the same occurrence, their respective claims
shall be set off against each other and the provisions of this
Part shall only apply to the balance, if any.
Release of ship, etc. 352D. (1) Where a vessel or other property is detained in connection
with a claim which appears to the High Court to be founded
on a liability to which a limit set by section 352B applies, or
security is given to prevent or obtain release from such
detention, the High Court may, and in the circumstances
mentioned in sub-section (3) of this section shall, order the

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release of the vessel, property or security if the conditions

specified in sub-section (2) are satisfied; and where the
release is ordered, the person on whose application it is
ordered shall be deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction
of the High court to adjudicate upon the claims-
(2) The conditions referred to in sub-section (1) are-
(a) that security which in the opinion of the High Court is
satisfactory (in this section referred to as guarantee)
has previously been given whether in India or elsewhere,
in respect of the said liability or any other liability
incurred on the same occasion and the High Court is
satisfied that if the claim is established, the amount
for which the guarantee was given or such part thereof
as corresponds to the claim will be actually available
to the claimant; and
(b) that either the guarantee is for an amount not less
than the said limit or further security is given which,
together with the guarantee, is for an amount not less
than that limit.
(3) The circumstances referred to in sub-section (1) are that
the guarantee was given in a port which, in relation to the
claim, is the relevant port (or as the case may be, a relevant
port) and that port is in a convention country.
(4) For the purposes of this section
(a) a guarantee given by the giving security in more than
one country shall be deemed to have been given in the
country in which security was last given;
(b) any question whether the amount of any security is
(either by itself or together with any other amount) not
less than any limit set by section 352B shall be decided
as at the time at which the security is given;
(c) where part only of the amount for which a guarantee was
given will be available to a claimant that part shall not be
taken to correspond to his claim if any other part may be
available to a claimant in respect of a liability to which no
limit is set as mentioned in sub-section (1).
(5) In this section-
1
[(a) “Convention country” means a country in which the
Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims,
1976 as amended from time to time is for the time
being in force;]
(b) relevant port, in relation to any claim, means a port
where the event giving rise to the claim occurred, or if
that event did not occur in that port, the first port of call
after the event occurred and includes in relation to a

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claim for loss of life or personal injury or for damage to

cargo, the port of disembarkation or discharge.
1[(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) to
(4), the vessels or other property referred to in sub-section
(1) shall be ordered to be released if the limitation Fund has
been constituted,-
(a) in the port where the occurrence took place, or, if it
took place out of port, in the first port of call thereafter;
(b) in the port of disembarkation in respect of claims for
loss of life or personal injury; or
(c) in the port of discharge in respect of damage to cargo.
(7) The provision of sub-section (6) shall apply only if the claimant
brings a claim against the limitation Fund before the High
Court administering the Fund and the Fund is actually
available and freely transferable in respect of that claim.]
2
Scope of application [352E. (1) The provisions of this part shall apply whenever any person
referred to in sub-section (1) of section 352A seeks to limit
his liability before the Court or seeks to procure the release
of a ship or other property or the discharge of any guarantee
given within the Indian jurisdiction but any person referred to
in sub-section (1) of section 352A who at the time when the
provisions under this Part are invoked before any Court in
India does not have his habitual residence in India or does
not have his principal place of business in India or any ship
in relation to which the right of limitation is invoked or whose
release is sought and which does not at the time specified
above fly the flag of the State, which is a party to the
Convention, is wholly excluded from the provisions of this
Part.
(2) The provisions of this Part shall not be applicable to the
following vessels unless the Central Government, by
notification, specify otherwise,-
(a) ships intended for navigation on or around coast of India
and registered as coastal vessels under the provisions
of this Act;
(b) ships less than three hundred tons;
(c) air-cushion vehicles;
(d) floating platforms constructed for the purpose of exploring
or exploiting the natural resources of the sea-bed or
the subsoil thereof.]


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352F. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the provisions Application of this
of this Part relating to limitation of liability of an owner of a Part to charterer
vessel in respect of claims arising out of an occurrence manager, etc., of a
shall apply to the charterer, manager and operator of the vessel
vessel and to the master, member of the crew and other
servants of the owner, charterer, manager or operator acting
in the course of their employment in the same manner as
they apply in relation to the owner.
Provided that the total limits of liability of the owner and all
other persons referred to in this sub-section in respect of
personal claims and property claims arising on a distinct
occasion shall not exceed the amounts determined in
accordance with the provisions of section 352B.
(2) The master or a member of the crew of a vessel may limit
his liability under sub-section (1) even if the occurrence which
gives rise to a claim against him resulted from the actual
fault or privity of the master and the members of the crew or
any one or more of them:
Provided that where the master or a member of the crew is
at the same time the owner co-owner, charterer, manager
or operator of a vessel, the provisions of this sub-section
shall only apply where such occurrence resulted from any
act, neglect or default committed by the master or, as the
case may, be the member of the crew in his capacity as
master, or, as the case may be, as a member of the crew.
1
[352FA. The Central Government may make rules to carry out the purposes Power to make rules.
of this Part:
Provided that the rules under this Part shall be made having regard
to the provisions of the Convention.

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208 [Act 44
PART X A - Commentary
Shipping is considered to be a privileged industry, where in, the players involved invest huge
amounts of money and the stakes involved are very high. The investment, be it ship as an asset or
the cargo carried, and the like are exposed to high risks. Hence the players involve are granted the
privilege to limit their liability. The limitation of liability for maritime claim is an inevitable part of rule
making by IMO, and is particularly applicable to liability conventions. The International Convention
on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 19761, in its present form, was adopted in the year 1977.
The intention behind the adoption of the convention is to bring about uniformity in the discretion of the
persons entitled to limit their liability. A protocol to the LLMC, 1976 was adopted in the year 1996
and is in force.
However, member states are given the freedom to adopt different conventions presently in
force including the predecessor of LLMC 1976, which is the LLMC, 1956. Unlike other international
conventions, the limits prescribed under the prevailing LLMC 1976 and 1996 Protocol are procedural
in nature and hence, it is up to the State-Parties, where the petition for constituting the Limitation
Fund is heard, to decide the applicability of limits. In other words, persons who hold the statutory
right to limit their liability can exercise their discretion in opting/selecting the country or jurisdiction
which is most favourable to them in terms of lower limits.
India became party to the LLMC 1976 and has also ratified and adopted the 1996 protocol.
The major change in 1996 Protocol is with respect to the hike in the limits wherein the persons
entitled to limit their liability will have to bear a cost higher than that could have been done under the
LLMC 1976. Under Part X-A the Act prescribes that the limitation of liability for damages can be
instituted in respect of claims arising from loss of life or property 2or personal injury or damage to
property occurring on board the vessel or due to operation of the ship or salvage operations or
consequential losses or claims due to loss resulting from delay in carriage.
The MS Act 1958 clearly lays down that the shipowner, salvor, charterer, manager, operator
of the vessel, or the insurer of liability for claims or any person for whose act the ship owner or the
salvor, charterer, manager or operator is held liable and they include master, members of the crew,
can limit his/their liability in accordance with the provisions of LLMC 1976.3 In the happening of an
event as mentioned in Part X A, the person(s) mentioned above can apply to the Court for constitution
of limitation fund. Even if a vessel involved in collision is outside the jurisdiction of Indian territory, the
1
Hereinafter referred as LLMC 1976
2
See Section 352 A. The “property” includes damage to harbour works, basins and waterways and aids to navigation.
Also see Section 116 of Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 which enables port to claim damages for the damage caused to/
losses incurred by its properties.
3
See Section 352 A and Section 352 B read with Section 352 F of the MS Act 1958 1976. Right to limit reiterated in Berner
Shipping inc. Bombay and Anr. Vs. Ms. Kala Ramachandran , AIR 2002 Bom 432, 2002(3) ALLMR 356

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jurisdiction enacted by PART XA in matters of suit for limiting the liability, can be entertained by the
court. Part XA is a self contained Code.4
As stipulated under the convention, constitution of the fund or claiming limitation will not
constitute an admission of liability on the part of the person who claims limitation.5 The Act states
that where the provisions of the conventions are not applicable, the limit shall be in accordance with
the Rules made by virtue of powers conferred under Section 352 FA of the MS Act 1958. Further, as
mentioned in the Convention, the MS Act 1958 provides for provisions for constituting of fund under
Section 352 C. The Convention also provides for the discretion of State Parties in exempting the
application of the Convention on certain categories of claims and vessels.
In India claims to which the Convention does not apply are that of the salvage, or contribution
in general average, oil pollution damage6, claims by servants of the ship owner or salvor whose
duties are connected with the ship7, if law prohibits application on nuclear ships, that against shipowner
of nuclear ship in case of nuclear damage.8 Similarly, vessels to which Part X - A do not apply are
(a) ships intended for coastal navigation on or around the coast of India and registered as coastal
vessels under the MS Act 1958.; (b) ships less than 300 tons; (c) air cushion vessels and (d) floating
platforms constructed for exploring or exploiting natural resources of the sea-bed or the subsoil there
of.9
Part X A provides that the High Court shall order for release of a detained ship or property or
security, of which the limitation fund is constituted either in India or in any port of any country which
is a party to the LLMC, 1976.10 It may be noted that the elaborate measures in bringing into force the
Rules are made by the Central Government. The same is believed to be an attempt to revamp Part X
A and in effectively implementing the provisions. It is understood that changes would extend from
amendments on application of LLMC 1976 limits to claims and vessels that are presently exempted
to the amendments to enforce the recently adopted 1996 Protocol to the LLMC 1976. Whereas it
may be noted that on international plane, attempts are being made for countries to adopt newer
limits which are higher as far as in terms of value are concerned.
4
Snp Shipping Services Pvt. Ltd. And Ors. Vs. Kara Mara Shipping Co. Ltd. And Ors. 1997(4) ALLMR 590, 1997 (99)
BOMLR 651
5
Explanation 1 to Section 352 A.
6
Separate limits are provided in the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992. Hence in
order to avoid duplication and for the convenience of uniformity, the limits prescribed under LLMC 1976 are excluded
from its application on claims pertaining to oil pollution damage
7
Section 352 A (3)(c) provides for additional conditions.
8
Section 352 (Ä)(3)
9
Section 352 E of the MS Act 1958.
10
Gujarat Ambuja Cement Ltd. Vs. Sealand Shipping and Exports Pvt Ltd. And Anr. 2003(4) ALL MR 644, 2003(6) Bom CR
647

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1 [PART XB
CIVIL LIABILITY FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE
Application 352G. This Part applies to-
(a) every Indian ship wherever it is; and
(b) every foreign ship while it is at a port or place in India or
within the territorial waters of India or any marine areas
adjacent thereto over which India has, or may hereafter have,
exclusive jurisdiction in regard to control of marine pollution
under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive
Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, or
any other law for the time being in force.
Definitions 2
[352H. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “incident” means any occurrence, or series of occurrences
having the same origin, which causes pollution damage or
creates a grave and imminent threat of causing such
damage;
(b) “Liability Convention” means the International Convention
on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 as amended
from time to time;
(c) “oil” means any persistent hydro carbon mineral oil such as
crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil whether
carried on board a ship as cargo or in the bunker of such
ship;
(d) “owner” means-
(i) the person registered as owner of the ship;
(ii) in the absence of registration, the person owning the
ship; or
(iii) in the case of a ship owned by a foreign State, the
person registered in that State as operator of the ship;
(e) “person” means any individual or partnership or any public
or private body, whether corporate or not, including a State
or any of its constituent sub-divisions;
(f) “pollution damage” means-
(i) loss or damage caused outside the ship by
contamination resulting from escape or discharge of
oil from the ship, wherever such escape or discharge
occurs, provided that compensation for impairment of
the environment other than losses or profit from such
impairment shall be limited to costs of reasonable
measures of reinstatement actually undertaken or to
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1983 be undertaken;

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(ii) the costs of preventive measures and further loss or

damage caused by such measures;
(g) “preventive measures” means any reasonable measures
taken by any person after the incident to prevent or minimise
pollution damage;
(h) “ship” means any sea-going vessel and sea borne craft of
any type whatsoever constructed or adapted for the carriage
of oil in bulk as cargo, provided that a ship capable of carrying
oil and other cargoes shall be regarded as a ship only when
it is actually carrying oil in bulk as cargo and during any
voyage following such carriage unless it is proved that it
has no residues of such carriage of oil in bulk aboard;
(i) “State of the ship’s registry”, in relation to registered or
unregistered ships, means the State of registration of the
ship, or as the case may be, the State whose flag the ship
is flying;]
352I. (1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), (3) and (4), Liability of owner
the owner at the time of an incident, or, where the incident
consists of a series of occurrences, at the time of first of
such occurrences, shall be liable for any pollution damage
caused by oil which has escaped or been discharged from
the ship as a result of the incident.
(2) No liability for pollution damage shall attach to the owner
under sub-section (1), if he proves that the pollution damage-
(a) resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war,
insurrection or a natural phenomenon of an
exceptional, inevitable and irresistible character; or
(b) was wholly caused by an act or omission done with
intent to cause such damage by any other person; or
(c) was wholly caused by the negligence or other wrongful
act of any government or other authority responsible
for the maintenance of lights or other navigational aids
in exercise of its functions in that behalf.
(3) Where, with respect to any incident, the owner proves that
the pollution damage resulted, either wholly or partially, from
an act or omission done, with intent to cause such damage,
by the person who suffered damage, or from the negligence
of that person, the owner shall be exonerated wholly or, as
the case may be, partially, from liability to that person.
1
[(4) When any incident involving two or more ships occurs and
pollution damage results therefrom, the owners of all the
ships concerned, unless exonerated under sub-section (3),
shall be jointly and severally liable for such damage which is
not reasonably separable;]

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(5) No claim for pollution damage shall be made against any owner
otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this section.
[(6)
1
Without prejudice to any right of recourse of the owner
against third parties, no claim for compensation for pollution
damage may be made against-
(a) the servants or agents of the owner or the members of
the crew;
(b) the pilot or any other person who, without being a
member of the crew, renders services for the ship;
(c) any charterer (howsoever described, including a bare-
boat charterer), manager or operator of the ship;
(d) any person performing salvage operations with the
consent of the owner or on the instructions of a
competent public authority;
(e) any person taking preventive measures;
(f) all servants or agents of persons mentioned in clauses
(c), (d) and (e), unless the incident causing such
damage occurred as a result of their personal act or
omission committed or made with the intent to cause
such damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that
such damage would probably result.]
Limitation of liability. 352J. [(1)
1
The owner shall be entitled to limit his liability under this
Part, in respect of any one or more incident, as may be
prescribed.
(2) The owner shall not be entitled to limit his liability if it is
proved that the incident causing pollution damage occurred
as a result of his personal act or omission committed or
made with the intent to cause such damage, or recklessly
and with knowledge that such damage would probably result.]
Consolidation of 352K. (1) (a) Any owner desiring to avail of the benefit of limitation
limitation fund of his liability under sub-section (1) of section 352J
shall make an application to the High Court for
constitution of a limitation fund (hereafter in this Part
referred to as fund).
(b) Such fund may be constituted either by depositing the
sum with the High Court or by furnishing bank guarantee
or such other security as, in the opinion of the High
Court, is satisfactory.
(2) (a) The insurer or any other person providing financial
security to the owner may apply to the High Court for
constitution of the fund under sub-section (1) and any
fund so constituted shall have the same effect as if it
were constituted by the owner.

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(b) Such fund may be constituted even in cases where

sub-section (2) of section 352J applies but in any such
event constitution of the fund shall not prejudice the
rights of any claimant against the owner for full
compensation exceeding the amount deposited or
secured in the fund.
1
[(3) The amount in Special Drawing Rights to be deposited or
secured in the fund under sub-section (1) shall be converted
in rupees on the basis of official value in rupees of the Special
Drawing Rights as determined by the Reserve Bank of India
on the date of constitution of the fund].
352L. (1) Where the owner or any of his servants or agents or any other Acquisition of right
person providing him insurance or other financial security has, for compensation by
as a result of incident in question, paid any compensation to subrogation
any claimant, such person shall, up to the amount so paid by
him, be entitled to acquire by subrogation the rights to which
the claimant so compensated would be entitled to.
(2) Where the owner or any other person providing him insurance
or other financial security establishes that he may, at a
later date, be compelled to pay to any person, in whole or in
part, any amount by way of compensation for pollution
damage caused by the incident with respect to which he
would have been entitled to acquire by subrogation the right
of the claimant had the compensation been paid before the
fund was distributed, the High Court may order that sufficient
amount from the fund may provisionally be set aside to enable
the owner or such other person to enforce his claim against
the fund at a later date.
352M. (1) The High Court shall consolidate all claims against the fund Constitution of claim
including those arising under section 352L. and distribution of
fund
(2) Any claim in respect of expenses reasonably incurred or
sacrifices reasonably made by the owner voluntarily to
prevent or minimise pollution damage shall rank equally with
other claims against the fund.
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 352L,
the High Court shall distribute the amount in the fund among
all claimants in proportion to their established claims.
352N. (1) The owner of every Indian ship which carries 2000 tons or Compulsory insur-
more oil in bulk as cargo shall, in respect of such ship, ance or other finan-
maintain an insurance or other financial security for an cial guarantee
amount equivalent to-
[(a) one hundred and thirty-three Special Drawing Rights
1
for each ton of ship’s tonnage; or

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(b) fourteen million Special Drawing Rights],

whichever is lower.
(2) In respect of every Indian ship which maintains insurance or
other financial security under sub-section (1), there shall be
issued by the Director-General a certificate in such form
and giving such particulars as may be prescribed.
(3) On an application by the owner or agent of any foreign ship,
the Director-General may issue a certificate under sub-
section (2) in respect of such foreign ship on production of
satisfactory evidence relating to maintenance of insurance
or other financial security in accordance with the provisions
of the International Convention of Civil Liability of Oil Pollution
Damage signed at Brussels on the 29th day of November,
1969 as amended from time to time.
(4) For every certificate issued under sub-section (2) and (3)
there shall be charged such fee as may be prescribed.
Acceptance of 352O. Any certificate issued by a competent authority in any country
certificates issued outside India to a ship registered in that country or any certificate
outside India issued by a competent authority of any country which is a
contracting party to the International Convention on Civil Liability
for Oil Pollution Damage signed at Brussels on the 29th day of
November, 1969 1[as amended from time to time] to any ship
wherever registered, shall be accepted at any port or place in India
as if it were issued under this Act.
Ban on entering or 352P. (1) No Indian ship, which has on board 2000 tons or more oil in
leaving an Indian port bulk as cargo shall enter or leave or attempt to enter or
without certificate leave any port or place in India unless it carries on board a
certificate issued under sub-section (2) of section 352N or
a certificate accepted under section 352O.
(2) No ship other than an Indian ship carrying 2000 tons or
more oil in bulk as cargo, wherever registered, shall enter or
leave or attempt to enter or leave any port or place in India
unless it carries on board a certificate issued under sub-
section (3) of section 352N or a certificate accepted under
section 352O.
(3) No customs officer shall grant inward entry or outward
clearance to any ship to which sub-section (1) or, as the
case may be, sub-section (2) applies, unless its master
produces a certificate required under the respective sub-
section.
Government ships 352Q. Nothing in this Part shall apply to any ship of war or any ship for
the time being used by the Government of any country for purposes
other than commercial purposes.

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352R. The Central Government may make rules prescribing - Power to make rules
(a) the form of certificate to be issued by the Director-General
under sub-section (2) of section 352N and the particulars
which it may contain;
(b) fees which may be charged for issue of certificates under
section 352N.
1
[(c) the limits of liability of owner in respect of one or more incident
of pollution damage or other requirements having regard to
the provisions of the Liability Convention.]

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PART X – B -Commentary
Oil Pollution has been considered as one of the consequences in unfortunate events of
collision and accidents caused by ship at sea. The liability for the damage caused due to oil pollution
is rooted in respect to jurisdiction as stipulated under United Nations Convention on the Law of the
Sea 19821. In compliance with the obligations undertaken by ratification of UNCLOS 1982, India has
amended and incorporated territorial limits and jurisdiction, within the Territorial Waters, Continental
Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act 1976 or any other law in force.
Though classified previously as oil pollution in general, distinctly classified liability regimes for
pollution by oil according to its source were developed.2
Succeeding its predecessor3, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution
Damage, 19924, was adopted to ensure adequate compensation is made available, in cases where
damage due to oil pollution is caused by maritime causalities involving ships carrying oil as cargo.
The CLC 1992 provides for strict liability as the basis for fixation of liability.
Part X- B provides for exclusive jurisdiction for civil liability with regard to damage due to oil
pollution caused by every Indian ship, irrespective of the location of the oil pollution damage as well as
foreign ships that are within the territorial waters of India or any marine areas adjacent thereto. The
Convention covers both pollution by oil spillage from cargo and bunker carried as fuel of the ship from
seagoing vessel and sea borne craft constructed or adapted for the carriage of oil in bulk as cargo.
The Act makes it mandatory that every Indian ship carrying 2000 tons or more oil in bulk as
cargo shall be covered with adequate insurance or other financial security. Accordingly the Director
General of Shipping shall issue certificates of valid insurance cover or financial security to Indian
ships and the same can be issued to foreign ships on production of satisfactory evidence relating to
maintenance of insurance or financial security. To this effect an unpaid insurance premium was held
to be enforceable in India by a Protection and Indemnity club incorporated in a foreign jurisdiction.5 It
further, embodies provisions for limitation of liability6, subrogation of rights to compensation, constitution
of limitation fund, consolidation of claims & disbursement of fund/damages amongst claimants, and
rule77 making powers for implementation.
1
Hereinafter referred to as UNCLOS 1982. India ratified the UNCLOS 1982 on June 29, 1995.
2
For instance International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001, adopted in March 23,
2001, Entry inforce November 21, 2008. Popularly known as Bunker Convention 2001. India is not yet a party to Bunker
Convention 2001.
3
India has denunciated of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969.
4
Hereinafter referred to as CLC 1992
5
Liverpool and London SP and I Asson Ltd. vs. M.V. Sea Success I and Anr. (2004) 9 SCC 512.
6
Part X – A has no application on Part X-B
7
See Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage) Rules, 2008.

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1 [PART XC
INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION COMPENSATION FUND
352S. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,- Definitions
(a) “contributing oil” means crude oil and fuel oil.
Explanation – For the purposes of this clause,-
(i) “crude oil” means any liquid hydro carbon mixture occurring
naturally in the earth whether or not treated to render it
suitable for transportation and includes crude oils from which
certain distillate fractions have been removed or to which
certain distillate fraction have been added;
(ii) “fuel oil” means heavy distillates or residues from crude oil
or blends of such materials intended for use as a fuel for the
production of heat or power of a quality equivalent to the
‘American Society for Testing and Materials’ Specification
for Number Four Fuel Oil (Designation D396-69), or heavier;
(b) “discharge or escape”, in relation to pollution damage,
means the discharge or escape of oil carried by the ship;
(c) “Fund” means the International Oil Pollution Compensation
Fund established by the Fund Convention;
(d) “Fund Convention” means the International Convention on
the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation
for Oil Pollution Damage, 1992 as amended from time to
time;
(e) “Fund Convention country” means a country in which the
Fund Convention is for the time being in force;
(f) “guarantor” means any person providing insurance or other
financial security to cover the owner’s liability;
(g) “terminal installation” means any site for the storage of oil
in bulk which is capable of receiving oil from waterborne
transportation, including any facility situated off-shore and
linked to such site;
(h) “ton”, in relation to oil, means a metric ton.
352T. (1) Contributions to the Fund, in respect of contributing oil carried Contribution to the
by sea to ports or terminal installations in India, shall be Fund.
payable in accordance with Articles 10 and 12 of the Fund
Convention.
(2) Sub-section (1) shall apply whether or not the contributing
oil is imported, and notwithstanding that contributions are
payable to the Fund in respect of carriage of the same
contributing oil on a previous voyage.

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(3) Contributions shall also be payable to the Fund in respect

of contributing oil when first received in any installation in
India after having been carried by sea and discharged in a
port or terminal installation in a country which is not a Fund
Convention country.
(4) The person liable to pay contributions to the Fund shall be-
(a) in case of contributing oil which is being imported into
India, the importer; or
(b) in any other case, the person by whom the oil is
received in India.
(5) A person shall not be liable to pay contributions to the Fund
in respect of the contributing oil imported or received by him
in any year if the quantity of contributing oil so imported or
received in the year does not exceed one hundred and fifty
thousand tones or as may be specified from time to time in
the Fund Convention.
Contribution payable 352U. (1) The contributions payable to the Fund by a person for any
by persons to the year shall be,-
Fund.
(a) such amount as may be determined by the Assembly
of the Fund under Articles 10 and 12 of the Fund
Convention;
(b) in such installments, becoming due at such dates, as
may be notified and if any amount due from such person
remains unpaid after the date on which it became due,
it shall from that due date bear interest at a rate
determined by the said Assembly until it is paid.
(2) The Central Government may require persons, who are or
may be liable to pay contributions to the Fund under section
352T, to give financial security for payment of contributions
to that Government or the Fund.
Power to call for infor- 352V. (1) The Central Government may, for the purpose of transmitting
mation to the Fund the names and addresses of the persons who
under section 352T are liable to make contributions to the
Fund every year and the quantity of contributing oil in respect
of which they are so liable, by notice require any such person
to furnish such information as may be specified therein.
(2) A notice under this section may require a person to give
such information as may be required to ascertain whether
he is liable to contribute to the Fund.
(3) A notice under this section may specify the manner in which,
and the time within which, such notice is to be complied
with.

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(4) In proceedings by the Fund against any person to recover

any amount due under section 352T, particulars contained
in any list transmitted by the Central Government to the
Fund shall, so far as those particulars are based on
information obtained under this section, be admissible as
evidence of the facts stated in the list; and so far as
particulars which are so admissible are based on information
given by the person against whom the proceedings are
brought, those particulars shall be presumed to be accurate
until the contrary is proved.
(5) No person shall disclose any information which has been
furnished to or obtained by him under this section unless
the disclosure is made,-
(a) with the consent of the person from whom the
information was obtained;
(b) in connection with the compliance of this section;
(c) for the purpose of any legal proceedings arising out of
this section or of any report of such proceedings.
(6) A person who,-
(a) refuses or wilfully neglects to comply with a notice
under this section; or
(b) makes, while furnishing any information in compliance
with a notice under this section, any statement which
he knows to be false in a material particular, or
recklessly makes any statement which is false in a
material particular, shall be guilty of an offence
punishable under this Act.
352W. Where any person suffering pollution damage has been unable to Liability of the Fund.
obtain full and adequate compensation for the damage under the
terms of the Liability Convention on any of the grounds specified in
Article 4 of the Fund Convention, the Fund shall be liable for pollution
damage in accordance with the provisions of the Fund Convention.
352X. (1) Any action for a claim against the Fund for compensation Jurisdiction of Courts
under section 352W shall be brought before the High Court.
(2) The Fund shall have the right to intervene as a party to any
legal proceedings instituted in the High Court against the
owner or his guarantor.
(3) Where an action for compensation for pollution damage has
been brought against the owner or his guarantor before the
High Court each party to the proceedings may notify the
Fund of the proceedings.
(4) Where such notice of proceedings has been given to the
Fund, any judgment given in the proceedings shall, after it
has become final and enforceable, become binding upon the

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Fund in the sense that the facts and evidence in that

judgment may not be disputed by the Fund on the ground
that it has not intervened in the proceedings.
Extinguishment of 352Y. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time
claims. being in force, no action to enforce a claim against the Fund under
this Part shall be entertained by a High Court unless-
(a) the action to enforce is commenced; or
(b) notice of action to enforce a claim against the owner or his
guarantor in respect of the same pollution damage is given
to the Fund,
within three years from the date when the damage occurred:
Provided that in no case an action to enforce a claim shall be
brought after six years from the date of the incident that caused
such damage.
Subrogation and right 352Z. In respect of any sum paid by a public authority in India or the
of recourse. Fund, as the case may be, as compensation for pollution damage,
that authority shall acquire by subrogation any rights which the
person so compensated would have enjoyed under the Fund
Convention.
Power to make rules 352ZA. The Central Government may make such rules as may be required
to carry out the purposes of the Fund Convention.]

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PART X-C – Commentary
The International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation

for Oil Pollution Damage, 19921, is an improvised version of the Fund Convention 19712. On one hand
Fund 1992 aimed to pay victims of pollution in the event of damages exceeding the liability of the
shipowner or when the shipowner is not traceable, or when the shipowner is unable to pay damages
that he is held liable for, and on the other hand, Fund 1992 is also responsible to indemnify shipowners
to whom liability for causing damage cannot be attributed to or his insurer.
Part X C provides for implementation of International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution
Damage 1992 as amended from time to time. Further, the MS Act 1958 stipulates a direct link to the
Fund 1992 throughout its provisions mentioned under Part X-B. It encompasses the persons liable to
make contributions to the fund, amount to be paid, power of the Central Government to account the
payment and promptness of payment by persons, liability of fund, jurisdiction of High Court,
extinguishment of claims, subrogation of rights to compensation and above all for the powers of
Central Government to make Rules3 pertaining to the provisions under Part X-C and in turn the
purposes of 1992 Fund Convention.
1
Hereinafter referred to as Fund 1992
2
Although India was a party to the Fund Convention 1971, the same was later denounced and India became party to the
Fund Protocol
3
See Merchant Shipping (International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage) Rules, 2008

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PART XI
NAVIGATION
Method of giving helm 353. No person on any Indian ship shall, when the ship is going ahead,
orders give a helm or steering order containing the word starboard or right or
any equivalent of “Starboard” or “right” unless he intends that the
head of the ship shall move to the “right” or give a helm or steering
order containing the word port of “left” or any equivalent of “port” or
“left” unless he intends that the head of the ship shall move to the left.
Duty to report dan- 354. The master of any Indian ship on meeting with dangerous ice, a
gers to navigation dangerous derelict, a tropical storm or any other direct danger to
navigation 1[or on encountering sub-freezing air temperatures
associated with gale force winds, causing severe ice accretions
on super-structures or strong gale for which no storm warning has
been received by him] shall send information accordingly by all
means of communication at his disposal and in accordance with
such rules as the Central Government may make in this behalf to
ships in the vicinity and to such authorities on shore as may be
prescribed by those rules.
Explanation: For the purpose of this section the expression “tropical
storm” means a hurricane, typhoon, cyclone or other storm of a
similar nature, and the master of a ship shall be deemed to have
met with a tropical storm if he has reason to believe that there is
such a storm in the vicinity.
Communication of 1
[354A. (1) Where an authority prescribed under section 354 receives
intelligence regarding intelligence from any source of any danger to navigation
dangers to navigation mentioned in that section, that authority shall, as soon as
possible, communicate such intelligence to such ships and
authorities as he may deem proper.
(2) The intelligence shall be communicated in such manner and
subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed:
Provided that no fees shall be levied for communicating any
intelligence under this section to a ship.]
Obligation to render 355. (1) The master of an Indian ship on receiving at sea a signal of
assistance on distress or information from any source that a vessel or aircraft
reveiving signal of is in distress shall proceed with all speed to the assistance of
distress the persons in distress (informing them if possible that he is
doing so) unless he is unable or in the special circumstances
of the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to do so
or unless he is released from such obligation under the
provisions of sub-section (3) or sub-section (4).
(2) Where the master of any ship in distress has requisitioned
any Indian ship that has answered his call, it shall be the
duty of the master of the requisitioned ship to comply with

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the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the

assistance of the persons in distress unless he is released
form the obligation under the provisions of sub-section(4).
(3) The master shall be released from the obligation imposed
by sub-section (1) as soon as he is informed of the requisition
of one or more ships other than his own and that the
requisition is being complied with by the ship or ships
requisitioned.
(4) The master shall be released from the obligation imposed
by sub-section (1), and if his ship has been requisitioned,
from the obligation imposed by sub-section (2), if he is
informed by the persons in distress or by the master of any
ship that has reached the persons in distress that assistance
is no longer required.
(5) If the master of an Indian ship on receiving at sea a signal of
distress or information from any source that a vessel or aircraft
is in distress is unable or in the special circumstances of
the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to go to
the assistance of the persons in distress, he shall forthwith
cause a statement to be entered in the official log book or, if
there is no official log book, cause other record to be kept of
his reasons for not going to the assistance of those persons.
(6) The master of every Indian ship for which an official log is
required shall enter or cause to be entered in the official log
book every signal of distress or message that a vessel,
aircraft or person is in distress at sea.
1
[355A. (1) The master of every Indian ship shall render assistance to Obligation to render
every person found at sea in danger of being lost, unless he assistance to per-
is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, sons in danger
considers that such assistance cannot be rendered without
serious danger to his ship, or the persons thereon.
(2) If the master of an Indian ship is unable or considers it
unreasonable to go to the assistance of a person found at
sea in danger of being lost, the master shall forthwith cause
a statement to be entered in the official log book or, if there
is no official log book, cause other record to be kept of his
reasons for not going to the assistance of that person.]
356. The Central Government may, subject to the condition of previous Power to make rules
publication, make rules prescribing - as to signals
(a) the manner of communicating information regarding dangers
to navigation, and the authorities on shore to whom such
information is to be communicated;

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[(aa) the manner of communicating intelligence regarding dangers

1
to navigation, the terms and conditions subject to which

such intelligence may be communicated and the fees which
may be levied for the communication of intelligence];
(b) the signals which shall be 1[signals of distress, urgency
and of safety] respectively;
(c) the circumstances in which, and the purposes for
which, any such signal is to be used, and the
circumstances in which it is to be revoked; and
(d) the speed at which any message sent by 1[radio
telegraphy or telephony] in connection with such signal
is to be transmitted.

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PART XI – Commentary
At the international level, IMO has taken a lead role in adopting the International Convention
on Maritime Search and Rescue, 19791. India is a party to the SAR 1979. Like any other member
State, India also has the obligation to implement the SAR 1979 within its domestic regime. The
“performance of distress monitoring, communication, coordination of SAR functions, including provision
of medical advice, initial medical assistance or medical evacuation, through the use of public and
private resources including co-operating aircraft, vessels and other craft and installations”2 are some
of the obligations under the provisions of the SAR 1979 that requires implementation by India.
Part XI deals with navigational aspects of ships. Primarily, it focuses on the mode of
operation, giving orders including helm orders, communication, reporting danger and the like; pertaining
to navigation of ships. Reporting and communicating dangers to navigation has thus been made an
obligation on the part of master of an Indian ship and the authority under Section 354.
The officer appointed by the Central Government, under Part XI, also has the obligation to
convey the information so received regarding presence of danger to navigation to such ships and
authorities as it may deem proper. Further, on receiving a signal of distress or information that a
vessel or Air Craft is in distress, master of an Indian ship is duty bound to render assistance to a
vessel or Air Craft which is in distress. As provided under Section 355 and Section 355-A, unless
found impossible to help due to apprehension of danger to his own ship or passengers, master of
every Indian ship is duty bound to render assistance to every person, who is in danger of being last
found at sea.3 A deviation from the aforementioned duties of the master has to be entered in the log
book.
1
Hereinafter referred to as SAR 1979.
2
See “NATIONAL MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE PLAN – 2013", a publication by National Maritime Search and
Rescue Board, India which entered into force from April 05, 2013
3
See MS Notice no 07 of 2010 on “Ship Reporting System in Indian waters – INDSAR/INSPIRES”, No 10-NT(4)/1995 –
NCSO dated September 03, 2010.

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PART XIA
PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT OF POLLUTION OF THE SEA BY OIL
1
Application [356A. (1) Save as otherwise provided, this Part shall apply to-
(a) oil tankers of one hundred and fifty tons gross or more,
other ships of four hundred tons gross or more and off-
shore installations; and
(b) incidents of marine casualty or acts relating to such
casualty occurring with grave and imminent danger to
Indian coast line or related interests from pollution or
threat of pollution in the sea by deliberate, negligent or
accidental release of oil, ballast water, noxious liquid
and other harmful substances into sea including such
incidents occurring on the high seas.
(2) This Part shall not apply to any war ship or other ships owned
or operated by the Government and used for the time being
on Government non-commercial service.
Definitions 356B. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “ballast” means any solid or liquid placed in a ship to increase
the draft to change the trim, to regulate the stability, or to
maintain stress load within such limits as may be prescribed;
(b) “cargo” includes ballast and ship’s stores and fuel;
(c) “coasts” has the meaning assigned to it in section 357;
(d) “coastal waters” means any part of the territorial waters of
India, or any marine areas adjacent thereto over which India
has, or, may hereafter have, exclusive jurisdiction in regard
to control of marine pollution under the Territorial Waters,
Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other
Maritime Zones Act, 1976, or any other law for the time being
in force;
(e) “Convention” means the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 including its Protocol
of 1978, as amended from time to time in the manner
specified therein;
(f) “international pollution prevention certificate” means any
Certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of
Pollution Prevention Conventions and Protocols thereto which
are acceded to by India;
(g) “mile” means a nautical mile of 1,852 metres;
(h) “noxious liquid substance” means any substance which has
been designated as such by rules made under this Part;

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(i) “off-shore installation” means an installation, whether mobile

or fixed, which is used or is intended to be used for under-
water exploration or exploitation of crude oil, petroleum or
other similar mineral oils, under lease, licence or any other
form of contractual arrangement and includes-
(a) any installation which could be moved from place to
place under its own motive power or otherwise; and
(b) a pipe-line;
(j) “oil” means petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel
oil, sludge, oil refuse and refined products;
(k) “oily mixture” means a mixture with any oil content;
(l) “oil tanker” means a ship constructed or adapted primarily to
carry oil in bulk in its cargo spaces and includes any
combination carrier or, any chemical tanker when it is carrying
a cargo or part cargo of oil in bulk;
(m) “reception facilities”, in relation to a port, means facilities for
enabling tankers or ships using the port to discharge or deposit
residue or mixture of any substance subject to control by
the Convention;
(n) “ship” means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the
marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion
vehicles, submersibles, floating craft and fixed or floating
platforms.
356C. (1) No Indian oil tanker or other Indian ship shall proceed to sea Issue of Pollution
unless there is in force, in respect of that ship, a Certificate Prevention Certificate
issued by the Central Government, to be called an
international oil pollution prevention certificate, in such form,
for such duration and subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed.
(2) No Indian oil tanker or other Indian ship carrying noxious
liquid substances in bulk shall proceed to sea except with a
certificate issued by the Central Government, to be called
an international pollution prevention certificate, in such form,
for such duration and subject to such conditions as may be
prescribed for the carriage of noxious liquid substances in
bulk.
(3) No Indian oil tanker or other Indian ship to which Annex IV of
the Convention applies shall proceed to sea except with a
certificate issued by the Central Government, to be called
an international sewage pollution prevention certificate, in
such form, for such duration and subject to such conditions
Explanation – For the purposes of this sub-section, “sewage”
means-

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(i) drainage and other waste from any form of toilets, urinals
and Water Closet scuppers;
(ii) drainage from medical premises (dispensary, sick bay
and other like places) via wash basins, wash tubs and
scuppers located in such premises;
(iii) drainage from spaces containing living animals; or
(iv) other waste water when mixed with the drainages
specified above;
(4) A valid international pollution prevention certificate issued in
respect of an oil tanker or a ship, other than an Indian ship,
by the Government of the country to which the ship belongs
shall, subject to such rules as the Central Government may
make in this behalf, have the same effect in India as the
corresponding certificate issued in respect of an Indian ship
has under this Part.
Issue of Certificates 356D. (1) The Central Government may, at the request of the
for foreign ships in Government of a country to which the Convention applies,
India and Indian cause any international pollution prevention certificate to be
ships in foreign issued in accordance with the Convention in respect of an
countries oil tanker or other ship in that country, if it is satisfied that
such certificate can properly be issued, and where a
certificate is so issued, it shall contain a statement that it
has been issued on request.
country to which the Convention applies, to issue any
international pollution prevention certificate in accordance
with the Convention in respect of a ship and the certificate
issued in pursuance of such a request containing a statement
that it has been so issued shall have the same effect as if it
had been issued by the Central Government under this Act.
Requirement for 356E. For the purpose of preventing or reducing discharges of harmful
construction and substances or mixtures containing such substances from the oil
equipment in ships to tankers or other ships, the Central Government may make rules
prevent pollution requiring Indian Oil tankers and other Indian ships to be fitted with
such equipment and to comply with such requirements for
construction, survey of equipments and structure of such oil tankers
or other ships and specifying conditions for making of surveys of all
oil tankers or other ships, as may be prescribed, prior to issuing of
international pollution prevention certificates.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, “harmful substance”
means any substance which, if introduced into the sea, is liable to
create hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine
life, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate uses of the
sea, and includes any substance subject to control by the
Convention.

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356F. (1) Every Indian oil tanker or other Indian ship which carries Record books
substancea subject to control by the Convention shall
maintain, as may be required, record books in the prescribed
forms, on board the oil tanker or other ship.
(2) The manner in which record books shall be maintained, the
nature of entries to be made therein, the custody and disposal
thereof, and all other matters relating thereto shall be such
as may be prescribed having regard to the provisions of the
Convention.
356G. (1) A surveyor or any person authorized in this behalf may go, Inspection and
at any reasonable time, on board an oil tanker or other ship control of oil tankers
to which any of the provisions of this Part applies, for the and other ships to
purposes of- which this Part
applies.
(a) ensuring that the prohibitions, restrictions and
obligations imposed by or under this Part are complied
with;
(b) satisfying himself about the adequacy of the measures
taken to prevent pollution;
(c) ascertaining the circumstances relating to an alleged
discharge of a substance which is subject to control
by the Convention from the oil tanker or other ship in
contravention of the provisions of this Part;
(d) inspecting any record required to be maintained on
board; and
(e) checking the validity of the international pollution
prevention certificate.
(2) The surveyor or any such person may, if necessary, make,
without unduly delaying the oil tanker or the other ship, a
true copy of any record of the oil tanker or the other ship and
may require the master of such tanker of ship to certify the
copy to be a true copy and such copy shall be admissible
as evidence of the facts stated therein.
356H. (1) If, on report from a surveyor or other person authorized to Information regarding
inspect an oil tanker or other ship under section 356 G, the contravention of the
Director-General is satisfied that any provision of the provisions of the
Convention has been contravened by such oil tanker or other Convention.
ship within the coastal waters, the Director-General or any
officer authorized by him in this behalf, may-
(a) detain the oil tanker or other ship until the causes of
such contravention are removed to the satisfaction of
the Director-General or the officer authorized by him;
and
(b) proceed against such oil tanker or other ship for recovery
of cost of pollution damage, if any, and the cost of

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prevention of pollution damage and cleaning of such

pollution; Provided that where the Director-General
deems it necessary, he may request the Indian Navy
or the Coast Guard for preventing the oil tanker or other
ship from proceeding to sea, and the Indian Navy or
the Coast Guard, as the case may be, shall take action
as requested by the Director-General.
(2) On receipt of information from the Government of any
country to which the Convention applies that an Indian
oil tanker or other ship has contravened any provision
of the Convention, the Central Government may, if it
deems it necessary so to do, request such Government
to furnish further details of the alleged contravention
and if satisfied that sufficient evidence is available to
establish contravention of any of the provisions of this
Part or the rules made thereunder, take appropriate
action against the owner or master of the concerned
oil tanker or other ship and intimate the reporting
Government of the action so taken’.]
1
[Reception facilities at 356I. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the
ports in India] time being in force, in respect of every port in India, the
powers of the port authority shall include the power to provide
1
[reception facilities at ports in India].
(2) A port authority providing oil reception facilities or a person
providing such facilities by arrangement with the port authority,
may make charges for the use of the facilities at such rates
and may impose such conditions in respect of the use thereof
as may be approved, by notification in the Official Gazette,
by the Central Government in respect of the port.
(3) Where the Central Government is satisfied that there are no
reception facilities at at any port in India or that the facilities
available at such port are not adequate for enabling ships
calling at such port to comply with the requirements of the
Convention, the Central Government may, after consultation
with the port authority in charge of such port, direct, by order
in writing, such authority to provide or arrange for the provision
of such reception facilitiesat as may be specified in the order.
Gazette, specify the ports in India having reception facilities
at in accordance with the requirements of the Convention.
Explanation : For the purpose of this section, “port authority”
means,-
(a) in relation to any major port, the Board of Trustees in
respect of that port constituted under any law for the
time being in force.

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(b) in relation to any other port, the Conservator of the

Port, within the meaning of section 7 of the Indian
Ports Act, 1908.
Provisions for Containment of Accidental Pollution
Power to give notice
356J. (1) Where the Central Government is satisfied that-
to owner etc., of
1
(a) [oil or noxious liquid substance] is escaping or is likely polluting ship
to escape from a tanker, ship other than a tanker or
any off-shore installation; and
(b) the 1[oil or noxious liquid substance] so escaped or
likely to escape is causing or threatens to cause
pollution of any part of coasts or coastal waters or
India,
It may, for the purpose of minimising the pollution already caused,
or, for preventing the pollution threatened to be caused, require-
(i) the owner, agent, master or charterer of the tanker,
(ii) the owner, agent, master or charterer of the ship other than
a tanker,
(iii) the owner, agent master, charterer or operator of a mobile
offshore installation,
(iv) the owner, operator, lessee or licensee of off-shore
installation of any other type,
or all or any of them, be notice served on him or as the case
may be on them, to take such action in relation to the tanker,
ship other than a tanker, mobile off-shore installation, or, as
the case may be, off-shore installation or any other type or
its cargo or in relation to both, as may be specified in such
notice.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), the
notice issued under that sub-section may require the person
or persons on whom such notice is served to take action
relating to any or all of the following matters, namely :
(a) action for preventing the escape of 1[oil or noxious liquid
substance] from the tanker, ship other than a tanker,
mobile off-shore installation or off-shore installation of
any other type;
(b) action for removing 1[oil or noxious liquid substance]
from the tanker, ship other than a tanker, mobile off-shore
installation or off-shore installation of any other type in
such manner, if any, and to such place, if any, as may be
specified in the notice;
(c) action for removal of the tanker, ship other than a tanker,
mobile off-shore installation or off-shore installation of
any other type to a place, if any, as may be specified
in the notice;

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(d) action for removal of the 1[oil or noxious liquid

substance] slicks on the surface of the sea in such
manner, if any, as may be specified in the notice;
(e) action to disperse the 1[oil or noxious liquid substance]
slicks on the surface of the sea in such manner, if
any, as may be specified in the notice;
(3) The Central Government may, by any notice issued under
sub-section (1), prohibit the removal -
(a) of the tanker, ship other than a tanker, mobile off-shore
installation or off-shore installation of any other type,
from a place specified in the notice,
(b) from the tanker, ship other than a tanker, mobile off-shore
installation or off-shore installation of any other type, of
any cargo or stores as may be specified in the notice.
except with its previous permission and upon such
conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notice.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the
Central Government may, if it is of the opinion that the
pollution caused or likely to be caused has or may present
a grave emergency, proceed to take such measures as may
be deemed necessary and any measures so taken shall be
deemed to have been taken under section 356K.
Powers to take 356K. (1) Where any person fails to comply, or fails to comply in part,
measures for prevent- with any notice served on him under section 356J, the Central
ing or containing oil Government may, whether or not such person is convicted
of an offence under this Part by reason of his having so
failed to comply, cause such action to be taken as it may
deem neceassary for
(i) carrying out the directives given in the notice issued
under section 356J; and
(ii) containing the pollution already caused or preventing
the pollution threatened to be caused, of coastal waters,
or, as the case may be, of any part of the coast of India
by 1[oil or noxious liquid substance] escaped or
threatening to escape from the tanker, a ship other
than a tanker, a mobile off-shore installation or off-shore
installation of any other type.
(2) Subject to the provisions of Part XB, any expenditure or
liability incurred by the Central Government in, or by reason
of, the exercise of powers under sub-section (1) in relation
to any tanker, ship other than a tanker, mobile off-shore
installation or off-shore installation of any other type in
respect of which a notice had been issued under section
356J, or its cargo of 1[oil or noxious liquid substance] that

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had escaped or was discharged into the sea, shall be a debt

due to the Central Government by the person or persons on
whom the notice was served and may be recovered from
that person, or as the case may be, from all or any of those
persons and shall be a charge upon all or any tanker, ship
other than a tanker, mobile off-shore installation or off- shore
installation of any other type owned by that person or persons
which may be detained by the Central Government until the
amount is paid.
Provided that provisions of Part XB of this Act shall not apply
to measures taken in respect of any off-shore installation
which is not a ship within the meaning of this Act except
that in the event of pollution damage caused by any such
off-shore installation the person who is liable for the damage
may claim exoneration from, any liability if he proves that
such damage-
(a) resulted from an act of war, hostilities, civil war,
insurrection or a natural phenomenon of an
exceptional, inevitable and irrealtible character; or
(b) was wholly caused by an act or omission done with
intent to cause that damage by any other person; or
(c) was wholly caused by the negligence or other wrongful
act of any government or other authority responsible
for the maintenance of lights or other navigational aids
in exercise of its functions in that behalf.
356L. (1) Where for the purposes of taking any measures under sub- Power of the Central
section (1) of section 356K, services of any Indian ship Government to give
become necessary for- directions to certain
(i) lightening or transporting any cargo or equipment from ships to render
or to the polluting ship; or certain services
(ii) providing any assistance to any other ship or equipment
engaged in rendering services under clause (i),
the Central Government may, if it deems it necessary so to
do, direct, by an order in writing, the owner of any Indian
ship, tug, barge or any other equipment to provide such
services or assistance as may be specified in that order.
(2) The owner of any ship, tug, barge or any other equipment with
respect to which an order sub-section (1) has been made shall
be entitled to tariff rates of freight and charter hire at reasonable
rates having regard to current market conditions :
Provided that where tariff rates of freight are not fixed or
where there is any dispute about reasonable rate of charter
hire, the freight or, the case may be, charter hire, shall be
paid at such rates as may be fixed by the Director General
by an order in writing.

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(3) Where in pursuance of the proviso to sub-section (2), the

Director-General makes any order fixing rates of freight or
charter hire, he shall determine reasonability of such rates
of freight or charter hire by examining such witnesses,
documents and accounts as he may deem necessary.
Oil Pollution cess 356M. (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may,
by notification in the Official Gazette, specify, there shall be
levied on every ship calling at any port in India being a ship
which carries oil as cargo, a cess to be called Oil Pollution
Cess (hereafter in this Part referred to as cess) at such rate
not exceeding fifty paise-
(a) in respect of each tonne of oil imported by a ship into
India in bulk as a cargo;
(b) in respect of each tonne of oil shipped from any place
in India in bulk as a cargo of a ship,
as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, fix :
Provided that no cess shall be levied on a ship at any port if
the ship produces evidence of having paid such levy at the
same or any other port in India within a period of three months
immediately preceeding its present call at the port.
(2) The cess shall be collected by such officers and in such
manner as the Central Government may prescribe in this
behalf and shall, after deduction of such costs of collection,
if any, as the Central Government may determine, be paid to
such authority as the Central Government may specify.
(3) The proceeds of the cess shall, after due appropriation made
by Parliament by law, be utilised for the purpose of providing
oil reception facilities and equipments and materials for
combating oil pollution at various ports in India and for such
other like purposes as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, from time to time, specify.
Refusal of port 356N. The officer whose duty it is to grant a port clearance for any ship
clearance shall not grant the port clearance until the amount of cess payable
under section 356M has been paid or until security for the payment
thereof has been given to his satisfaction.
Power to make rules 356O. (1) The Central Government may, having regard to the provisions
of the Convention, make rules to carry out the purposes of
this Part.
provisions of sub-section (1), such rules may
1
[(a) prescribe the limits of ballast, and designate noxious

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liquid substances, under clauses (a) and (h)

respectively, of section 356B;
(b) prescribe the forms in which, the duration for which
and the conditions subject to which, various international
pollution prevention certificates shall be issued under
section 356 C;
(bb) prescribe the period within which, the manner in which
and the conditions for making surveys of oil tankers or
other ships prior to issuing an international pollution
prevention certificate and the requirements as to
equipment which are to be fitted for prevention of
pollution by an oil tanker and other ship under section
356E.]
(c) prescribe the forms of 1[record books] for tankers and
other ships, the manner in which such books shall be
maintained, the nature of the entries to be made therein,
the time and circumstances in which such entries shall
be made, the custody and disposal thereof and all other
matters relating thereto for the purposes of section
356F;
(d) prescribe the fees which may be levied for inspection
of 1[various equipments required under the Convention]
and the manner in which such fees may be collected;
(e) specify the officers who shall collect the cess and the
manner in which the cess shall be collected].
1
[(ee) any other matter which, for the implementation of the
Convention has to be or may be prescribed.]

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PART XI A – Commentary
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by
the protocol of 19781, is concluded to tackle marine pollution arising from ships. As mentioned in the
previous parts, MARPOL 73/78 is one of the pillars of international conventions governing maritime
law. The convention is unique due to its existence prior to UNCLOS 1982. However provisions of
UNCLOS 1982 are wide enough to encompass and accommodate provisions of MARPOL73/782 as
obligations cast upon member states. MARPOL 73/78 contains six annexes, which deal with prevention
of six different forms of marine pollution from ships.3 MARPOL 73/78, makes it obligatory for member
states to accept Annex I and II as preconditions for membership and acceptance of Annexes III to VI
is voluntary. The Convention and its Annexes prescribe requisites of, survey and inspection, design
and construction and issuance of certificates by maritime administrations to ships; with an objective
to prevent marine pollution by oil and other harmful substances from ships.
India is a party to MARPOL73/78 and its Annexes I to VI. Implementation of MARPOL 73/
78 and its Annexes is effected through Part XI-A of the MS Act 1958 and the Rules and byelaws4
made there-under. Part XI A deals with prevention and containment of pollution of sea. The part limits
its application to Oil Tankers of 150 tons gross or more, other ships of 400 tons gross or more and
offshore installations. In order to ensure the implementation of the purpose of provisions, Part XI A,
extends its application to incidents of marine casualty and imminent threat/danger of pollution, to
Indian coast line. Further, this part is applicable only when the cause of pollution is by deliberate,
negligent or accidental RELEASE of Oil, the ballast water, noxious liquid and other harmful substances
into sea, including such incidents occurring on the high seas.
In compliance with the requirements of Convention For Prevention Of Pollution From Ships,
1973 and its protocol of 1978, popularly known as MARPOL 73/78; it has been made mandatory for an
Indian oil tanker or other Indian ship to possess the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
issued by the Central Government along with the International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate.
1
Herein after referred to as MARPOL73/78.
2
MARPOL 73/78 in its present form entered into force on October 02,1982. 99.2% of the world’s shipping tonnage are
parties to MARPOL 73/78. See status of Conventions in the IMO website;www.imo.org.
3
Annex I – Fuel, Annex II – Noxious liquid substances carried in bulk, Annex III – Harmful substances carried in packaged
form, Annex IV – Sewage, Annex V – Garbage and Annex VI – Air pollution.
4
See Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Oil from Ships) Rules, 2010; Merchant Shipping (Prevention of
Pollution of Merchant Shipping (Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk), 2010, which implements
Annex II of MARPOL 73/78; Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in
Packaged Form) Rules, 2010, which implements Annex III of MARPOL 73/78; Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution
by Sewage from Ships) rules 2010 which deals with implementation of Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78; Merchant Shipping
(Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships) 2009, which deals with implementation of Annex V of the MARPOL
73/78; Engineering Circular no 1 of 2012 on “Ratification and Enforcement of Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78, Regulations
for the Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships”, circular no ENGG/OPP/MARPOL – 38(5)/2004 – Annex VI dated January
30, 2012. Also see www.dgshipping.com

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Further, Section 366 C makes it mandatory that the Indian Oil Tanker or any other Indian ship carrying
noxious liquid substances in bulk shall possess the International Pollution Prevention Certificate issued
by the Central Government along with the International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate.
MS Act 1958 also considers a valid certificate of an Oil Tanker registered outside India at par
with the certificate issued to an Indian ship under Part XI A. Under this Part, the Central Government
is empowered to prescribe permissible limits of the ballast and noxious liquid substances. Further,
the Act also stipulates the manner and the conditions of survey of oil tanker or other ships, the
inspection and control of ships to which MARPOL 73/78 applies; as a condition precedent for
issuing certificates under Part XI A. It prescribes the necessity for maintenance of oil record book
and creation of oil reception facilities at ports in India.
The Central Government is empowered to levy the pollution cess and to prescribe fees for
inspection survey and issuance of certificates. The MS Act also provides for the power of the Central
Government to issue directions to ships for the purpose of initiating and implementing measures for
preventing or containing pollution of sea by release of oil or noxious liquid substance. Further, the Act
under Section 356 – O, empowers Central Government to make Rules on any of the provisions
covered under Part XI – A.5
5
Ibid

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PART XII
INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUIRIES
Definition of “coasts” 357. In this Part, the word coasts includes the coasts of creeks and
tidal rivers.
Shipping casualties 358. (1) For the purpose of investigations and inquiries under this
and report thereof Part, a shipping casualty shall be deemed to occur when
(a) on or near the coasts of India, any ship is lost,
abandoned, stranded or materially damaged;
(b) on or near the coasts of India, any ship causes loss or
material damage to any other ship;
(c) any loss of life ensues by reason of any casualty
happening to or onboard any ship on or near the coasts
of India;
(d) in any place, any such loss, abandonment, stranding,
material damage or casualty as above mentioned
occurs to or on board any Indian ship, and any
competent witness thereof is found in India;
(e) any Indian ship is lost or is supposed to have been
lost, and any evidence is obtainable in India as to the
circumstances under which she proceeded to sea or
was last heard of.
(2) In the cases mentioned in clauses (a), (b) and (c) of sub-
section (1), the master, pilot, harbour master or other person
incharge of the ship, or (where two ships are concerned) in
charge of each ship at the time of the shipping casualty,
and in the cases mentioned in clauses (d) of sub-section
(1), where the master of the ship concerned or (except in
the case of a loss) where the ship concerned proceeds to
any place in India from the place where the shipping casualty
has occurred, the master of the ship, shall, on arriving in
India, give immediate notice of the shipping casualty to the
officer appointed in this behalf by the Central Government.
Report of shipping 359. (1) Whenever any such officer as is referred to in sub-section
casualties to Central (2) of section 358 receives credible information that a shipping
Government casualty has occurred, he shall forthwith report in writing
the information to the Central Government; and may proceed
to make a preliminary inquiry into the casualty.
(2) An officer making a preliminary inquiry under sub-section
(1) shall send a report thereof to the Central Government or
such other authority as may be appointed by it in this behalf.
Application to court 360. The officer appointed under sub-section (2) of section, 358, whether
for formal investiga- he has made a preliminary inquiry or not, may, and, where the
tion Central Government so directs, shall make an application to a
court empowered under section 361, requesting it to make a formal

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investigation into any shipping casualty, and the court shall

thereupon make such investigation.
361. 1
[A Judicial Magistrate of the first class] specially empowered in Court empowered to
this behalf by the Central Government and 1[Metropolitan Magistrate] make formal
shall have jurisdiction to make formal investigations into shipping investigation
casualties under this Part.
362. (1) Any court making a formal investigation into a shipping casualty Power of court of
may inquire into any charge of incompetency or misconduct investigation to
arising, in the course of the investigation, against any master, inquire Into charges
mate or engineer, as well as into any charge of a wrongful act against masters,
or default on his part causing the shipping casualty. mates and engineers
(2) In every case in which any such charge, whether of
incompetency or misconduct, or of a wrongful act or default,
as aforesaid, arises against any master, mate or engineer, in
the course of an investigation, the court shall, before the
commencement of the inquiry, cause to be furnished to him a
statement of the case upon which the inquiry has been directed.
363. (1) If the Central Government has reason to believe that there Power of Central
are grounds for charging any master, mate or engineer with Government to direct
incompetency or misconduct, otherwise than in the course inquiry into charges
of a formal investigation into shipping casualty, the Central of incompefency or
Government,- misconduct
(a) if the master, mate or engineer holds a certificate under
this Act, in any case;
(b) if the master, mate or engineer holds a certificate under
the law of any country outside India, in any case where
the incompetency or misconduct has occurred on board
an Indian ship;
may transmit a statement of the case to any court having
jurisdiction under section 361, which is at or nearest to the
place where it may be convenient for the parties and
witnesses to attend, and may direct that court to make an
inquiry into that charge.
(2) Before commencing the inquiry, the court shall cause the
master, mate or engineer so charged to be furnished with a
copy of the statement transmitted by the Central Government.
364. For the purpose of any inquiry under this Part into any charge Opportunity to be
against a master, mate or engineer, the court may summon him to given to person to
appear, and shall give him an opportunity of making a defence make defence
either in person or otherwise.
2
365. [(1)] For the purpose of any investigation or inquiry under this Power of court as to
Part, the court making the investigation or inquiry shall, in evidence and
regulation of
proceedings
2 Sec. 365 renumbered as sub-sec. (1) and Ins. sub-sec. (2) by MS (Amend.) Act 1984

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respect of compelling the attendance and examination of

witnesses and the production of documents and the regulation
of the proceedings, have the same powers as are exercisable
by that court in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction.
1
[(2) Subject to any rules made in this behalf by the Central
Government, the court making an investigation or inquiry
under this Part may, if it thinks fit, order the payment, on
the part of that Government, of the reasonable expenses of
any witness attending for the purposes of such investigation
or inquiry before such court.]
Assessors 366. (1) A court making a formal investigation shall constitute as it
assessors not less than two and not more than four persons,
of whom one shall be a person conversant with maritime
affairs and the other or others shall be conversant with either
maritime or mercantile affairs :
Provided that, where the investigation involves, or appears
likely to involve, any question as to the cancellation or
suspension of the certificate of a master, mate or engineer,
two of the assessors shall be persons having also experience
in the merchant service.
(2) The assessors shall attend during the investigation and deliver
their opinions in writing, to be recorded on the proceedings,
but the exercise of all powers conferred on the court by this
Part or any other law for the time being in force shall rest
with the court.
(3) The assessors shall be chosen from a list to be prepared
from time to time by the Central Government.
Power to arrest 367. If any court making an investigation or inquiry under this Part thinks
witnesses and enter it necessary for obtaining evidence that any person should be
ships arrested, it may issue a warrant for his arrest, and may, for the
purpose of effecting the arrest authorise any officer, subject,
nevertheless, to any general or special instructions from the Central
Government, to enter any vessel, and any officer so authorised
may, for the purpose of enforcing the entry, call to his aid any
officer of police or customs or any other person.
Power to commit for 368. Whenever, in the course of any such investigation or inquiry, it
trial and bind over appears that any person has committed in India an offence
witnesses punishable under any law in force in India, the court making the
investigation or inquiry may (subject to such rules consistent with
this Act as the High Court may from time to time make) cause him
to be arrested, or commit him or hold him to bail to take his trial
before the proper court, and may bind over any person to give
evidence at the trial, and may, for the purposes of this section,
exercise all its powers as a criminal court.
1 Sec. 365 renumbered as sub-sec. (1) and Ins. sub-sec. (2) by MS (Amend.) Act 1984

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369. (1) The court shall, in the case of all investigations or inquiries Report by court to
under this Part, transmit to the Central Government a full Central Government
report of the conclusions at which it has arrived together
with the evidence.
(2) Where the investigation or inquiry affects a master or an officer
of a ship other than an Indian ship who holds a certificate
under the law of any country outside India, the Central
Government may transmit a copy of the report together with
the evidence to the proper authority in that country.
1
[(3) The Central Government shall, on receipt of the investigation
report from the court, cause it to be published in the Official
Gazette.
370. (1) A certificate of a master, mate or engineer which has been Powers of court as to
granted by the Central Government under this Act may be certificates granted
cancelled or suspended by Central
(a) by a court holding a formal investigation into a shipping Government
casualty under this Part if the court finds that the loss,
standing or abandonment of, or damage to, any ship,
or loss of life, has been caused by the wrongful act or
default of such master, mate or engineer;
(b) by a court holding an inquiry under this Part into the
conduct of the master, mate or engineer if the court finds
that he is incompetent or has been guilty of any gross
act of drunkenness, tyranny or other misconduct or in a
case of collision has failed to render such assistance or
give such information as is required by section 348.
(2) At the conclusion of the investigation or inquiry, or as soon
thereafter as possible, the court shall state in open sitting
the decision to which it may have come with respect to the
cancellation or suspension of any certificate and, if
suspension is ordered, the period for which the certificate is
suspended.
(3) Where the court cancels or suspends a certificate, the court
shall forward it to the Central Government together with the
report which it is required by this Part to transmit to it.
371. Where it appears to the court holding an investigation or inquiry Power of court to
that having regard to the circumstances of the case an order of censure master, mate
cancellation or suspension under section 370 is not justified, the or engineer
court may pass an order censuring the master, mate or engineer
in respect of his conduct.
372. (1) 2
[Judicial Magistrate of the first class] specially empowered Power of court to
in this behalf by the Central Government or a 2[Metropolitan remove master and
appoint new master


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Magistrate,] may remove the master of any ship within his

jurisdiction if the removal is shown to his satisfaction to be
necessary.
(2) The removal may be made upon the application of the owner
of any ship or his agent, or of the consignee of the ship, or
of any certified officer or of one-third or more of the crew of
the ship.
(3) The 1[Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be], may appoint a new master
instead of the one removed, but where the owner, agent or
consignee of the ship is within his jurisdiction, such an
appointment shall not be made without the consent of that
owner, agent or consignee.
(4) The 1[Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be], may also make such order
and require such security in respect of the costs of the
matter as he thinks fit.
Marine Board
Convening of Marine 373. Whenever-
Boards outside India
(a) a complaint is made to an Indian consular officer or a senior
officer of any ship of the Indian Navy in the vicinity (hereinafter
referred to as naval officer) by the master or any member of
the crew of an Indian ship and such complaint appears to
the Indian consular officer or naval officer, as the case may
be, to require immediate investigation; or
(b) the interest of the owner of an Indian ship or of the cargo
thereof appears to an Indian consular officer or naval officer,
as the case may be, to require it; or
(c) an allegation of incompetency or misconduct is made to an
Indian consular officer or a naval officer against the master
or any of the officers of an Indian ship; or
(d) any Indian ship is lost, abandoned or stranded at or near
the place where an Indian consular officer or naval officer
may be or whenever the crew or part of the crew of any
Indian ship which has been lost, abandoned or stranded
arrives at that place; or
(e) any loss of life or any serious injury to any person has
occurred on board an Indian ship at or near that place;
the Indian consular officer or the naval officer, as the case
may be, may, in his discretion, convene a Board of Marine
Inquiry to investigate the said complaint or allegation or the
matter affecting the said interest or the cause of the loss,

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abandonment or the stranding of the ship or of the loss of

life or of the injury to the person.
374. (1) A Marine Board shall consist of the officer convening the Constitution and
Board and two other members. procedure of Marine
Board
(2) The two other members of the Marine Board shall be
appointed by the officer convening the Marine Board from
among persons conversant with maritime or mercantile affairs.
(3) The officer convening the Marine Board shall be the presiding
officer thereof.
(4) A Marine Board shall, subject to the provisions of this Act,
have power to regulate its own procedure.
375. Where there is a difference of opinion among members of the Marine Decisions of Marine
Board, the decision of the majority of the members shall be the Board to be by
decision of the Board. majority
376. (1) A Marine Board may, after investigating and hearing the case- Powers of Marine
(a) if it is of opinion that the safety of an Indian ship or her Board
cargo or crew or the interest of the owner of an Indian
ship or of the owner of the cargo thereof requires it,
remove the master and appoint another qualified person
to act in his stead;
(b) if it is of opinion that any master or officer of an Indian
ship is incompetent or has been guilty of any act of
misconduct or in a case of collision has failed to render
such assistance or give such information as is required
by section 348 or that loss, abandonment or stranding
of or serious damage to any ship, or loss of life or
serious injury to any person has been caused by the
wrongful act or default of any master or ship’s officer of
an Indian ship, suspend the certificate of that master
or ship’s officer for a stated period :
Provided that no such certificate shall be suspended unless
the master or officer concerned has been furnished with a
statement of the case in respect of which investigation has
been ordered and he has also been given an opportunity of
making a defence either in person or otherwise;
(c) discharge a seaman from an Indian ship and order the
wages of any seaman so discharged or any part of
those wages to be forfeited;
(d) decide any questions as to wages, fines or forfeitures
arising between any of the parties to the proceedings;
(e) direct that any or all of the costs incurred by the master
or owner of an Indian ship or on the maintenance of a
seaman or apprentice while in prison outside India shall
be paid out of, and deducted, from the wages of that

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seaman or apprentice, whether earned or subsequently

earned;
(f) if it considers such a step expedient, order a survey to
be made of any Indian ship which is the subject of
investigation;
(g) order the costs of proceedings before it or any part of
those costs, to be paid by any of the parties thereto,
and may order any person making a frivolous or
unjustified complaint to pay compensation for any loss
or delay caused thereby; and any costs or
compensation so ordered to be paid by any person
shall be paid by that person accordingly and may be
recovered in the same manner in which wages of
seaman are recoverable or may be deducted from the
wages due to that person.
(2) All orders made by a Marine Board shall, whenever
practicable, be entered in the official log book of the ship
which is the subject of investigation or on board which the
casualty or occurrence or conduct investigated took place,
and be signed by the presiding officer of the Board.
Miscellaneous provisions relating to cancellation
and suspension of certificates
Powers of Central 377. (1) Any certificate which has been granted by the Central
Government to Government under this Act to any master, mate or engineer,
cancel, suspend, may be cancelled or suspended for any specified period, by
etc., certificate of the Central Government in the following cases, that is to say,-
master, mate or
(a) if, on any investigation or inquiry made by any court,
engineer
tribunal or other authority for the time being authorised
by the legislative authority in any country outside India,
the court, tribunal or other authority reports that the
master, mate or engineer is incompetent or has been
guilty of any gross act of misconduct, drunkenness or
tyranny, or in a case of collision has failed to render
assistance, or to give such information as is referred
to in section 348, or that the loss, stranding or
abandonment of, or damage to, any ship or loss of life
has been caused by his wrongful act or default;
(b) if the master, mate or engineer is proved to have been
convicted-
(i) of any offence under this Act or of any non-bailable
offence committed under any other law for the time
being in force in India; or
(ii) of an offence committed outside India which, if
committed in India, would be a non-bailable offence;

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(c) if (in the case of a master of an Indian ship) he has

been superseded by the order of any court of competent
jurisdiction in India or outside India.
1
[(1A) Any certificate within the meaning of clause (b) of section 87A
may be cancelled or suspended for any specified period by the
Central Government if the person to whom such certificate has
been granted has contravened the provisions of sub-section (1) or
sub-section (2) of section 87B :
Provided that no order under this sub-section shall be passed by
the Central Government unless the person concerned has been
given an opportunity of making a representation against the order
proposed.]
(2) The Central Government may at any time, if it thinks the
justice of the case so requires,
(a) revoke any order of cancellation or suspension made
by it under 1[sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A) or]
set aside any order of cancellation or suspension made
by a court under section 370 or any order of suspension
made by a Marine Board under clause (b) of sub-
section (1) of section 376 or any order of censure made
by a court under section 371; or
(b) shorten or lengthen the period of suspension ordered
by it under 1[sub-section (1) or sub-section (1A) or] by
a court under section 370 or by a Marine Board under
clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 376 or cancel a
certificate suspended by a Marine Board under that
clause; or
(c) grant without examination a new certificate of the same
or any lower grade in the case of any certificate
cancelled or suspended by it under 1[sub-section (1)
or sub-section (1A) or] by a court under section 370 or
any certificate suspended by a Marine Board under
clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 376 :
Provided that no order under clause (b) either lengthening
the period of suspension of or cancelling a certificate shall
be passed by the Central Government unless the person
concerned has been given an opportunity of making a
representation against the order proposed.
(3) A certificate granted under clause (c) of sub-section (2) shall
have the same effect as if it had been granted after
examination.
378. A master or ship’s officer who is the holder of a certificate issued Delivery of Indian
under this Act shall, if such certificate has been cancelled or certificate cancelled
suspended by the Central Government or by a court or suspended or suspended

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by a Marine Board, deliver his certificate to the Central Government,

court or Marine Board on demand or if it is not so demanded by
the Central Government or court or Board, to the Director-General.
Effect of cancellation 379. The cancellation or suspension of a certificate by the Central
or suspension of Government or by a court or the suspension of a certificate by a
certificate Marine Board, shall-
(a) if the certificate was issued under this Act, be effective
everywhere and in respect of all ships; and
(b) if the certificate was issued outside India, be effective
(i) within India and the territorial waters of India, in respect
of all ships; and
(ii) outside India, in respect of Indian ships only.
Suspended certificate 380. If the certificate of a master or ship’s officer is suspended under this
not to be endorsed Part by the Central Government or by a court or a Marine Board, no
endorsement shall be made to that effect on the said certificate.
Power of Central 381. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central
Government to Government may, at any time, without any formal investigation or
cancel or suspend inquiry, cancel or suspend any certificate granted by it under this
other certificates Act, other than a certificate granted to a master, mate or engineer,
if, in its opinion, the holder is, or has become, unfit to act in the
grade for which the certificate was granted to him :
Provided that no order under this section shall be passed by the
Central Government unless the person concerned has been given an
opportunity of making a representation against the order proposed.
Re-hearing of cases
Re-hearing 382. (1) Whenever an investigation or inquiry has been held, by a
court or by a Marine Board under this Part, the Central
Government may order the case to be re-heard either
generally or as to any part thereof, and shall so order-
(a) if new and important evidence which could not be
produced at the investigation has been discovered, or
(b) if for any other reason there has, in its opinion, been a
miscarriage of justice.
(2) The Central Government may order the case to be re-heard
by the court or Marine Board, as the case may be,
consisting of the same members or other members as the
Central Government may deem fit.
Courts of survey
Constitution of court 383. (1) A court of survey for a port shall consist of a judge sitting
of survey with two assessors.
(2) The judge shall be a district judge, judge of a court of small
causes, 1[Metropolitan Magistrate, Judicial Magistrate of the
first class] or other fit person appointed in this behalf by the

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Central Government either generally or for any specified case.

(3) The assessors shall be persons of nautical, engineering or
other special skill or experience.
(4) Subject to the provisions of Part IX as regards ships other than
Indian ships, one of the assessors shall be appointed by the
Central Government either generally or in each case and the
other shall be summoned by the judge in the manner prescribed
out of a list of persons from time to time prepared for the purpose
by the Central Government or, if there is no such list or if it is
impracticable to procure the attendance of any person named
in such list, shall be appointed by the judge.
384. (1) If a surveyor authorised to inspect a ship- Appeal from surveyor
to court of survey
(a) makes a statement in his report of inspection with
which the owner or his agent or the master of the ship
is dissatisfied, or
(b) gives notice under this Act of any defect in any ship, or
(c) declines to give any certificate under this Act,
the owner, master or agent, as the case may be, may,
subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) and of section
387, appeal to a court of survey.
(2) Whenever a surveyor inspects any ship, he shall, is the owner,
master or agent of the ship so requires, be accompanied on
the inspection by some person nominated by the owner,
master or agent, as the case may be, and if the person so
nominated agrees with the surveyor as to the statement made
or the notice given by the surveyor or the refusal by the
surveyor to give a certificate, there shall be no appeal to a
court of survey form that statement, notice or refusal.
385. (1) The judge shall on receiving notice of appeal or a reference Powers and
from the Central Government immediately summon the procedure of court of
assessors to meet forthwith in the prescribed manner. survey
(2) The court of survey shall hear every case in open court.
(3) The judge may appoint any competent person to survey
the ship and report thereon to the court.
(4) The judge shall have the same powers as the Central
Government has to order the ship to be released or
finally detained; but unless one of the assessors
concurs in an order for the detention of the ship, the
ship shall be released.
(5) The owner and master of the ship and any person
appointed by the owner or master and also any person
appointed by the Central Governmenr may attend any
inspection or survey made in pursuance of this section.

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(6) The judge shall report the proceedings of the court in

each case to the Central Government in the manner
prescribed and each assessor shall either sign such
report or report to the Central Governmenr the reasons
for his dissent.
Power to make rules 386. The Central Government may make rules for carrying out the
purposes of this Part with respect to a court of survey and in
particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
power, with respect to-
(a) the procedure of the court;
(b) the requiring, on an appeal, of security for costs and
damages;
(c) the amount and application of fees; and
(d) the ascertainment, in case of dispute, of the proper amount
of costs.
Scientific referees
Reference in difficult 387. (1) If the Central Government is of opinion that an appeal to a
cases to scientific court of survey involves a question of construction or design
persons or a scientific difficulty or important principle, it may refer
the matter to such one or more out of list of scientific referees
to be from time to time prepared by the Central Government
as may appear to possess the special qualifications
necessary for the particular case and may be selected by
agreement between a person duly appointed by the Central
Government in this behalf and the appellant, or in default of
any such agreement, by the Central Government; and there
upon the appeal shall be determined by the referee or referees
instead of by the court of survey.
(2) The Central Government, if the appellant in any such appeal
so requires and gives security to its satisfaction to pay the
costs of and incidental to the reference, shall refer such
appeal to a referee or referees selected as aforesaid.
(3) The referee or referees shall have the same powers as a
judge of the court of survey.
Investigations into explosions or fires on board ships
Power to investigate 388. Whenever any explosion or fire occurs on board any ship on or
causes of explosion near the coasts of India, the Central Government may direct that
or fire on board ship an investigation into the causes of explosion or fire be made by
such person or persons as it thinks fit.
Report to be made 389. The person or persons referred to in section. 388 may go on board
regarding cause of the ship on which the explosion or fire has occurred with all
explosion or fire necessary work men and labourers, and remove any portion of the
ship, or of the machinery thereof, for the purpose of the investigation,
and shall report to the Central Government or the person duly
appointed by it, as the case may be, what in his or their opinion
was the cause of the explosion or fire.

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PART XII – Commentary
Part XII provides for investigation and inquiries in shipping casualties. Events amounting to
casualty to be covered under Part XII of the Act include any ship being lost or abandoned or stranded
or materially damaged; or any ship causing loss or material damage to any other ship; or by reason
of any casualty or any loss of life happening to or on board any ship; all the events happening on or
near coasts of India.
Further, the casualty that takes place in any place other than “on or near coast of India” will
be treated as a shipping casualty if there occurs loss/abandonment stranding/material damage to or
on board Indian ship and any competent witness is found (in India). The casualty caused due to any
ship, which is lost or supposed to be lost and that the evidence is obtainable in India as to the
circumstances under which, she proceeded to sea or was last heard about will also be considered
as “shipping casualty” under the MS Act 1958.
The Director General of Shipping has constituted a specialized investigation which will be
headed by the Deputy Director General, who on the receipt of such an information on casualty takes
immediate steps for investigation. Meanwhile, master of the concerned ship to report the shipping
casualty to the officer appointed by the Central Government. Upon application made by the Central
Government through the Designated Officer, the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class and a Metropolitan
Magistrate will make a formal investigation into the shipping casualties including inquiry into charges
against master, mates and/or engineers.
A court conducting a formal investigation exercises powers to examine evidence, regulation

of proceedings, constitution of assessors, to order an arrest and enter the vessel, to censure master
mate or engineer and to transmit a full report of conclusions of investigation and inquiries to the
Central Government. The master, mate or engineer who is given an opportunity make defence, if
found guilty for causing the shipping casualty will be ordered by the court, as it deems fit, to be
removed from the duties, and to cancel the qualifying certificates issued by Central Government.
Similarly if any complaint requesting investigation of an inquiry is made by any master, owner or
member of crew, to an Indian consular or a senior officer of Indian Navy, a Marine Board for the inquiry
will be convened and the investigation and the inquiry is carried out.
The Act clearly prescribes the constitution, procedure and powers of the Marine Board. In
addition to the aforementioned capacities, the Central Government also has the power to cancel and
suspend the certificates of master, mate or engineers which would amount to be effective on all
ships, if the certificates that are suspended were issued under the MS Act 1958. As far as the
certificate issued outside India is concerned, the effect of cancellation will only be applicable within
India and as far as Indian ships are concerned, the cancellation of foreign certificates will be effected
on Indian ships irrespective of the area in which the ships ply.

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Furthermore, the Central Government is also entrusted with wide powers for cancellation or
suspension of certificates without formal investigation, re-hearing/appeal from the court of survey or
reference to scientific persons. The Central Government also has the power to frame rules pertaining
to the procedure of court, fees, fixation of cost against security amount, etc. The Central Government
also has the power to direct an investigation into explosions or fires happening on board the ships
located on or near the coasts of India apart from the reported casualties.

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PART XIII
WRECK AND SALVAGE
Wreck
390. In this Part, the word “coasts” includes the coast of creeks and Definition of “coasts”
tidal rivers.
391. (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Receivers of Wreck
Gazette, appoint any person to be a receiver of wreck (in
this Part referred to as receiver of wreck) to receive and
take possession of wreck and to perform such duties
connected therewith as are hereinafter mentioned, within
such local limits as may be specified in the notification.
(2) A receiver of wreck may, by order in writing, direct that all or
any of his functions under this Part shall, in such
circumstances and subject to such conditions, if any, as
may be specified in the order, be discharged by such person
as may be specified therein and any person while
discharging any such functions shall be deemed to be a
receiver of wreck for the purposes of this Act.
392. Where any vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress at any place Duty of receiver
on or near the coasts of India, the receiver of wreck, within the where vessel is in
limits of whose jurisdiction the place is situate shall, upon being distress
made acquainted with the circumstance, forthwith proceed there,
and upon his arrival shall take command of all persons present and
shall assign such duties and give such directions to each person
as he thinks fit for the preservation of the vessel and of the lives of
the persons belonging to the vessel and of its cargo and equipment:
Provided that the receiver shall not interfere between the master
and the crew of the vessel in reference to the management thereof
unless he is requested to do so by the master.
393. (1) Whenever a vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress as Power to pass over
aforesaid, all person may, for the purpose of rendering adjoining lands
assistance to the vessel or of saving the lives of the
shipwrecked persons, or of saving the cargo or equipment
of the vessel, unless there is some public road equally
convenient, pass and repass, either with or without vehicles
or animals, over any adjoining lands without being subject
to interruption by the owner or occupier, so that they do as
little damage as possible and may also on the like condition,
deposit on these lands any cargo or other article recovered
from the ship.
(2) Any damage sustained by an owner or occupier in
consequence of the exercise of the rights given by this
section, shall be a charge on the vessel, cargo or articles in
respect of or by which the damage is occasioned and the

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amount payable in respect of the damage shall, in case of

dispute, be determined by a magistrate on application made
to him in this behalf.
Power of receiver of 394. Whenever a vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress as aforesaid,
wreck to suppress and any person plunders, creates disorder or obstructs the
plunder and disorder preservation of the vessel or of the shipwrecked persons or of the
by force cargo or equipment of the vessel, the receiver of wreck may take
such steps and use a such force as he may consider necessary
for the suppression of any such plundering, disorder or obstruction,
and may for that purpose command any person to assist him.
Procedure to be 395. Any person finding and taking possession of any wreck within any
observed by persons local limits for which there is a receiver of wreck, or bringing within
finding wreck such limits any wreck which has been found and taken possession
of elsewhere, shall, as soon as practicable
(a) if he be the owner thereof, give the receiver of wreck notice
in writing of the finding thereof and of the marks by which
such wreck is distinguished;
(b) if he be not the owner of such wreck, deliver the same to the
receiver of wreck.
Investigation of 396. Whenever any vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress as
certain matters in aforesaid, the receiver of wreck within the local limits of whose
respect of vessels jurisdiction the vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress may
wrecked, etc. conduct an investigation into all or any of the following matters,
that is to say, -
(a) the name and description of the vessel;
(b) the names of the master and of the owners:
(c) the names of the owners of the cargo;
(d) the ports from and to which the vessel was bound;
(e) the occasion of the wrecking, stranding, or distress of the
vessel;
(f) the services rendered; and
(g) such other matters or circumstances relating to the vessel,
the cargo or the equipment, as the receiver thinks necessary.
Notice to be given by 397. The receiver of wreck shall as soon as may be after taking
receiver possession of any wreck, publish a notification in such manner
and at such place as the Central Government may, by general or
special order, direct, containing a description of the wreck and the
time at which and the place where it was found
Immediate sale of 398. A receiver of wreck may at any time sell any wreck in his custody
wreck by receiver in if, in his opinion, -
certain cases
(a) it is under the value of five hundred rupees; or
(b) it is so much damaged or of so perishable a nature that it
cannot with advantage be kept; or
(c) it is not of sufficient value for warehousing;

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and the proceeds of the sale shall, after defraying the expenses thereof, be
held by the receiver for the same purposes and subject to the same claims,
rights and liabilities as if the wreck had remained unsold.
399. (1) The owner of any wreck in the possession of the receiver Claims of owners to
upon establishing his claim to the same to the satisfaction wreck
of the receiver within one year from the time at which the
wreck came into the possession of the receiver shall, upon
paying the salvage and other charges, be entitled to have
the wreck or the proceeds thereof delivered to him.
(2) Where any articles belonging to or forming part of a vessel
other than an Indian vessel which has been wrecked or
belonging to and forming part of the cargo of such vessel, are
found on or near the coasts of India or are brought into any
port in India, the consular officer of the country in which the
vessel is registered or, in the case of cargo, the country to
which the owners of the cargo may have belonged shall, in the
absence of the owner and of the master or other agent of the
owner, be deemed to be the agent of the owner, with respect
to the custody and disposal of the articles.
(3) Where the owner of the wreck does not appear and claim
the balance of the proceeds of sale within one year from the
date of sale, the said balance shall become the property of
the Central Government.
400. No person shall- Prohibition of certain
(a) without the leave of the master board or attempt to board acts in respect of
any vessel which is wrecked, stranded or in distress as wreck
aforesaid, unless the person is, or acts by command of, the
receiver of wreck; or
(b) impede or hinder or attempt in any way to impede or hinder
the saving of any vessel stranded or in danger of being
stranded or otherwise in distress on or near the coasts of
India or of any part of the cargo or equipment of the vessel,
or of any wreck; or
(c) secrete any wreck or deface or obliterate any marks thereon;
or
(d) wrongfully carry away or remove any part of a vessel stranded
or in danger of being stranded or otherwise in distress, on
or near the coasts of India, or any part of the cargo or
equipment of the vessel or any wreck.
401. Where a receiver of wreck suspects or reveives information that Search warrants
any wreck is secreted or is in the possession of some person who where wreck is
is not the owner thereof or that any wreck is otherwise improperly concealed
dealt with, he may apply to the nearest 1[Judicial Magistrate of the
first class or Metropolitan Magistrate, as the case may be,] for a
search warrant, and that magistrate shall have power to grant such

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warrant and the receiver of wreck by virtue thereof may enter any
house or other place wherever situate and also any vessel and
search for, seize and detain any such wreck there found.
Salvage
Salvage payable for 402. (1) Where services are rendered
saving life, cargo or (a) wholly or in part within the territorial waters of India in
wreck saving life from any vessel, or elsewhere in saving life
from a vessel registered in India; or
(b) in assisting a vessel or saving the cargo or equipment
of a vessel which is wrecked, stranded or in distress
at any place on or near the coasts of Indian; or
(c) by any person other than the receiver of wreck in saving
any wreck;
there shall be payable to the salvor by the owner of the
vessel, cargo, equipment or wreck, a reasonable sum for
salvage having regard to all the circumstances of the case.
(2) Salvage in respect of the preservation of life when payable
by the owner of the vessel shall be payable in priority to all
other claims for salvage.
(3) Where salvage services are rendered by or on behalf of the
Government or by a vessel of the Indian Navy 1[or of the Coast
Guard] or the commander or crew of any such vessel, the
Government, the commander or the crew, as the case may
be, shall be entitled to salvage and shall have the same rights
and remedies in respect of those services as any other salvor.
1
[‘Explanation: “Coast Guard” means the Coast Guard
constituted under section 3 of the Coast Guard Act, 1978.’]
(4) Any dispute arising concerning the amount due under this
section shall be determined upon application made by either
of the disputing parties:
(a) to 2[Judicial Magistrate of the first class or a Metropolitan
Magistrate, as the case may be,] where the amount
claimed does not exceed ten thousand rupees; or
(b) to the High Court where the amount claimed exceeds
ten thousand rupees.
(5) Where there is dispute as to the persons who are entitled
to the salvage amount under this section, 2[theJudicial
magistrate of the first class or the Metropolitan Magistrate
or the High Court, as the case may be,] shall decide the
dispute and if there are more persons than one entitled to
such amount, 2[such magistrate] or the High court shall
apportion the amount thereof among such persons.


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(6) The costs of and incidental to all proceedings before 1[a Judicial
Magistrate of the first class or a Metropolitan Magistrate] or the
High Court under this section shall be in the discretion of 1[such
magistrate] or the High Court shall have full power to determine by
whom or out of what property and to what extent such costs are to
be paid and to give all necessary directions for the purpose aforesaid.
403. Nothing in this Part shall- Savings
(a) affect any treaty or arrangement with any foreign country to
which India is a party with reference to the disposal of the
proceeds of wrecks on their respective coasts; or
(b) affect the provisions of section 29 of the Indian Ports Act,
1908, or entitle any person to salvage in respect of any
property recovered by creeping or sweeping in contravention
of that section.
purposes of this Part. respecting wreck and
salvage
(a) the procedure to be followed by receiver of wreck in
respect of the taking possession of wrecks and their
disposal;
(b) the fees payable to receivers in respect of the work
done by them;
(c) the procedure to be followed for dealing with claims
relating to ownership of wrecks;
(d) the appointment of valuers in salvage cases;
(e) the principles to be followed in awarding salvage and
the apportioning of salvage;
(f) the procedure to be followed for dealing with claims for
salvage;
(g) the detention of property in the custody of a receiver of
wreck for the purpose of enforcing payment of salvage.

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PART XIII- Commentary
With respect to wreckage, the international maritime community has witnessed both
intentional/deliberate wrecks or a wreck arising out of accidents. An unseaworthy ship or a seaworthy
ship due to unforeseen circumstances, involved in an accident may lead to wreckage. The laws
pertaining to removal of wreck and salvage of wreck primarily fell within the jurisdiction of the conventions
propounded by IMO. However, two specific conventions were adopted under the auspices of IMO
which are the International Convention on Salvage, 19891 and the International Convention on Removal
of Wreck 20072.
The Salvage Convention 1989 replaced its predecessor which was the Brussels Convention
on Assistance and Salvage at Sea, 1910.3While Brussels 1910 introduced the principle of salvage
reward as a right to a salvor only on successful salvage operations rescuing ship, cargo; the Salvage
Convention 1989 enhanced the concept of salvage reward. The Salvage Convention 1989 stipulated
enhanced salvage award, i.e. “special compensation” which is to be awarded to a salvor who has
taken effective action to prevent or minimise environmental damage and has succeeded in salvage of
ship or its cargo.
India is a party to both Salvage Convention 19894 and WRC 20075.The Merchant Shipping
Act 1958 provides under Part XIII, the provisions pertaining to wreck and salvage. The law pertaining
to wreck is covered under three main schemes of laws; which are Merchant Shipping Act 1958,
Indian Ports Act 1908, and the Rules and byelaws made there-under. The MS Act 1958 defines
wreck with respect to the place where the same is found in sea or in tidal waters or on shores. The
categorisation of goods as wreck is more of a comparative analysis of its location than the damage
that it might cause to environment or safe navigation or health. As per the MS Act 1958, wreck
includes goods, which have been cast into the sea and sunk, or that which remains under water, or
that without sinking remain floating in sea or that which are attached to a floating object; goods that
are thrown away or abandoned or a vessel abandoned without hope or intention to recovery.6 Prompt
and appropriate removal of wreck which, otherwise could affect and risk safe navigation / environmental
pollution/ life and trade of people depending on sea as their chief source of living, becomes inevitable.
The Act under Part XIII, equips the designated authorities with powers to deal with aspects
of removal of wreck, including appointment, powers and duties of receiver of wreck and the like. In the
1
Herein after referred to as Salvage Convention. Concluded in London on April 28,1989. Entered into force on July 14,
1996.
2
Herein after referred to as WRC, 2007. Adopted on May 18,2007. Not entered into force yet. See Article 18 of WRC
2007.
3
Herein after referred to as Brussels 1910. Adopted on September 23,1910 in Brussels, Belgium.
4
By accession. Date of deposit of instrument is October 18,1995 and date of entry into force October 18, 1996.
5
By accession. Date of deposit of instrument is March 23, 2011.
6
Section 3 (58) of the MS Act 1958.

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event of a wreck, any persons in the course of rendering assistance to a person or vessel in distress
is not accountable for any unavoidable damage sustained by owner or occupier of adjoining land and
the same can be claimed by them as charge on the vessel involved in wreck. Under the MS Act 1958,
the powers entrusted with the receiver of the wreck includes power of sub-delegation; to suppress
any plundering, disorder or obstruction to wreck or its removal; investigation into the matters pertaining
to wreckage of vessel; immediate sale of wreck or its remnants; and issuance of search warrant
where wreck is suspected to have been secreted or in the possession of any person other than
owner.
Part XIII, also ensures the right of the owner to establish his claim before the receiver. The
owner, however, is liable and duty bound to make the payment against charges such as that of
salvage, which are incurred in the process of saving the wreck and possessing the same under the
custody of the receiver of wreck. Further, if the wreck is one which belongs to vessels other than an
Indian vessel, the consular officer of the country in which the vessel is registered or the country to
which the owners of the cargo belong are presumed to be the agent(s) of the wreck with respect to its
custody and disposal. The claim of ownership of the wreck shall be made within a period of 1(one)
year from the date of possession of the wreck by the receiver. After the prescribed period of one year,
the remnants of the wreck retaining in possession of the receiver will be deemed to be the property
of the Central Government and no claims will be entertained henceforth.
The possibilities of a third party interference to board or attempt to board any vessel without
permission of the master or secrete/deface/obliterate or wrongfully carry away or remove any wrecked/
stranded vessel, or to impede/hinder attempt to save stranded/distressed vessel the wreck as a
whole or part thereof, is considered to be unlawful and the same is prohibited by law.
A wreck, life or cargo of ship involved in wreck may be saved by an appropriately rendered
help or assistance. Such an assistance rendered by offering services are called salvage services.
The salvage services include saving the vessel as a wreck or cargo or life of people onboard the ship.
As mentioned earlier in the Commentary to Part XIII, the MS Act 1958 provides that the salvage
services are entitled to salvage7. The only exception to entitlement for salvage is the case of receiver
appointed under the MS Act 1958. Where salvage was denied to the petitioner on the ground that it
was the bounden duty under Section 14 of the Coast Guard Act to render assistance to the ship in
distress, the Court clearly laid down that considering Section 402, the commander of the Coast
Guard is also treated as a salvor and that the petitioners claim for salvage was allowed.8 Salvage
claims can be made before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class or Metropolitan Magistrate9 or
before the High Court10.
7
Section 3 (40) defines “salvage” to include “all expenses properly incurred by the salvor in the performances of the
salvage services”
8
Shashidharan Vs. Union of India AIR 2002 Ker. 388, 2002 (3) KLT SN 47.
9
Section 402 (4)(a) prescribes limit for claiming before JFCM or Metropolitan Court as claimed amount not to exceed Rs.
10,000.
10
Section 402 (4)(b) prescribes that claims exceeding INR. 10,000 are claimable before High Court exercising respective
jurisdiction.

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Besides, the Act also empowers the Central Government to make rules as to the procedure
to be followed by a receiver of wreck in taking possession and its disposal; fees payable to receiver;
on claims relating to ownership of wreck and salvage; detention of wreck; appointment of valuers in
salvage cases; awarding and apportionment of salvage; enforcing payment of salvage by detention of
wreck and to give effect to all other provisions enshrined under Part XIII.
The latest ratification of the 2007 Wreck removal Convention by India, makes it obligatory to
amend MS Act 1958 and incorporate the international obligations in to Indian laws. Amendments
extend from expansion of definition of wreck to the jurisdiction of countries where the wreck is found
and the like. The new amendments have been placed before the Parliament and passed, The
amendments would enable India to exercise jurisdiction to order for removal of wreck amounting to
hazard from the Exclusive Economic Zone, which at present is limited to territorial sea. Compulsory
insurance coverage is yet another feature of the Nairobi International Convention on Removal of
Wreck 2007, once implemented within the realm of Merchant Shipping Act Part XIII, Indian Ports Act
and allied rules and regulations.

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PART XIV
CONTROL OF INDIAN SHIPS AND SHIPS ENGAGED IN COASTING TRADE
405. This Part applies only to sea-going ships fitted with mechanical Application of Part
means of propulsion of not less than one hundred and fifty tons
gross; but the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, fix any lower tonnage for the purposes of this Part.
As per Amendment No. 55 of 1988 the following paragraph applies
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 405 of the Merchant
Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958), the Central Government hereby fixes fifteen
tons gross as the tonnage for the purposes of the above section.
406. (1) No Indian ship and not other ship chartered by a citizen of Indian ships and
India or a company 1[or a co-operative society] shall be taken chartered ships to be
to sea from a port or place within or outside India except licensed
under a licence granted by the Director-General under this
section:
Provided that the Central Government, if it is of opinion that
it is necessary or expedient in the public interest so to do,
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt any class
of ships chartered by a citizen of India or a company 1[or a
co-operative society] from the provisions of this sub-section.
(2) A licence granted under this section may be-
(a) a general licence;
(b) a licence for the whole or any part of the coasting trade
of India; or
(c) a licence for a specified period or voyage.
(3) A licence granted under this section shall be in such form
and shall be valid for such period as may be prescribed,
and shall be subject to such conditions as may be specified
by the Director-General.
407. (1) No ship other than an Indian ship or a ship chartered by a Licensing of ships for
citizen of India 1[or a company or a co-operative society coasting trade
which satisfies the requirements specified in clause (b) or,
as the case may be, clause (c) of section 21] shall engage
in the coasting-trade of India except under a licence granted
by the Director-General under this section.
(2) A licence granted under this section may be for a specified
period or voyage and shall be subject to such conditions as
may be specified by the Director-General.
(3) The Central Government may, by general or special order,
direct that the provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply
in respect of any part of the coasting trade of India or shall

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apply subject to such conditions and restrictions as may

be specified in the order.
Revocation or 408. (1) The Director General may, at any time if the circumstances
modification of of the case so require, revoke or modify a licence granted
license under section 406 or section 407.
(2) No licence shall be revoked or modified under this section
unless the person concerned has been given a reasonable
opportunity or making a representation against such
revocation or modification, as the case may be.
Licences to be 409. When a licence under section 406 or section 407 ceases to be
surrendered when valid, the person to whom it was granted shall, without unreasonable
they cease to be delay, return it or cause it to be returned to the Director-General.
valid
No port clearance 410. No customs collector shall grant a port clearance to a ship in
until licence is respect of which a licence is required under this Part until after
produced production by the owner, master or agent of such a licence.
Power to give 411. The Director-General may, if he is satisfied that in the public interest
or in the interests of Indian shipping it is necessary so to do, give,
by order in writing, such directions as he thinks fit
(a) in the case of a ship which has been granted a licence
under section 406, with respect to all or any of the following
matters:
(i) the ports or places, whether in or outside India, to
which, and the routes by which, the ship shall proceed
for any particular purpose;
(ii) the diversion of any ship from one route to another for
any particular purpose;
(iii) the classes of passengers or cargo which may be
carried in the ship;
(iv) the order of priority in which passengers or cargo may
be taken on or put off the ship at any port or place,
whether in or outside India;
(b) in the case of a ship which has been granted a licence under
section 407 with respect to the order of priority in which
passengers or cargo may be taken on the ship at any port or
place in India from which she is about to proceed for any
port or place on on the continent of India at which she is to
call in the course of her voyage.
Power of the Central
[411A. (1)
1
If it appears to the Central Government-
Government to
protect interests of (a) that measures have been taken by or under the law of
Indian shipping from any foreign country for regulating or controlling the terms
undue foreign or conditions upon which goods or passengers may
intervention be carried by sea, or the terms or conditions of contracts
or arrangements relating to such carriage; and

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(b) that such measures, in so far as they apply to things

done or to be done outside the territorial jurisdiction of
that country by persons carrying on lawful business in
India, constitute an infringement of the jurisdiction which
belongs to India.
it may, by an order in writing, direct that this section shall
apply to those measures either in whole or to such extent
as may be specified in the order.
(2) Whether an order issued under sub-section (1) is in force in
relation to any measures, it shall be the duty of every person
in India who carries on business consisting or comprising
of the carriage of goods or passengers by sea to give notice
to the Central Government of any requirement or prohibition
imposed or threatened to be imposed on him pursuant to
such measures so far as this section applies to him,
including any requirement to submit any contract or other
document for approval thereunder.
(3) Where a notice under sub-section (2) is received from any
person or there are grounds to believe that a notice is likely
to be received; the Central Government may, by an order in
writing, give to such person directions prohibiting compliance
with any such requirement or prohibition as it considers
proper for maintaining the jurisdiction of India.
(4) Any directions given by the Central Government under sub-
section (3) may be either general or special and may prohibit
compliance with any requirement or prohibition either
absolutely or in such cases or subject to such conditions,
as to consent or otherwise, as may be specified in the order.
(5) It is appears to the Central Government that any person in
India has been or may be required to produce or furnish to
any court, tribunal or authority of a foreign country any
commercial document which is not within the territorial
jurisdiction of that country or any commercial information to
be completed from documents not within the territorial
jurisdiction of that country and that the requirement
constitutes or would constitute an infringement of the
jurisdiction which belongs to India, the Central Government
may, by an order in writing, give directions to that person,
prohibiting him from complying with the requirement except
to such extent or subject to such conditions as may be
specified in the order.]
1
[412. (1) The Central Government may, by order published in the Power to fix shipping
Official Gazette, fix in the prescribed manner the rates at rates
which any Indian ship may be hired and the rates which
may be charged for the carriage of passengers or cargo by
any ship engaged in the coasting trade of India.

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(2) If the Central Government considers that with a view to

enabling it to fix the rates under sub-section (1) it is necessary
or expedient so to do, it may constitute a Board in the
prescribed manner for the purpose of advising it; and such
Board may be constituted either generally or for a particular
case or route or in respect of rates for the carriage of
passengers or cargo or both.
(3) Where an order fixing the rates to be charged for hire or for
the carriage of passengers or cargo has been published
under sub-section (1), no owner, master or agent of a ship
shall charge rates exceeding the rates so fixed.]
Power of Director- 413. The Director-General may, by notice, require-
General to call for
(a) the owner, master or agent of any ship in respect of which a
information
licence granted by the Director-General under this Act is in
force; or
(b) the owner, master or agent of any ship in respect of which
any directions has been or may be given under clause (b) of
section 411; to furnish within the period specified in the notice
information as to-
(i) the classes of passengers and cargo which the ship is
about to carry or is capable of carrying or has carried
during any specified period;
(ii) the rates of passenger fares and freight charges
applicable to the ship;
(iii) any other matter which may be prescribed.
Power to make rules 414. (1) The Central Government may make rules for carrying out
the purposes of this Part.
following matters namely:
(a) the form in which, the period or voyage for which, and
the conditions subject to which licences under this
Part may be granted, the particulars to be included
therein and the fees payable therefor;
1
[(b) the manner in which rates shall be fixed under section
412;
(c) the constitution and functions of a Board constituted
under section 412 and the procedure to be followed by
it in the discharge of its functions;]
(d) the matters regarding which information may be
required to be furnished under section 413.

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PART XIV – Commentary
Part XIV can be considered the teeth of the MS Act 1958 in controlling and regulating ships
engaged in coasting trade1. The fact that Indian shipowners have to be extended the support to
develop Indian Merchant Marine, which again is the purpose of enactment of MS Act 19582. The Act
limits the application of this Part to ships of not less than 150 tons gross, fitted with mechanical
means of propulsion. The Act covers both Indian ships and foreign flag vessels, with the perception to
provide Indian ships the privilege in conducting coasting trade.
Section 406 mandates that Indian ships and, vessels chartered by a citizen of India shall be
taken to sea from a port or place within or outside India only by possessing a license3 obtained from
/ granted by the DGS. The proviso to this Section stipulates that, the Central Government has the
power to exempt any class of ships chartered by a citizen of India or a company or a cooperative
society on grounds of public interest, through a notification in the official gazette. Furthermore, the
Director General is also empowered to state conditions as a prerequisite for issuance of licence
under Section 406.
Whereas, MS Act 1958 under Section 407 stipulates that Indian Ships or ships chartered by
a citizen of India, which satisfies the requirements under Section 21 (b) or (c) shall engage in coasting
trade of India without license granted by the Director General of Shipping. All other vessels can only
engage in such a trade by obtaining license from DGS. Further, under subsection (3) the Central
Government by general or special order, can direct that provision of subsection (1), i.e. mandatory
license requirement for coasting trade, shall not apply in any part of coasting trade of India or shall
apply subject to such conditions and restrictions as may be specified in the order. While the MS Act
1958 Section 406 (1) speaks about licensing for the voyage(s) involving at least one Indian port,
under Section 407 (1) the Act deals with coasting trade, which involves voyage from one port or place
in India to another port or place in India.
The Central Government has the power to revoke or modify any licence issued under this
Part provided an opportunity of making representation against revocation or modification has been
provided to the person concerned.4 In order to effectively implement the licence requirement as a
precondition under Section 406 and Section 407; the customs collector is equipped with the power
to deny port clearance until the requisite licence is produced. Further in public interest or in a view to
promote Indian shipping, the Director General of Shipping has the discretion to give order in writing,
1
Section 3(2) of the MS Act 1958 defines “coasting trade of India” as the carriage by sea of passengers or goods from
any port or place in India to any other port or place on the continent of India.
2
See preamble of the MS Act 1958.
3
Section 405 (2) of MS Act 1958 provides for category of license issued are a) general license; b) license for the whole
or part of the coasting trade of India or (c) a license for specified period or voyage
4
Section 408.

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which directs the holder of licence under Section 406 on matters of voyage routes; requisite diversions;
categories of cargo and passengers to be carried; priority of loading/entry and discharge/boarding of
cargo or unboarding. The DGS is also vested with the powers to issue directions, in writing to the
ships holding licence under Section 407 on matters such as priority of loading/entry and discharge/
exit of cargo or passengers or to call particular port or place in India.
Apart from the wide rule making power to implement provisions under Part XIV, the Central
Government is authorised to take such steps by issuing orders in writing so as to protect the interests
of Indian shipping from undue foreign intervention. Here it may be noted that, like many other maritime
states, India has exercised jurisdiction to treat shipping as an exemption from obligations undertaken
under the agreements of the World Trade Organisation. The Director General of Shipping has the
power to call for information pertaining to, owner, master or agent; classes of passengers or cargo,
which the ship is about to carry during the specified period; rates of passenger fares and freight
applicable; and the like.

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PART XV
SAILING VESSELS
415. Save as otherwise provided, this Part applies to every sea-going Application of Part
sailing vessel owned by a citizen of India 1[or a company or a co-
operative society which satisfies the requirements specified in
clause (b) or, as the case may be, clause (c) of section 21.]
416. If any question arises whether a vessel is a sailing vessel or not for Decision of question
the purposes of this Part, it shall be decided by the Director-General whether a vessel is a
and his decision thereon shall be final. sailing vessel
417. (1) Every sailing vessel 2[(other than a sailing vessel solely Certificate of registry
engaged in fishing for profit)] shall be registered in
accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) The owner of every sailing vessel shall make an application
in the prescribed form to a registrar for the grant to him of a
certificate of registry in respect of the vessel.
(3) The owner of every sailing vessel in respect of which an
application under sub-section (2) is made, shall cause the
tonnage of the vessel to be ascertained in the prescribed
manner.
(4) The registrar may make such inquiry as he thinks fit with
respect to the particulars contained in such application and
shall enter in a register to be kept for the purpose (hereinafter
referred to as sailing vessels register) the following particulars
in respect of the vessel, namely:
(a) the name of the sailing vessel, the place where she
was built, and the port to which she belongs;
(b) the rig, type and tonnage of the vessel;
(c) the name, occupation and residence of the owner of
the vessel;
(d) the number assigned to the vessel;
(e) the mortgages, if any, effected by the owner in respect
of the vessel;
(f) such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(5) After the particulars in respect of the vessel have been
entered in the sailing vessels register under sub-section
(4), the registrar shall grant to the applicant a certificate of
registry in the prescribed form.
(6) The owner of every sailing vessel shall pay for each certificate
of registry a fee according to such scale as may be prescribed
by the Central Government, having regard to the tonnage of


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the vessel, but in no case exceeding one rupee per ton of its
gross tonnage.
(7) A sailing vessel requiring to be registered under this Part
but not so registered may be detained by a proper officer
until the owner or tindal produces a certificate of registry in
respect of the vessel.
Particulars relating to 418. The owner of every sailing vessel so registered shall, before the
sailing vessel to be vessel begins to take any cargo or passengers, paint or cause to
painted be painted permanently in the prescribed manner on some
conspicuous part of the sailing vessel, the name by which the vessel
has been registered, the number assigned to the vessel by the
registrar and the port to which she belongs, and shall take all steps
to ensure that the vessel remains painted as required by this section.
Change of name of 419. A change shall not be made in the name of a sailing vessel registered
sailing vessel under this Part except in accordance with the rules made in this
behalf.
Prevention of 420. (1) The Central Government may make rules regulating the
overloading or carriage of cargo or passengers in sailing vessels and the
overcrowding protection of life and property on board such vessels.
(a) the assignment of free board to sailing vessels;
(b) the marking of such free board on such vessels and
the maintenance of such markings;
(c) the survey of the space allotted to passengers on board
such vessels;
(d) the scale and type of accommodation to be provided
for each passenger.
(3) Any sailing vessel attempting to ply or proceed to sea without
free board markings or any sailing vessel which has been
so loaded as to submerge such markings may be detained
by a proper officer until free board markings are made in
accordance with the rules made in this behalf or the vessel
is so loaded that such markings are not submerged.
(4) Nothing in this section relating to free board, shall apply to
any sailing vessel in respect of which a load line has been
assigned under Part IX.
Certificate of 421. (1) No sailing vessel shall ply or proceed to sea unless there is
inspection in force in respect of that vessel a certificate of inspection
granted under this Part, the same being applicable to the
voyage on which she is about to ply or proceed.
(2) A certificate of inspection in respect of a sailing vessel shall
specify:

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(a) the name and tonnage of the vessel;

(b) the names of the owner and tindal of the vessel;
(c) the maximum number of the crew and the maximum
number of passengers, which the vessel is fit to carry;
(d) the limits within which the vessel may be used for the
purpose of trading and the terms and conditions
subject to which she may be used for such trading;
(e) the particulars of the free board assigned to the vessel;
and shall contain a statement to the effect that her hull,
rigging and equipment (including auxiliary machinery, if any)
are in good condition.
(3) Every certificate of inspection shall be in force from the date
of issue for a period of one year or for such shorter period as
may be specified therein:
Provided that where a sailing vessel is on a voyage outside
India at the time of expiry of the certificate, the certificate
shall continue to be valid until her first arrival at a port in
India after the expiry of such period.
(4) No customs collector shall grant a port clearance to a sailing
vessel registered under this Part until after the production
by the owner or tindal thereof of a certificate of inspection
granted under this Part in respect of the vessel.
422. (1) Where at any time subsequent to the issue of a certificate of Cancellation, reissue,
inspection in respect of a sailing vessel, the Director-General etc., of certificate of
has reason to believe that the vessel is not fit to ply or proceed inspection
to sea, he may, after giving the owner an opportunity of making
a representation, cancel such certificate.
(2) Where at any time subsequent to the issue of a certificate of
inspection a sailing vessel has undergone material alteration
or has met with accident or, where the certificate of inspection
of a sailing vessel has been cancelled under sub-section (1)
and an application is made for the re-issue of such certificate
or for the grant of a fresh certificate, the registrar may, before
re-issuing the certificate or issuing a fresh certificate, as the
case may be, cause such vessel to be inspected; and if the
authority inspecting the vessel reports that she is not fit to
ply or proceed to sea or that her hull, rigging and equipment
(including auxiliary machinery, if any) are defective, such
certificate shall not be re-issued or issued until the vessel
is, in the opinion of such authority, fit to ply or proceed to
sea or the defect is rectified to the satisfaction of such
authority.
423. When a sailing vessel is so altered as not to correspond with the Registry of
particulars relating to her entered in the certificate of registry, the alterations
owner of such vessel shall make a report of such alteration to the

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registrar of the port where the vessel is registered, and registrar

shall either cause the alteration to be registered, or direct that the
vessel be registered anew, in accordance with such rules as may
be made in this behalf.
Transfer of registry 424. The registry of a sailing vessel may be transferred from one port to
another in India on the application of the owner or tindal of the
vessel in accordance with such rules as may be made in this behalf.
Closure of registry 425. If a sailing vessel is lost, destroyed or rendered permanently unfit
for service, the owner of such vessel shall with the least practicable
delay report the fact to the registrar of the port where the vessel is
registered and also forward to him along with the report, the
certificate of registry in respect of the vessel; and thereupon the
registrar shall have the registry of the vessel closed.
Restrictions on 426. No person shall transfer or acquire any sailing vessel registered
transfer of sailing under this Part or any interest therein without the previous approval
vessels the Central Government; and any transaction effected in
contravention of this section shall be void and unenforceable.
Mortgages of sailing 427. (1) Every mortgage of a sailing vessel or of any interest therein
vessels effected after the date on which this Part comes into force
shall be registered with the registrar.
(2) Every mortgage of a sailing vessel or any interest therein
effected before the date on which this Part comes into force
shall, if subsisting on that date, be registered with the
registrar within three months of that date.
(3) The registrar shall enter every such mortgage in the sailing
vessels register in the order in which it is registered with him.
(4) If there are more mortgages than one recorded in respect of
the same sailing vessel or interest therein, the mortgages
shall, notwithstanding any express, implied or constructive
notice, have priority according to the date on which each
mortgage is registered with the registrar and not according
to the date of each mortgage itself:
affect the relative priorities as they existed immediately before
the date on which this Part comes into force as between
mortgages of the same vessel or interest therein effected
before such date, which are registered in accordance with
the provisions of sub-section (2).
Fraudulent use of 428. (1) No person shall use or attempt to use the certificate of
certificate of registry registry or the certificate of inspection granted in respect of
or certificate of a sailing vessel for any purpose other than the lawful
inspection, etc., navigation of the vessel.
prohibited (2) No person shall use or attempt to use for the navigation of a
sailing vessel a certificate of registry or a certificate of
inspection not granted in respect of that vessel.

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(3) No person who has in his possession or under his control

the certificate of registry or the certificate of inspection of a
sailing vessel shall refuse or omit without reasonable cause
to deliver such certificate on demand to the owner of the
vessel.
429. (1) Every owner or tindal of a sailing vessel shall maintain or Statement relating to
cause to be maintained in the prescribed form a statement crew of sailing vessel
of the crew of the vessel containing with respect to each to be maintained
member thereof-
(a) his name;
(b) the wages payable to him;
(c) the names and addresses of his next-of-kin;
(d) the date of commencement of his employment; and
(e) such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(2) Every change in the crew of the vessel shall be entered in
the statement under sub-section (1).
(3) A copy of such statement and of every change entered
therein shall be communicated as soon as possible to the
registrar of the port of registry of the vessel concerned.
430. (1) If any owner or tindal of a sailing vessel in the course of her Inquiry Into
voyage, has jettisoned or claims to have jettisoned the whole jettisoning of cargo
or any part of the cargo of the vessel on account of abnormal
weather conditions or for any other reason, he shall
immediately after arrival of the vessel at any port in India
give notice of such jettisoning to proper officer at such port;
and such notice shall contain full particulars of the cargo
jettisoned and the circumstances under which such
jettisoning took place.
(2) When any such officer receives notice under sub-section (1)
of has reason to believe that the cargo of any sailing vessel
in his port has been jettisoned, he shall forthwith report in
writing to the Central Government the information he has
received and may proceed to make an inquiry into the matter.
431. (1) A sailing vessel not owned by a citizen of India 1[or a company Non-Indian sailing
or a co-operative society which satisfies the requirements vessels not to
specified in clause (b) or, as the case may be, clause (c) of engage in coasting
section 21], shall not engage in the coasting trade of Indian trade without
without the written permission of the Director-General. permission
(2) The Director-General ma, when granting such permission,
impose such terms and conditions as he thinks fit and may
require the owner or other person in charge of the vessel to
deposit with him such amount as he thinks necessary for
the due fulfilment of such terms and conditions.

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vessel not registered under this Part, which engages or
attempts to engage in the coasting trade of India until after
the production by the owner or person in charge thereof of
the written permission of the Director-General.
Detention of over- 432. (1) If any sailing vessel registered in any country outside India
loaded non-Indian arrives in or proceeds from a port or place in Indian in an
sailing vessels overloaded condition, the person in charge of the vessel
shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
(2) A sailing vessel shall be deemed to be in an overloaded
condition for the purposes of this section
(a) where the vessel is loaded beyond the limit specified in
any certificate issued in the country in which she is
registered; or
(b) in case no such certificate has been issued in respect of
the vessel, where the actual free board of the vessel is
less than the free board, which would have been assigned
to her, had she been registered under this Part.
(3) Any sailing vessel which is in an overloaded condition and
is about to proceed form a port or place in Indian may be
detained until she ceases to be in an overloaded condition;
but nothing herein contained shall affect the liability of the
person in charge of the vessel in respect of such overloading
under any other provision of this Act.
Power of courts to 433. Where a proceeding is instituted in any court in respect of any
rescind contracts dispute between the owner of a sailing vessel and the tindal arising
between owner and out of or incidental to their relation as such, or is instituted for the
tindal purpose of this section, the court, if having regard to all the
circumstances of the case it thinks it just to do so, may rescind
any contract between the owner and the tindal upon such terms
as the court may think just and this power shall be in addition to
any other jurisdiction which the court can exercise independently
of this section.
Application to sailing 434. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,
vessels of other direct that any provisions of this Act other than those contained in
provisions relating to this Part which do not expressly apply to sailing vessels shall also
ships apply to sailing vessels subject to such conditions, exceptions
and modifications as may be specified in the notification.
1
Insurance of [434A. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this section and the scheme
members of crew of framed under sub-section (3), the owner of every sailing vessel
sailing vessels shall take and keep in force, in accordance with the provisions
of the said scheme, a policy of insurance whereby all the
members of the crew of such vessel are insured against
death or personal injury caused by accident in the course of
employment as such members.

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(2) It shall be the responsibility of the owner of every sailing

vessel to bear the expenses incidental to the taking of the
policy of insurance referred to in sub-section (1) and to pay
the premiums for keeping it in force:
Provided that the maximum amount, which the owner of the
sailing vessel shall be liable to pay by way of premiums per
year, shall not exceed-
(a) where the number of members of the crew is not more
than ten, one hundred and fifty rupees;
(b) where the number of members of the crew is more
than ten, a sum calculated at the rate of fifteen rupees
for each member of the crew.
Gazette, frame a scheme providing for the insurance of all
persons employed as members of the crew of sailing vessels
against death or personal injury caused by accident arising
in the course of their employment as such members.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-
section (3), a scheme framed under that sub-section may
provide for
(a) the amount which should be payable in the case of
personal injury resulting in the death of a member of
the crew of a sailing vessel due to accident and in the
case of other injuries:
Provided that different amounts may be provided in respect
of different personal injuries not resulting in death;
(b) the procedure for payment of such amounts; and
(c) all other matters necessary for giving effect to the scheme.
(5) Where under the provisions of any other law for the time
being in force, compensation is payable in respect of death
or personal injury sustained by a member of the crew of a
sailing vessel as a result of an accident in the course of his
employment as such member then if the amount payable in
respect of such death or personal injury in accordance with
the scheme framed under this section:
(a) is equal to, or more than, the compensation payable
under such other law, no compensation shall be payable
under such other law;
(b) is less than the compensation payable under such
other law, the compensation payable under such other
law shall be reduced by the said amount
(6) Every scheme framed by the Central Government under this
section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made,
before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for
a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one

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session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before

the expiry of the session immediately following the session
or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree
that the scheme should not be made, the scheme shall
thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no
effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such
modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the
validity of anything previously done under that scheme.
Policy of insurance 434B. (1) No sailing vessel shall ply or proceed to sea unless there is
in force in respect of the members of the crew of the vessel
a policy of insurance complying with the requirements of
section 434A and the scheme framed thereunder.
vessel until after production by the owner of such a policy of
insurance.]
Power to make rules 435. (1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the
respecting sailing purposes of this Part.
vessels
following matters, namely
(a) the form in which applications for certificates of registry
shall be made and the particulars, which such
applications should contain;
(b) the manner in which the tonnage of sailing vessels
shall be ascertained;
(c) the manner in which free board is to be assigned to
sailing vessels and the free board markings are to be
made;
(d) the form in which certificates of registry and certificates
of inspection may be issued;
(e) the issue of duplicate copies of certificates of registry
and certificates of inspection where the originals are
destroyed, lost, mislaid, mutilated or defaced;
(f) the manner in which, and the time within which,
applications for the registry of alterations in the
certificates of registry of sailing vessels shall be
reported, the endorsement of the particulars of alteration
on the certificates of registry, the grant of provisional
certificates in cases where sailing vessels are directed
to be registered anew, the period for which provisional
certificates shall be valid and all other matters ancillary
to the registry of alterations;
(g) the manner in which applications for the transfer of
registry of sailing vessels from one port to another in
Indian shall be made and the procedure to be followed
by the registrar in connection with such transfer;

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(h) the authorities by which sailing vessels are to be

inspected and certificates of inspection are to be issued
under this Part;
(i) the criteria by which sailing vessels may be classified
for the purpose of determining the limits within which
they may be used for purposes of trading;
(j) the fixing of the rates of freight which may be charged
by sailing vessels for specified goods or for any class
of goods in relation to the coasting trade of India;
(k) the equipment which sailing vessels or any class of
sailing vessels should carry including equipment
relating to life saving and fire appliances, lights shapes
and signals required by the collision regulations;
(l) the survey of space provided for passengers of sailing
vessels and the scale and type of accommodation to
be provided for such passengers;
(m) the authority to which information regarding certificates
of registry, registry of alterations and issue of fresh
certificates of registry under this Part is to be sent by
registrars;
(n) the qualifications to be possessed by tindals and other
members of the crew of sailing vessels, the issue of
permits to tindals ad of identity cards to other members
of the crew, the conditions for the issue of such permits
and identity cards and the cancellation or suspension
thereof;
1
[(o) the fees which may be levied for the issue or re-issue
of certificates of registry, for the survey or inspection
of sailing vessels before issue of such certificates, for
the inspection of sailing vessels and for all other
purposes of this Part and the manner in which such
fees may be recovered;]
(p) the form in which a contract for chartering a sailing
vessel shall be executed;
(q) the form in which a contract for the carriage of goods
by sailing vessels shall be executed;
(r) the reservation, in the public interest or in the interest
of sailing vessels, of specified commodities for
transport by sailing vessels either generally or in
specified sectors of the coasting trade or between
specified ports and the conditions subject to which
such reservation may be made;
(s) any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed.

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PART XV – Commentary
Part XV deals with sea going1 sailing vessel2 other than fishing vessel3, owned by an Indian
citizen. The Act under this Part deals with registry, naming, inspection/survey and certifications of
sailing vessel. The Act empowers the Director General of Shipping to make the decision as to
whether a vessel is a sailing vessel or not. The provisions enshrined under Part XV covers the
obligation to register, maintenance of registry, particulars and format of registry, payment of fee,
issuance of Certificate of Registry and above all the detention of sailing vessel which does not
comply with the MS Act 1958. The Central Government is empowered to make rules pertaining to
transfer of registry, authorities to inspect, criteria for classification of sailing vessel, fixation of chargeable
rates of freight, equipments relating to life saving and fire appliances, lights shapes and signals as
required by collision regulations, qualifications to be possessed by tindals and crew of sailing vessels,
charter-party and its form, reservation of specified commodities for transport and any other matter
dealt under Part XV.
The Act provides that the Certificate of Inspection, which is valid for one year, shall be
possessed by every sailing vessel registered under the Part XV. However, if the sailing vessel is
found to be unfit to ply or proceed to sea, after giving an opportunity of hearing to the owner, the said
Certificate of Inspection can be cancelled. In such circumstances, the owner after making material
changes necessary for making the vessel fit to ply, can apply to the registrar for reissuance of
Certificate of Inspection. The authority shall re-issue the Certificate of Inspection after inspections to
the satisfaction of the inspector.
The Registrar on receiving information from owner of a sailing vessel that the vessel is lost,
destroyed or rendered permanently unfit for service, shall enter the same into the registry and shall
close the registry with respect to the registration of sailing vessel. Considerably similar to the provisions
of Section 407 of MS Act 1958 applicable to the non- Indian ships, Part XV also provides for prohibition
on non Indian sailing vessel to engage in coasting trade without permission from DG Shipping.
Likewise, entry and cancellation of mortgage, detention of overloaded vessel (irrespective of its
registration), power of Court to interfere and rescind the contract between master and tindal, mandatory
insurance requirement to the crew, are also applicable to sailing vessels. Further, the MS Act 1958
by virtue of Section 434, empowers the Central Government to apply any provision applicable to
ships to the sailing vessels covered by the Act, subject to such conditions, exceptions and
modifications.
1
Section 3 (41) defines “sea going” as vessel proceeding to sea beyond internal waters or beyond waters declared to
be smooth or partially smooth waters by the Central Government by notification in Official Gazette.
2
Section 3(39) defines “sailing vessel” to mean “any description of vessel provided with sufficient sail area for
navigation under sails alone, whether or not fitted with mechanical means of propulsion, and includes rowing boat or
canoe but does not include a pleasure craft”.
3
Section 3(12) defines “fishing vessel” as a ship fitted with mechanical means of propulsion which is exclusively
engaged in sea fishing for profit.

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1 [PART XVA
FISHING BOATS
435A. Save as otherwise provided, this Part applies to every Indian fishing Application of Part
boat.
435B. For the purposes of this Part, Indian fishing boat means Definition
(a) every fishing vessel, as defined in clause (12) of section 3;

(b) every sailing vessel, whether or not fitted with mechanical
means of propulsion, solely engaged in fishing for profit;
(c) every boat or craft of any other type used solely for fishing
which the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, specify to be a fishing boat for the purposes
of this section,
which is owned wholly by persons each of whom any of the
descriptions specified in clause (a) or in clause (b) or in clause
(c), as the case may be, of section 21 applies or which satisfies
such other requirements as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
435C. Every Indian fishing boat shall be registered under this Part: Obligation to register
Provided that any Indian fishing boat registered at the

commencement of this Part under Part V or Part XV of this
Act or any other law for the time being in force in India shall
be deemed to have been registered under this Part;
Provided further that every Indian fishing boat so deemed to
have been registered shall be re-registered under this Part
within such period from the commencement of the part as
the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, specify;
Provided also that registration of non-mechanised sailing
vessels will commence in different ports on such dates as
the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, specify.
435D. (1) The ports at which registration of Indian fishing boats shall Port of registry
be made shall be such ports or places in India as the Central
declare to be ports or places of registry under this part.
(2) The port or place at which an Indian fishing boat is registered
for the time being under this Part, shall be deemed to be
her port or place of registry and the port or place to which
she belongs.
435E. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, Registrars of Indian
appoint an officer to be registrar of Indian fishing boats (hereafter in fishing boats
this Part referred to as registrar) at every port or place declared as

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a port or place of registry under sub-section (1) of section 435D.

Application for 435F. An application for the registry of an Indian fishing boat shall be made-
registry (a) in the case of an individual, by the person requiring to be
registered as owner or by his agent;
(b) in the case of more than one individual requiring to be so
registered, by one or more of the persons so requiring or by
his or their agent or agents, as the case may be; and
(c) in the case of a company or a co-operative society requiring
to be so registered, by its agents;
and the authority of the agent shall be testified in writing, if
appointed by an individual under the hand of the person
appointing him and, if appointed by a company or a co-
operative society under its common seal.
Certificate of registry 435G. (1) The owner of every Indian fishing boat required to be registered
under this Part shall make an application in the prescribed
form to the registrar for the grant to him of a certificate of
registry in respect of the fishing boat.
(2) The owner of every Indian fishing boat in respect of which an
application under sub-section (1) is made, shall cause the
tonnage of the fishing boat to be ascertained in the
prescribed manner.
(3) The registrar may make such inquiry as he thinks fit with
respect to the particulars contained in such application and
shall enter in a register to be kept for the purpose (hereinafter
referred to as fishing boats register) the following particulars
in respect of the Indian fishing boat, namely:
(a) the name of the fishing boat, the place where she was
built and the port to which she belongs;
(b) the rig, type and tonnage of the fishing boat;
(c) the number assigned to the fishing boat:
(d) the name, occupation and residence of the owner of
the fishing boat;
(e) the mortgages, if any, effected by the owner in respect
of the fishing boat; and
(f) such other particulars as may be prescribed.
(4) After the particulars in respect of the Indian fishing boat
have been entered in the fishing boats register under sub-
section (3), the registrar shall grant to the applicant a
certificate of registry in the prescribed form.
(5) The owner of every Indian fishing boat shall pay for each
certificate of registry a fee according to such scale as may
be prescribed by the Central Government having regard to
the tonnage of the fishing boat, but in no case exceeding
one rupee per ton of its gross tonnage.

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(6) An Indian fishing boat required to be registered under this

Part but not so registered may be detained by a proper
officer until the owner, skipper, tindal or other person in charge
of the fishing boat produces a certificate of registry in respect
of the fishing boat.
435H. The owner of every Indian fishing boat so registered shall, before Particulars relating to
commissioning the fishing boat into service, paint or cause to be Indian fishing boats
painted permanently in the prescribed manner on some to be painted
conspicuous part of the fishing boat, the name by which the fishing
boat has been registered, the number assigned to the fishing boat
by the registrar and the port or place to which she belongs, and
shall take all steps to ensure that the fishing boat remains painted
as required by this section.
435I. A change shall not be made in the name of an Indian fishing boat Change of name of
registered under this Part except in accordance with rules made Indian fishing boat
in this behalf.
435J. Every Indian fishing boat registered under this Part shall carry on Special provision for
board such life saving appliances and fire appliances as are Indian fishing boats
prescribed by rules made under sections 288, 289 and 457 or
under any other provision of this Act, subject to such exemptions
as may be specially granted in respect of such fishing boat.
435K. (1) No Indian fishing boat shall ply or proceed to sea unless Certificate of
there is in force in respect of that fishing boat a certificate of inspection
inspection granted under this Part.
(2) A certificate of inspection in respect of an Indian fishing
boat shall specify
(a) the name and tonnage of the fishing boat;
(b) the name of skipper, tindal or other person in charge of
the fishing boat;
(c) the maximum number of members of crew the fishing
boat is certificated to carry;
(d) the safety equipments and appliances the fishing boat
is required to carry on board;
(e) such other matters as the Central Government may
think fit to specify,
and shall contain a statement to the effect that her hull,
rigging, equipment and machinery where fitted are in good
condition.
(3) Every certificate of inspection shall be in force from the date
of issue for a period of one year or for such shorter period as
may be specified therein:
Provided that when an Indian fishing boat is at sea at the time of
expiry of the certificate, the certificate shall continue to be valid
until her first arrival at a port or place in India.

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Cancellation, reissue, 435L. (1) Where at any time subsequent to the issue of a certificate
etc., of certificate of of inspection in respect of an Indian fishing boat, the registrar
inspection has reason to believe that the fishing boat is not fit to proceed
to sea, he may, after giving the owner an opportunity of
making a representation, cancel such certificate.
(2) Where at any time subsequent to the issue of a certificate
of inspection an Indian fishing boat has undergone material
alteration or has met with accident or, where the certificate
of inspection has been cancelled under sub-section (1) and
the application is made for the re-issue of such certificate
or for the grant of a fresh certificate, the registrar may, before
re-issuing the certificate or issuing a fresh certificate, as
the case may be, cause such fishing boat to be inspected;
and if the authority inspecting the fishing boat reports that
she is not fit to proceed to sea or that her hull, rigging or
equipment are defective, such certificate shall not be re-
issued or issued until the fishing boat is, in the opinion of
such authority, fit to proceed to sea or the defect is rectified
to the satisfaction of that authority.
Inspection of safety 435M. (1) Any surveyor appointed under section 9, any registrar
equipments and appointed under section 435E or any other officer appointed
appliances by the Central Government in this behalf by notification in
the Official Gazette may at any reasonable time inspect
any Indian fishing boat for the purpose of seeing that she is
properly provided with safety equipments and appliances in
conformity with the rules referred to in section 435J.
(2) If the surveyor, or, as the case may be, the registrar or other
officer appointed under sub-section (1) finds that the Indian
fishing boat is not provided with the aforesaid equipments
and appliances, he shall give to the owner, skipper or tindal
or any other person in charge of the fishing boat a notice in
writing pointing out the deficiency and also what in his
opinion is requisite to the remedy and said deficiency.
(3) No Indian fishing boat served with a notice under sub-section
(2) shall proceed to sea until it obtains a certificate signed
by the surveyor, registrar or other officer appointed under
sub-section (1) to the effect that it is properly provided with
safety equipments and appliances in conformity with the
aforesaid rules.
Registration of 435N. When an Indian fishing boat is so altered as not to correspond
alteration with the particulars relating to her entered in the certificate of
registry, the owner of such fishing boat shall make a report of such
alterations to the registrar of the port or place where the fishing
boat is registered, and the registrar shall either cause the alterations
to be registered, or direct the fishing boat may be registered anew,
in accordance with such rules as may be made in this behalf.

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435O. The registry of an Indian fishing boat may be transferred from one Transfer of registry
port or place to another port or place in India on the application of
the owner of the fishing boat, in accordance with such rules as
may be made in this behalf.
435P. If an Indian fishing boat is lost, destroyed or rendered permanently Closure of
unfit for service, the owner of such fishing boat shall with the least registration
possible delay, report the fact to the registrar of the port or place
where the fishing boat is registered and also forward to him
certificate of registry in respect of the fishing boat; and thereupon
the registrar shall have registry of the fishing boat closed.
435Q. No person shall transfer or acquire any Indian fishing boat registered Restriction on
under this Part or any interest therein without the previous approval transfer of Indian
of the Central Government; and any transaction effected in fishing boats
contravention of this section shall be void and unenforceable.
435R. (1) Every mortgage of an Indian fishing boat or any interest Mortgage of Indian
therein effected after the date on which this Part comes into fishing boats
force shall on that date be registered with the registrar.
(2) Every mortage of an Indian fishing boat or any interest therein
effected before the date on which this Part comes into force
shall, if subsisting on that date, be registered with the
registrar within three months from that date.
(3) The registrar shall enter every such mortgage in the fishing
boats register in the order in which it is registered with him.
(4) If there are more mortgages than one recorded in respect of
the same Indian fishing boat or interest therein, the mortgages
shall, notwithstanding any express, implied or constructive
notice, have priority according to the date on which each
mortgage is registered with the registrar and not according
to the date of each mortage itself.
affect the relative priorities as they existed immediately before
the date on which this Part comes into force as between
mortgages of the same fishing boat or interest therein
effected before such date which are registered in accordance
with the provisions of sub-section (2).
435S. (1) No person shall use or attempt to use the certificate of Fraudulent use of
registry or the certificate of inspection granted in respect of certificate of registry
an Indian fishing boat for any purpose other than the lawful or certificate of
operation of that fishing boat. inspection, etc.,
prohibited
(2) No person shall use or attempt to use for the operation of
an Indian fishing boat, a certificate of registry or a certificate
of inspection not granted in respect of that fishing boat.
(3) No person who has in his possession or under his control
the certificate of registry or the certificate of inspection of
an Indian fishing boat shall refuse or omit without reasonable

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cause to deliver such certificate on demand to the owner of

the fishing boat.
Statement relating to 435T. (1) Every owner, skipper, tindal or other person in charge of a
crew of Indian fishing mechanised Indian fishing boat of 25 registered tons and
boat to be above shall maintain or cause to be maintained in the
maintained prescribed form a statement of the crew of the fishing boat
containing the following particulars with respect to each
member thereof, namely-
(a) his name;
(b) the wages payable to him;
(c) the names and addresses of his next-of-kin;
(d) the date of commencement of his employment; and
(e) such other particulars as may be prescribed :
Provided that the Central Government may, if it is of opinion
that it is necessary or expedient so to do, and for reasons
to be recorded in writing, exempt, by general or special
order, any Indian fishing boat or class of Indian fishing boats
from the provisions of this sub-section.
(2) Every change in the crew of the Indian fishing boat shall be
entered in the statement under sub-section (1)
(3) A copy of such statement and of every change entered
therein shall be communicated as soon as possible to the
registrar of the port or place of registry of the Indian fishing
boat concerned.
Power to make rules 435U. (1) The Central Government may make rules to carry out the
respecting Indian provisions of this Part.
fishing boats (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the
following matters, namely-
(a) the form in which applications for certificates of registry
shall be made and the particulars, which such
applications should contain;
(b) the manner in which tonnage of an Indian fishing boat
shall be ascertained;
(c) the form in which fishing boats register shall be
maintained;
(d) the forms in which certificates of registry and certificates
of inspection may be issued;
(e) the fees which may be levied for the issue or re-issue
of certificates of registry or certificates of inspection
and for all other purposes of this Part;
(f) the manner in which the name, number assigned to
the Indian fishing boat and name of the port or place to
which she belongs shall be painted;

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(g) the manner in which any change may be made in the

name of an Indian fishing boat;
(h) any exemption from the requirements relating to
carriage of safety equipment and appliances by an
Indian fishing boat that may be specially granted under
section 435J in respect of such fishing boat;
(i) the manner in which alterations in Indian fishing boats
shall be reported and applications for the registry of
such alterations in the certificates of registry of Indian
fishing boats shall be made, the endorsement of the
particulars of alterations on the certificates of registry,
the grant of provisional certificates in cases where
Indian fishing boats are directed to be registered anew,
cases in which Indian fishing boats shall be registered
anew, the period for which provisional certificates shall
be valid and all other matters ancillary to the registry
of alterations;
(j) the manner in which registry of an Indian fishing boat
may be transferred from one port or place in India to
another port or place in India;
(k) the form in which statement of members of crew of an
Indian fishing boat may be maintained;
(l) any other matter which has to be or may be prescribed.
435V. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, Application to Indian
direct that any provisions of this Act other than those contained in fishing boats of other
this Part which do not expressly apply to Indian fishing boats shall provisions relating to
also apply to Indian fishing boats subject to such conditions, ships
exceptions and modifications as may be specified in the notification.
435W. The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, Fishery data to be
require every Indian fishing boat or any specified class of Indian furnished by Indian
fishing boats to furnish such fishery data to the registrar in such fishing boats
form and at such periodical intervals as may be specified in that
notification.
435X. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Part, the Central Power to exempt
Government may, by order in writing, and upon such conditions as
it may think fit to impose, exempt any Indian fishing boat or class
of Indian fishing boats or skipper, tindal or member of crew of such
fishing boat or class of fishing boats from any specified
requirements contained in or prescribed by any rules made in
pursuance of any provision of this Part or from any other
requirement of this Act extended to Indian fishing boats or to
personnel employed on Indian fishing boats by a notification issued
under section 435V, if it is satisfied that the requirement is
substantially complied with or the compliance with the requirement
may be impracticable or unreasonable in the circumstances
attending the case].

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PART XV-A – Commentary

Determining it crucial to protect the indigenous fishing sector and especially safeguarding
their welfare and interest, MS Act 1958 covers the Indian Fishing Boats under Part XV-A. Empowering
the Central Government to specify boat or craft of any type used solely for fishing by notification,
fishing vessels and sailing vessels used solely for fishing owned by persons mentioned in Section 21
of the MS Act 1958, as covered by Part XV A, are mandated to be registered1 in India. Apart from
designation of Port of Registry; appointment of Registrar; application and issuance of Certificate of
Registry; particulars to be attached to the Indian fishing boats; issuance, cancellation and reissuance
of Certificate of Inspection are also provided under the MS Act 1958.
Inspection as required under Part XV-A, includes inspection of safety equipments and
appliances including life saving appliances and fire appliances. Additionally, the surveyor who is
designated to issue Certificates of Inspection that are valid for one year, also issues Notice of Deficiency
in the event of detection of deficiencies to owner, skipper or tindal or any person in charge of the
fishing boat. Unless and until the surveyor reissues Certificate of Inspection based on the rectification
of the deficiencies identified in the Notice of Deficiency the fishing boat is not authorised to be taken
to sea.
Further, it is made mandatory that the transfer of Indian fishing boats shall be done only with
prior approval of Central Government. The Registrar of Indian fishing boats is duty bound to enter into
the registry any mortgage or charge created on the Indian fishing boat. The priority of lien on the
fishing boat is decided by the order in which the entry is made in the registry. Like in any other ship/
vessel covered under different parts of the Act, the fraudulent use of Certificate of Registry or Certificate
of Inspection with respect to fishing boat is prohibited. The Act also vests the Central Government
with the power to formulate rules pertaining to form, particulars and issue and reissue of registration
and Certificate of Registry and inspection; ascertainment of tonnage of an Indian fishing boat; exemption2
from mandatory certification requirements; reporting of alterations of registry and material facts;
maintenance of statement of crew and on any other provisions as mentioned in Part XV – A.
At the international level, as part of the comprehensive revisions to STCW 78, IMO has
developed the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for
Fishing Vessel Personnel, 19953. STCW-F applies the principles of STCW to fishing vessels that are
24 metres in length and above. India is not a party to the STCW-F 1995. However, in the near future,
as a part of attempts to apply uniform regulations in fishing sector, India is expected to ratify/accede
the STCW-F 1995. Accordingly changes will be brought in to the provisions of Part XV-A of MS Act
1958 and the Rules/byelaws made there under.
1
See Section 435 – C “Obligation to register” Republic of Italy thr, Ambassador and Ors. V. Union of India ILR 2013 (1)
Kerala 719, 2013 (1) SCALE 462.
2
Section 435 – X of the MS Act 1958 refers to the power of the Central Government to impose exemption on any fishing
boat or class of fishing boat or crew or tindal or skipper of Indian fishing boat.
3
Hereinafter referred to as STCW –F 1995. Date of adoption is July 7, 1995 and it entered into force on September 29,
2012.

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PART XVI
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
Penalties
436. (1) Any person who contravenes any provision of this Act or Penalties
fails to comply with any provision thereof which it was his
duty to any such offence no penalty is specially provided in
sub-section (2), he shall be punishable with fine which may
extend to two hundred rupees.
(2) The offence mentioned in the second column of the following
table shall be punishable to the extent mentioned in the fourth
column of the same with reference to such offences
respectively.
Serial Offences Section of this Penalties

No. Act to which
offence has
reference
1 If the owner or master of an Indian ship fails to 28(2) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
comply with or contravenes sub-section (2) of
section 28.
2 If a person wilfully makes a false statement in 30 Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
the builder’s certificate referred to in section 30.
3 If a person contravenes sub-section (2) of 35(2) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
section 35.
4 If the owner or master of an Indian ship commits 35(4) Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
an offence under sub-section (4) of section 35.
5 If a master, without reasonable cause, fails to 36(4) Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
comply with sub-section (4) of section 36.
6 If a person makes illegal use of a certificate of 36(5) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
registry stated to have been mislaid, lost or
destroyed or if a person entitled to the certificate
of registry obtains it at any time afterwards by
fails to deliver the said certificate to the registrar
as required by sub- section (5) of section 36.
7 If a master fails to deliver to the registrar the 38(2), 38(3) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
certificate of registry as required by sub-section
(2) of sub-section (3) of section 38.
8 If an owner fails to comply with sub-section (1) 39(1), 39(2) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
of section 39 or if a master fails to comply with
sub-section (2) of that section.
9 If an person contravenes sub-section (1) of 42(1) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
section 42.
10 If any person acts or suffers any person under 55 Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees;
his control to act in contravention of section but nothing herein shall affect the power to
55 or omits to do or suffers any person under detain the ship under sub-section (4) of that
his control to omit to do anything required under section.
that section.

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
11 If an owner fails to make an application for 56 Fine which may extend to one thousand
registering a new a ship or for registering an rupees, and in addition, a fine, which may
alteration of a ship under section 56. extend to fifty rupees for every day during
which the offence continues after conviction.
12 If any distinctive national colours except those 63(1) The master, owner and every other person
declared under sub-section (1) of section 63 hoisting the colours shall be liable to fine which
are hoisted on board any Indian ship. may extend to five thousand rupees.
13 If a person contravenes section 64. 64 imprisonment, which may extend to two years,
or fine which may extend to five thousand
rupees, or both.
14 If an owner or master contravenes section 65. 65 imprisonment, which may extend to two years,
or fine which may extend to five thousand
rupees, or both.
15 If default is made in complying with section 66. 66 The master shall be liable to fine, which may
extend to one thousand rupees.
16 If any person in the case of any declaration General Imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
made in the presence of or produced to a or fine which may extend to one thousand
registrar under Part V or in any document or rupees, or both.
other evidence produced to such registrar-
(a) wilfully makes or assists in making or
procures to be made, any false statement
concerning the title to or ownership of or
the interest existing in any ship or any share
in a ship; or
(b) utters, produces or makes use of any
declaration or document containing any
such false statement knowing the same to
be false.
1
[17 If-
(a) any person causes a ship or fishing vessel General Imprisonment, which may extend to six months
to proceed to sea without the required or fine, which may extend to ten thousand
certificated personnel. rupees, or both.
(b) any person having been engaged as one 76 Imprisonment, which may extend to six months
of the officers referred to in section 76 goes or fine, which may extend to five thousand
to sea as such officer without being duly rupees, or both.
certificated.
(c) any master fails to submit the required crew
list or fails to report the changes made in
the list before commencing the relevant
voyage. 84 (i) (c) Fine which may extend to five thousand rupees
and in addition, a fine, which may extend to
18 If a master or owner fails to comply with any of one thousand rupees for every day during
the requirements of section 93. which the offence continues after conviction].
19 If a master fails without reasonable cause to
comply with any of the requirements of section 93 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
94.
94 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
20 If any person acts in contravention of sub- 95(2), 96, 97 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees
section (2) of section 95 or section 96 or section for every seaman in respect of whom the
97. offence is committed.
21 If a person engages or carries any seaman to 98(2), 99 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees
sea in contravention of sub-section (2) of for every seaman in respect of whom the
section 98 or section 99. offence is committed.
22 If a master carries any seaman to sea without 100 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees
entering into an agreement with him in for every seaman in respect of whom the
accordance with this Act. offence is committed.
23 If a master enters into an agreement with any 101(2)(g) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
seaman for a scale of provisions less than the
scale fixed under clause (g) of sub-section (2)
of section 101.
24 If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to 105, 106(4), Fine which may extend to fifty rupees.
comply with any of the requirements of section 107
105, sub-section (4) of section 106 or section
107.
25 If any person- 109, 110, 111 The master shall be liable to a fine, which may
extend to fifty rupees.
(a) is carried to sea to work in contravention
of section 109, section 110 or section 111;
or
(b) is engaged to work in any capacity in a The parent or guardian shall be liable to a fine,
ship in contravention of section 109, section which may extend to fifty rupees.
110 or section 111 on a false representation
by his parent or guardian that the young
person is of an age at which such
engagement is not in contravention of those
sections.
26 If a master refuses of neglects to produce for General Fine which may extend to fifty rupees.
inspection any certificate of physical fitness
delivered to him under section 111 when
required to do so by a shipping master.
27 If the master of a ship, where there is no General Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
agreement with the crew, fails to keep the
register of young persons required to be kept
under section 112 or refuses or neglects to
produce such register for inspection when
required so to do by a shipping master.
28 If the master of a ship other than an Indian ship 114 Fine, which may extend to one hundred
engages a seaman in India otherwise than in rupees for every seaman so engaged.
accordance with section 114.
29 If any owner, master or agent wilfully disobeys 115 Imprisonment, which may extend to three
any order under section 115. months, or fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees, or both.
30 If a master fails to comply with section 116. 116 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
31 If any person obstructs any officer referred to General Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
in section 117 in the exercise of his powers
under that section.

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
32 If a master or owner acts in contravention of 118(1), 118(2) Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section
118.
33 If a master fails to comply with the provisions 119(1), 119(2) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
of sub-section (1) of section 119, or, without
reasonable cause, fails to return the certificate
of competency to the officer concerned as
required by sub-section (2) of that section.
34 If a master fails to comply with section 120. 120 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
35 If any person- Imprisonment which may extend to six months,

or fine which may extend to five hundred
(a) forges or fraudulently alters any certificate General rupees, or both.
of discharge or a certificate as to the work
of a seaman or a continuous discharge
certificate or a copy of any such certificate;
or
(b) fraudulently uses any certificate of
discharge or a certificate as to the work of
a seaman or a continuous discharge
certificate or a copy of any such certificate
which is forged or altered or does not
belong to him.
36 If any person acts in contravention of sub- 121(1) Fine which may extend to one thousand
section (1) of section 121. rupees.
37 If a master 122(1), 122(3) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
(a) fails without reasonable cause to comply
with sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) of
section 122; or
(b) delivers a false statement for the purpose 122(2)
of sub-section (2) of section 122.
38 If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to 125 Fine which may extend to fifty rupees.
comply with section 125.
39 if a master or owner pays the wages of a 128(1) Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
seaman in a manner contrary to sub-section
(1) of section 128.
40 If a master fails to comply with section 131. 131 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees
41 If any person fails, without reasonable cause, 133 Fine which may extend to fifty rupees
to comply with any requisition under section 133.
42 If a seaman contravenes sub-section (3) of 135(3) Imprisonment which may extend to one month,
section 135. or fine which may extend to one hundred
rupees, or both, but nothing herein shall take
away or limit any other remedy which any
person would otherwise have for breach of
contract or refund of the money advanced or
otherwise.
1
[42A If the master or owner contravenes the 138A Fine which may extend to double the average
provisions of section 138A. wages per hour payable to the seaman for
working beyond forty-eight hours.]
1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) 1998

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
43 If any person commits a breach of any term of General Imprisonment which may extend to one month,
any award which is binding on him under sub- or fine which may extend to one thousand
section (5) of section 150. rupees, or both.
44 If a seaman or an owner contravenes section 151 Imprisonment which may extend to six months,
151. or fine which may extend to one thousand
rupees, or both.
45 If a master fails to comply with the provisions of 154(1) Fine which may extend to three times the value
this Act with respect to taking charge of the of the property not accounted for or if such
property of a deceased seaman or apprentice value is not ascertained, to five hundred
or to making in the official log book the proper rupees, but nothing herein shall affect his
entries relating thereto or to the payment or liability under sub-section (1) of section 154
delivery of such property as required by sub- to account for the property not accounted for.
section (1) of section 154.
46 If a master of an Indian ship fails or refuses 163(1) Fine which may extent to one thousand rupees
without reasonable cause to receive on board in respect of each such seaman.
his ship or to give a passage or subsistence to,
or to provide for, any seaman contrary to sub-
section (1) of section 163.
47 (a) If a master fails to comply with, or 168(3) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees,
contravenes any provision of, sub-section but nothing herein shall affect the power to
(3) of section 168 detain the ship under sub-section (2) of section
168;
(b) if a master or any other person having 168(6) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
charge of any provisions or water on board
a ship liable to inspection under section 168
refuses or fails to give the person making
the inspection reasonable facility for the
purposes.
48 If a master fails to furnish provisions to a seaman General Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees,
in accordance with the agreement entered into but nothing herein shall affect the claim for
by him and the court considers the failure to be compensation under sub-section (1) of
due to the neglect or default of the master, or if section 169.
a master furnishes to a seaman provisions
which are bad in quality or unfit for use.
49 If a master fails without reasonable cause to 171 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
50 (a) If any requirement of section 172 is not 172 The owner shall be liable to fine which may
complied with in the case of any ship; or extend to two hundred rupees unless he can
prove that the non-compliance was not caused
by his inattention, neglect or wilful default;
(b) If obstruction is caused to the port health The owner or master shall be liable to fine,
officer in the discharge of his duty. which may extend to two hundred rupees
unless he can prove that the obstruction was
caused without his knowledge or connivance.
51 If any foreign-going ship referred to in sub- 173(1) The owner shall be liable for each voyage of
section (1) of section 173 does not carry on the ship made without having on board a duly
board a duly qualified medical officer. qualified medical officer, a fine that may extend
to two hundred rupees.
52 If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to 184 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.

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reference
53 If any person fails to comply with sub-section 187(1) Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
(1) of section 187.
54 If any person contravenes section 188. 188 Fine which may extend to fifty rupees.
55 If any person goes on board a ship contrary to 189 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
section 189.
56 If a master, seaman or apprentice contravenes 190 Imprisonment, which may extend to two years,
section 190. or fine which may extend to one thousand
rupees, or both.
57 If a seaman or apprentice
(a) deserts his ship; 191(1)(a) He shall be liable to forfeit all or any part of the
property he leaves on board and of the wages
he has then earned and also if the desertion
takes place at any place not in India to forfeit
all or any part of the wages which he may
earn in any other ship in which he may be
employed until his next return to India, and to
satisfy any excess of wages paid by the
master or owner of the ship from which he
deserts to any substitute engaged in his place
at a higher rate of wages than the rate
stipulated to be paid to him, and also to
imprisonment which may extend to three
months;
(b) contravenes clauses (b) of sub-section (1) 191(1)(b) He shall, if the contravention does not amount
of section 191. to desertion, be liable to forfeit out of his
wages a sum not exceeding two days’ pay
and in addition for every twenty four hours of
absence either a sum not exceeding six days’
pay or any expenses properly incurred in hiring
a substitute and also to imprisonment which
may extend to two months.
58 If any person contravenes sub-section (3) of 193(3) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
section 193.
59 If a seaman or apprentice is guilty of the offence 194 Forfeiture out of his wages of a sum not
specified in- exceeding one month’s pay; forfeiture out of
his wages of a sum not exceeding two days’
pay; imprisonment which may extend to one
month and also for every twenty four hours
of continuance of such disobedience or
neglect, forfeiture out of his wages of a sum
not exceeding six days’ pay or any expenses
which may have been properly incurred in
hiring a substitute;
(i) clause (a) of section 194;

(ii) clause (b) of section 194;
(iii) clause (c) of section 194;
(iv) clauses (d) and (e) of section 194;
(v) clause (f) of section 194

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
Imprisonment which may extend to three
month, or fine which may extend to five
hundred rupees, or both; forfeiture out of his
wages of a sum equal to the loss sustained
and also imprisonment which may extend to
three months.
60 If any master fails to comply with section 197. 197 Imprisonment which may extend to one
months, or fine which may extend to one
hundred rupees, or both.
61 If a seaman on or before being engaged wilfully General Fine Which may extend to fifty rupees.
and fraudulently makes a false statement of
the name of his last ship or alleged last ship or
wilfully and fraudulently makes a false
statement of his own name.
62 If a master or owner neglects or refuses to pay 202 Fine which may extend to six times the amount
over the fine under sub-section (1) of section of the fine retained by him.
202.
63 If any person contravenes section 203. 203 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
64 If any person contravenes section 204. 204 Fine which may extend to one hundred
rupees.
65 If any person goes to sea in a ship contrary to 205(1) Imprisonment which may extend to one month,
sub-section (1) of section 205. or fine which may extend to two hundred
rupees, or both,
66 (a) if any person wilfully disobeys the 206(a) Imprisonment which may extend to three
prohibition contained in clause(a) of section months, or fine which may extend to one
206; or thousand rupees, or both;
(b) if any master or owner refuses or neglects 206(b) Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
to deposit any wages, money or other
property or sum in the manner required by
clause (b) of section 206.
67 If a master fails to deliver or transmit the 208(1), 209 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
documents referred to in sub-section (1) of
section 208 or section 209 as provided therein.
68 If a master contravenes sub-section (1) of 210(2) Imprisonment which may extend to three
section 210. months, or fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees, or both.
69 If any person harbours or secretes any deserter General Fine which may extend to one hundred
knowing or having reason to believe that he rupees.
has deserted.
70 If a master fails to comply with sub-section (2) 214(2) Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
of section 214.
71 (a)If sub-section (1) of section 215 is not 215(1) The master shall be liable to fine which may
complied with; extend to fifty rupees, if no other penalty is
provided in this Act:
(b) if any person contravenes sub-section (2) 215(2) Fine which may extend to three hundred
of section 215. rupees.

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reference
72 If any person wilfully destroys or mutilates or General Imprisonment, which may extend to one year.
renders illegible any entry in any official log
book or wilfully makes or procures to be made
or assists in making a false or fraudulent entry
in or omission from an official log book.
73 If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to 216 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
74 If a master or owner fails, without reasonable 217 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
cause, to comply with section 217.
75 If an owner, agent or master without reasonable 229(1) Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
cause neglects to give the notice required by
sub-section (1) of section 229.
76 If an owner or master, without reasonable 230 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
cause, fails to deliver a certificate under section
230.
77 If a certificate of survey is not affixed or kept 231 The owner or master shall be liable to fine,
affixed as required by section 231. which may extend to two hundred rupees.
78 If a ship carries or attempts to carry passengers 220(1), 232(1) The owner, agent or master shall be liable to
in contravention of sub-section (1) of section fine, which may extend to one thousand
220 or has on board a number of passengers in rupees.
contravention of sub-section (1) of section 232.
79 (a) If a person is guilty of any offence specified 233(1) The person concerned shall be liable to fine
in sub-section (1) of section 233; which may extend to fifty rupees; but this
liability shall not prejudice the recovery of the
fare if any, payable by him;
(b) if a person contravenes sub-section (2) of 233(2) Fine which may extend to three hundred
section 233. rupees.
80 If a special trade passenger or pilgrim ship 237(1), 237(2) The master, owner or agent shall be liable to
departs or proceeds on a voyage from or fine, which may extend to one thousand
discharges special trade passengers or pilgrims rupees.
at any port or place within Indian in contravention
of sub-section (1) of section 237, or if a person
is received as a special trade passenger or
pilgrim on board any such ship in contravention
of sub-section (2) of that section.
81 If the master, owner or agent of a special trade 238(1) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
passenger or pilgrim ship fails to give the notice
required by sub-section (1) of section 238
82 If a person impedes or refuses to allow any 239 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
entry or inspection authorised by section 239.
83 If a master or owner fails to comply with 246 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
section 246
84 if the master, owner or agent of a special trade General Imprisonment for a term, which may extend to
passenger or pilgrim ship, after having obtained six months, or fine which, may extend to two
any of the certificates mentioned in Part VIII, thousand rupees, or both.
fraudulently does or suffers to be done anything
whereby the certificate becomes inapplicable
to the altered state of the ship, her special trade
passenger or pilgrims or other matters to which
the certificates relates.

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
85 If the master of a special trade passenger or 247 Fine which may extend to thirty rupees for
pilgrim ship or any contractor employed by him every special trade passenger or pilgrim, who
for the purpose contravenes section 247. has sustained detriment by the omission to
supply the prescribed provisions
86 If a special trade passenger or pilgrim ship 248(1) The master, owner or agent shall be liable to
carries special trade passengers or pilgrims in fine, which may extend to two thousand
contravention of sub-section (1) of section 248. rupees.
87 If a master owner or agent contravenes section 249 Fine which extend to one thousand rupees.
249
88 If an owner, agent or master contravenes 252 Fine which may extend to one thousand
section 252 rupees.
89 If the master, owner or agent fails to comply 255(1) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
with sub-section (1) of section 255.
1
[89A If a master, owner or agent contravenes sub- 255(6) Fine which may extend to two thousand
section (6) of section 255. rupees].
90 If medical officers or medical attendants are 259 The master, owner or agent shall be liable for
not carried on a special trade passenger ship each voyage made in contravention of section
as required by sub-section (1) or sub-section 259 to fine which may extend to five hundred
(2) of section 259, as the case may be; or if the rupees.
ship is not provided with a hospital, medical
stores and equipment as required by sub-
section (3) of that section.
1
[90A (a) If medical officers and attendants are not 259(4)(a) The master, owner or agent shall be liable for
carried on a pilgrim ship in accordance with each voyage made in contravention of clause
clause (a) of sub-section (4) of section 259; (a) of sub-section (4) of section 259 to fine
or which may extend to three hundred rupees;
(b) if a medical officer or attendant on a pilgrim 259(4)(c) Fine which may extend to two hundred
ship contravenes clause (c) of sub-section rupees].
(4) of section 259.
91 If an owner, agent or master contravenes 260 Fine which may extend to one thousand
section 260. rupees.
2
[92 ***** * ***
93 ******** ** * * * *]
94 If section 291 is not complied with in the case 291 The master or owner shall be liable to fine,
of a ship. which may extend to one thousand rupees.
95 If section 292 is not complied with in the case 292 The master or owner shall be liable to fine,
of a ship. which may extend to two hundred rupees.
96 If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to 297 The master or owner shall be liable to fine
sea in contravention of section 297. which may extend to two hundred rupees
97 If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to 298 HH The master or owner shall be liable to fine,
sea without carrying on board the information which may extend to one thousand rupees.
required by H section 298.
98 If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to 307 The master of owner shall be liable to fine
sea in contravention of section 307. which may extend to-

H “Sub-Sec.(1) of” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1966
HH “(1)” omitted by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
(a) in the case of a passenger ship, to one
hundred rupees for every passenger
carried on board the ship but without
prejudice to any other remedy or penalty
under this Act. and
(b) in the case of a ship other than a
passenger ship, to one thousand rupees.
1
[98A If the owner, agent or master fails to comply 309A Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees].
with section 309A.
99 If any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to 312 The master or owner shall be liable to fine,
sea in contravention of section 312. which may extend to one thousand rupees.
100 If any ship is loaded in contravention of section 313 The master or owner shall be liable to fine
313 which may extend to ten thousand rupees
and to such additional fine not exceeding 2[five
thousand rupees] for every inch or fraction
of an inch by which the appropriate load lines
on each side of the ship are submerged or
would have been submerged if the ship had
been in salt waters and had no list, as the
court thinks fit to impose, having regard to the
extent to which the earning capacity of the
ship is or would have been increased by
reason of the submersion:
Provided that it shall be a good defence for
the master or owner to prove that a
contravention was due solely to deviation or
delay caused solely by stress of weather or
other circumstance which neither the master
nor the owner nor the charterer if any, could
have prevented or forestalled.
101 (a) If the owner or master of an Indian ship 314(1)

contravenes sub-section (1) of section 314;
or
(b) If any person contravenes sub-section (2) 314(2) Fine which may extend to one thousand
of section 314. rupees.
102 If a master or owner fails to deliver the certificate 317 3[(8)] Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
as required under sub-section 3[(8)] of section
317.
103 If master proceeds or attempts to proceed to 318(1) Fine which may extend to one thousand
sea in contravention of sub-section (1) of rupees.
section 318
104 (a) If the owner of an Indian ship fails to comply 319(1)(a)
with clause (a) to sub-section (1) of section
319; or
(b) If a master fails to comply with clause (b) 319(1)(b), Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
of sub-section (1), or clause (a) or clause 319(2)
(b) of sub-section (2) of section 319

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No. Act to which
offence has
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105 If a master fails to comply with sub-section (1) 320(1) Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
of section 320.
1
[105A If the owner, agent or master fails to comply 331A Fine which may extend to one thousand
with sub-section (1) of section 331A. rupees].
106 (a) If a master, owner or agent is guilty of an 332(1) Fine which may extend to three thousand
offence under sub-section (1) of section rupees;
332; or
(b) If the owner or master of a ship is guilty of 332(2) Fine which may extend to one thousand
an offence under sub-section (2) of section rupees.
332; or
(c) If a master fails to deliver any notice required 332(3) Fine which may extend to one thousand
by sub-section (3) of section 332 or if in rupees.
any such notice he makes any statement,
which he knows to be false in a material
particular or recklessly makes a statement,
which is false in a material, particular.
107 If a ship is loaded in contravention of sub-section 333(1) The master or owner shall be liable to fine
(1) of section 333. which may extend to ten thousand rupees
and to an additional fine not exceeding one
thousand rupees for every inch or fraction of
an inch by which the appropriate sub-division
load line on each side was submerged or
would have been submerged if the ship had
no list, as the court thinks fit to impose, having
regard to the extend to which the earning
capacity of the ship was, or would have been,
increased by reason of the submersion.
108 If a person is guilty of an offence under sub- 334(1), Imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
section (1) or if a master is guilty of an offence 334(2), or fine which may extend to one thousand
under sub-section (2) of section 334. rupees, or both.
1
[108A If an Indian nuclear ship proceeds or attempts 344C The master or owner shall be liable to fine,
to proceed to sea in contravention of sub-section which may extend to ten thousand rupees.
(1) of section 344C.
108B If an Indian Nuclear ship fails to comply with 344D The master or owner or agent shall be liable
sub-section (1) of section 344D. to imprisonment which may extend to six
months or fine which may extend to ten
thousand rupees or both.
108C If a nuclear ship other than an Indian ship enters
the territorial waters of India in contravention of 344E The master shall be liable to fine, which may
section 344E. extend to ten thousand rupees.
108D If the master of a nuclear ship fails to give the
notice required by sub-section (1) of section 344F Fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.
344F.
108E (a) If the master of a nuclear ship fails to give 344G(1), Imprisonment which may extend to one year
the notice required by sub-section (1) or (2) and (5) or fine which may extend to ten thousand
sub-section (2) or sub-section (5) of section rupees, or both;
344G.
(b) if the master of a nuclear ship fails to comply 344G(3) Imprisonment, which may extend to one year
with any directions issued under sub- and(5) or fine, which may extend to ten thousand
section (3) or sub-section (5) of section rupees, or both].
344G.

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offence has
reference
109 If a master or person in charge of a ship fails, 348 Imprisonment, which may extend to three
without reasonable cause, to comply with months or fine, which may extend to three
section 348. thousand rupees, or both.
110 If a master fails to comply with section 349. 349 Fine which may extend to two hundred
rupees.
111 If the owner or master fails without reasonable 350 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
112 If the owner or agent fails, without reasonable 351 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
113 If any person contravenes section 353. 353 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
114 If a mater fails to comply with section 354 354 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
115 (a) If a master fails to comply with sub-section 355(1), 355(2) Imprisonment which may extend to six months,
(1) or sub-section (2) of section 355; or or fine which may extend to one thousand
rupees, or both;
(b) If a master fails to comply with sub-section 355 (5) Fine which may extend to one thousand
(5) of section 355. rupees.
1
[115A If a master fails to comply with section 355A. 355A Imprisonment which may extend to six months
or fine, which may extend to one thousand
rupees or both.]
2
[115B (a) If oil or oily mixture is discharge in
contravention of sub-section (1) of section
356C-
(i) Where such discharge is made from an 356C(1) The master of the tanker shall be liable to fine,
Indian tanker anywhere into the sea; which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(ii) Where such discharge is made from a 356C(1) The master of the tanker, or if the tanker is
foreign tanker anywhere within the unmanned, the person in charge of its
coastal waters of India. operation shall be liable to fine which may
extend to five lakh rupees.
(b) If oil or oily mixture is discharged in
contravention of sub-section (2) of section
356C-
(i) where such discharge is made by an 356C(2) The master of the ship shall be liable to fine
Indian ship other than a tanker which may extend to five lakh rupees.
anywhere into the sea;
(ii) Where such discharge is made from a 356C(2) The master, or if the ship is unmanned, the
foreign ship other than a tanker person in charge of its operation shall be liable
anywhere within the coastal waters of to fine which may extend to five lakh rupees.
India.
(c) If oil or oily mixture is discharged in 356C(3) The master of the off-shore installation if it be
contravention of sub-section (3) of section a mobile craft or the owner, operator, lessee
356C. or licencee of an off-shore installation of any
other type shall be liable to fine which may
extend to five lakh rupees.
1 Ins. by (Amend.) Act 1966

2 Ins. (115B, 115C, 115D) by MS (Amend.) Act 1970
Later subs. (115B to 115G. both incl.) by MS (Amend.) 1983

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No. Act to which
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reference
115C If an Indian ship is not fitted with equipment 356E The owner, master or agent of the Indian ship
prescribed under section 356E. shall be liable to fine, which may extend to ten
thousand rupees.
115D (a) If the master of an Indian tanker or other 356F The master of the Indian tanker or other Indian
Indian ship fails to maintain an oil record ship shall be liable to fine, which may extend
book as required by section 356F or to five thousand rupees.
contravenes any rule made under that
section;
(b) If any person wilfully destroys or mutilates 356F The offender shall be liable to penalty of
or renders illegible or prevents the making imprisonment, which may extend to six months
of, any entry in the oil record book or makes or fine, which may extend to ten thousand
or causes to be made a false entry in such rupees or both.
book in contravention of any rule made under
section 356F.
115E If master of any ship refuses to certify copy of 356G(2) The master of the ship shall be liable to fine,
any entry in the oil record book to be a true which may extend to one thousand rupees.
copy of such entry as required under sub-
section (2) of section 356G.
115F If any person fails to take action as required by 356J(1) The offender shall be liable to penalty of
a notice served on him under sub-section (1) imprisonment which may extend to six months
of section 356J or fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees
or both
115G If owner of any Indian ship, tug, barge or any 356L(1) The offender shall be liable to penalty of
other equipment fails to comply with any order imprisonment which may extend to six months
issued under sub-section (1) of section 356L. or fine which may extend to one lakh rupees,
or both and if the offence is a continuing one
the offender shall be liable to a further fine
which may extend to ten thousand rupees
per day for every day during which the
offence continues after conviction].
116 If any person bound to give notice under sub- 358(2) Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees
section (2) of section 358 fails to give such and in default of payment, simple imprisonment
notice. which may extend to three months.
117 If a master of ship’s officer fails to comply with 378 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
section 378.
118 If any person wilfully disobeys any direction of 392 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
the receiver of wreck under section 392.
119 If the owner or occupier of any land impedes or 393 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
in any way hinders any person in the exercise
of the rights given by section 393.
120 (a) If any person omits to give notice of the 395(a) Fine which may extend to one thousand
finding of any wreck to the receiver of rupees.
wreck as required by clause (a) of section
395; or
(b) if any person omits to deliver any wreck as 395(b) Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees
required by clause (b) of section 395. and in addition forfeiture of all claims to
salvage and payment to the owner of such
wreck, if the same is claimed, or if the same is
unclaimed, to the Government, a penalty, not
exceeding twice the value of such wreck.

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No. Act to which
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reference
121 If any person contravenes any of the provision 400 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
of section 400.
122 (a) If a ship is taken to sea in contravention of 406(1), 407(1) The master or owner of the ship or in the
sub-section (1) of section 406 or if a ship case of a ship other than an Indian ship the
engages in the coasting trade in master, agent in India of the owner or the
contravention of sub-section (1) of section charterer of the ship in respect of which the
407; or contravention has taken place shall be liable
to imprisonment which may extend to six
months, or fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees or both.
(b) if, without reasonable excuse, any limitation
or condition contained in a licence granted
under section 406 or section 407 is
contravened.
123 If a person to whom a licence under section 409 Fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
406 or section 407 has been granted fails to
124 (a) If any directions given under section 411 411 The owner, master or agent shall be liable to
are not complied with; or imprisonment for a term, which may extend to
six months, or to fine, which may extend to
one thousand rupees, or both.
(b) If the provision of sub-section (3) of section 412(3)

412 are contravened
125 If the owner, master or agent on whom a notice 413 Imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
has been served under section 413 fails to or fine which may extend to five hundred
furnish the information required within the time rupees, or both.
specified or in furnishing the information makes
any statement which he knows to be false on
any material particular.
126 If a sailing vessel required to be registered under 417 The owner or tindal shall be liable to fine, which
section 417 is not registered in accordance with may extend to five hundred rupees.
the provisions of that section.
127 If the owner fails to comply with section 418 418 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
128 If the provisions of section 419 are contravened. 419 The owner or tindal shall be liable to fine, which
may extend to two hundred rupees.
129 If any sailing vessel attempts to ply or proceed 420(3), 421 The owner or tindal shall be liable to
to sea without free board markings or is so imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
loaded as to submerge such markings, or plies or to fine, which may extend to five hundred
or proceeds to sea without a certificate of rupees, or both.
inspection as required by sub-section (1) of
section 421, or if any of the terms and
conditions specified in such certificate are
contravened.
130 If the owner fails to comply with section 423. 423 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees
and in addition a fine which may extend to
twenty rupees for every day during which
the offence continues after conviction.
131 If the owner fails to comply with section 425. 425 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
132 If any person contravenes section 426. 426 Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

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of 1958] 297

No. Act to which
offence has
reference
133 If any person contravenes any of the provisions 428 Imprisonment, which may extend to three
of section 428. months, or fine which may extend to two
hundred rupees or both.
134 If the owner or tindal fails to comply with any of 429 Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
the provisions of section 429.
135 If the owner or tindal fails to comply with sub- 430(1) Imprisonment, which may extend to three
section (1) of section 430. months, or fine which may extend to two
hundred rupees, or both.
136 (a) If a sailing vessel is engaged in the coasting 431(1)1 The owner, tindal or agent shall be liable to
trade in contravention of sub-section (1) of imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
section 431; or or fine, which may extend to five hundred
rupees, or both.
(b) If any of the terms and conditions imposed 431(2)
under sub-section (2) of section 431 are
contravened.
1
[136A If any person is guilty of any offence under 432(1) Imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
sub-section (1) of section 432. or fine which may extend to five hundred
rupees, or both].
1
[137 If the owner fails to comply with sub-section 434A(1) Imprisonment, which may extend to six months,
(1) of section 434A. or fine which may extend to five thousand
rupees, or both].
2
[137A If an Indian fishing boat required to be registered 435C The owner shall be liable to fine which may
under section 435C is not registered in extend to one thousand rupees.
accordance with the provisions of that section.
137B If the owner of an Indian fishing boat fails to 435H The owner shall be liable to fine which may
comply with the provisions of section 435H. extend to two hundred rupees.
137C If provisions of section 435I are contravened. 435I The owner shall be liable to fine, which may
extend two hundred rupees.
137D If provisions of section 435J are contravened. 435J The owner, skipper, tindal or any other person
in charge of the Indian fishing boat shall be
liable to fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees and in addition to fine which
may extend to fifty rupees for every day during
which the offence continues after conviction.
137E If provisions of section 435K are contravened. 435K The owner, skipper, tindal or any other person
liable to fine which may extend to one
thousand rupees and in addition to fine which
may extend to fifty rupees for every day
during which the offence continues after
conviction.
137F If provisions of section 435M are contravened 435M The owner shall be liable to fine which may
extend to one thousand rupees and in addition
to fine, which may extend to fifty rupees for
every day during which the offence continues
after conviction.
1 Sec. 137 renumbered to Sec. 136A and Ins. Sec. 137 by MS (Amend.) Act 1984
2 Ins. by sec. 137A to 137K (both incl.) by MS (Amend.) Act 1983

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No. Act to which
offence has
reference
137G If provision of section 435N are contravened. 435N The owner shall be liable to fine which may
extend to two hundred rupees and in addition
to fine, which may extend to twenty rupees
for every day during which the offence
continues after conviction.
137H If provisions of section 435P are contravened 435P The owner shall be liable to fine, which may
extend to two hundred rupees.
137I If any person contravenes the provisions of 435Q The offender shall be liable to fine, which may
section 435Q. extend to five hundred rupees.
137J If any person contravenes the provisions of 435S The offender shall be liable to imprisonment,
section 435S. which may extend to three months or fine,
which may extend to two hundred rupees, or
both.
137K If provisions of section 435T are contravened. 435T The owner, skipper, tindal or any other person
liable to fine, which may extend to two
hundred rupees].
138 (a) If the master is guilty of an offence under 442(2) Fine which may extend to one thousand
sub-section (2) of section 444; or rupees.
(b) if the owner, master or agent is guilty of an 444(3)

offence under sub-section (3) of section
444.
139 If any person exercises the profession of a 450 Fine which may extend to one thousand
ship surveyor in contravention of section 450. rupees.
140 If any person does any act in contravention of 454(2) Fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
sub-section (2) of section 454 in respect of
which no other penalty is provided.
141 If any person is guilty of an offence under sub- 456(2) Fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
section (2) of section 456

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Procedure
437. Any person committing any offence under this Act or any rule or Place of trial
regulation thereunder may be tried for the offence in any place in
which he may be found or which the Central Government may, by
notification in the official Gazette, direct in this behalf, or in any
other place in which he might be tried under any other law for the
time being in force.
438. The penalties to which masters and owners of special trade Cognizance of
passenger and pilgrims ships are made liable by section 436 shall offences
be enforced only on information laid at the instance of the certifying
officer, or, at any port or place where there is no such officer at the
instance of such other officer as the Central Government may specify
in this behalf.
439. No court inferior to that of a 1[Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Jurisdiction of
Magistrate of the first class] shall try any offence under this Act or magistrates
any rule or regulation thereunder.
440. Notwithstanding anything contained in 1[section 29 of the Code of Special provision
Criminal Procedure, 1973], it shall be lawful for a 1[Metropolitan regarding punishment
Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class] to pass any
sentence authorised by or under this Act on any person convicted
of an offence under this Act or any rule or regulation thereunder.
441. (1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a Offences by
company, every person who, at the time the offence was companies
committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the
company for the conduct of the business of the company,
as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the
offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and
punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall render any
such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if
he proves that the offence was committed without his
knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent
the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where
an offence under this Act has been committed by a company,
and it is proved that the offence was committed with the
consent of connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on
the part of, any director, manager secretary or other officer
of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other
officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and
shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly.
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) 1983, Schedule

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Explanation: For the purposes of this section,

(a) [“company” includes a co-operative society, a firm] or other
1
association of individuals;
(b) director in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.
Depositions to be 442. (1) Whenever, in the course of any legal proceeding under this
received in evidence Act instituted at any place in India before any 2[court or
when witness cannot Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan
be produced Magistrate] or before any person authorised by law or by
consent of parties to receive evidence, the testimony of any
witness is required in relation to the subject-matter, and the
defendant or the person accused (as the case may be),
after being allowed a reasonable opportunity for so doing,
does not produce the witness before the 2[court or Judicial
Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan Magistrate] or
person so authorised, any deposition previously made by
the witness in relation to the same subject-matter before
any court, 1[or justice or Judicial Magistrate of the first class
or Metropolitan Magistrate] in any other place in India or, if
elsewhere, before a Marine Board or before any Indian
consular officer, shall be admissible in evidence :
(a) if the deposition is authenticated by the signature of
the presiding officer of the court or of the 2[justice or
Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan
Magistrate] or Marine Board or consular officer, before
whom it is made;
(b) if the defendant or the person accused had an
opportunity by himself or his agent of cross examining
the witness;
(c) if the proceeding is criminal, on proof that the deposition
was made in the presence of the person accused.
(2) It shall both be necessary in any case to prove the signature
or official character of the person appearing to have signed
such deposition; and a certificate by such person that the
defendant or person accused had an opportunity of cross
examining the witness, and that the deposition, if made in a
criminal proceeding, was made in the presence of the person
accused, shall, unless the contrary is proved, be sufficient
evidence that he had that opportunity and that it was so
made.
Power to detain 443. (1) Whenever any damage has in any part of the world been
foreign ship that has caused to property belonging to the Government or to any
occasioned damage citizen of India or a company by a ship other than an Indian
ship and at any time thereafter that ship is found within Indian
jurisdiction, the High Court may, upon the application of any


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person who alleges that the damage was caused by the

misconduct or want of skill of the master or any member of
the crew of the ship, issue an order directed to any proper
officer or other officer named in the order requiring him to
detain the ship until such time as the owner, master or
consignee thereof has satisfied any claim in respect of the
damage or has given security to the satisfaction of the High
Court to pay all costs and damages that may be awarded in
any legal proceedings that may be instituted in respect of
the damage, and any officer to whom the order is directed
shall detain the ship accordingly.
(2) Whenever it appears that before an application can be made
under this section, the ship in respect of which the application
is to be made will have departed from India or the territorial
waters of India, any proper officer may detain the ship for
such time as to allow the application to be made and the
result thereof to be communicated to the officer detaining
the ship, and that officer shall not be liable for any costs or
damages in respect of the detention unless the same is
proved to have been made without reasonable grounds.
(3) In any legal proceedings in relation to any such damage
aforesaid, the person giving security shall be made a
defendant and shall for the purpose of such proceeding be
deemed to be the owner of the ship that has occasioned the
damage.
444. (1) Where under this Act a ship is authorised or ordered to be Power to enforce
detained, any commissioned officer of the Indian Navy or detention of ship
any port officer. pilot harbour master, conservator of port of
customs collector may detain the ship.
(2) If any ship after detention, or after service on the master of
any notice of, or order for, such detention proceeds to sea
before she is released by competent authority, the master of
the ship shall be guilty of an offence under this sub-section.
(3) When a ship so proceeding to sea takes to sea, when on
board thereof in the execution of his duty any person
authorised under this Act to detain or survey the ship, the
owner, master or agent of such ship shall each be liable to
pay all expenses of, and incidental to, such person being so
taken to sea and shall also be guilty of an offence under this
sub-section.
(4) When any owner, or master or agent is convicted of an offence
under sub-section (3), the convicting magistrate may inquire
into and determine the amount payable on account of
expenses by such owner, master or agent under that sub-
section and may direct that the same shall be recovered
from him in the manner provided for the recovery of fines.

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Levy of wages, etc., 445. (1) When an order under this Act for the payment of any wages
by distress of or other sums of money is made by a 1[court or Judicial
movable property or Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan Magistrate] of
ship other officer or authority, and the money is not paid at the
time or in the manner directed, the sum mentioned in the
order with such further sum as may be thereby awarded for
costs, may be levied by distress and sale of the movable
property of the person directed to pay the same under a
warrant to be issued for that purpose by 1[such a magistrate].
(2) Where any 1[court of Judicial Magistrate of the first class or
Metropolitan, Magistrate or other officer] or authority has
power under this Act to make an order directing payment to
be made of any seaman’s wages, fines or other sums of
money, then if the person so directed to pay the same is
the master, owner or agent of a ship and the same is not
paid at the time or in the manner directed by the order,
1
[Court or Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan
Magistrate or officer] or authority may, in addition to any
other power it or he may have for the purpose of compelling
payment by warrant, direct the amount remaining unpaid to
be levied by distress and sale of the ship and her equipment.
Notice to be given to 446. If any ship other than an Indian ship is detained under this Act or if
consular any proceedings are taken under this Act against the master, owner
representative of or agent of any such ship, notice shall forthwith be served on the
proceedings taken in consular officer of the country in which the ship is registered, at or
respect of foreign nearest to the port where the ship is for the time being, and such
ship notice shall specify the grounds on which the ship has been
detained or the proceedings have been taken.
1
Application of fines 447. [A Judicial Magistrate of the first class or Metropolitan Magistrate
as the case may be], imposing a fine under this Act may, if he
thinks fit, direct the whole or any part thereof to be applied in
compensating any person for any detriment which he may have
sustained by the act or default in respect of which the fine is imposed
or in or towards payment of the expenses of the prosecution.
Service of documents 448. Where for the purposes of this Act, any document is to be served
on any person, that document may be served-
(a) in any case by delivering a copy thereof personally to the
person to be served, or by leaving the same at his last place
of abode, or by post; and
(b) if the document is to be served on the master of a ship, where
there is one, or on a person belonging to a ship, by leaving the
same for him on board that ship, with the person being or
appearing to be in command or charge of the ship; and
(c) if the document is to be served on the master of a ship where
there is no master and the ship is in India, on the owner of the
ship, or, if such owner is not in India, on some agent of the
owner residing in India, or, where no such agent is known or
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1983, Schedule can be found by affixing a copy thereof to the mast of the ship.

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PART – XVI – Commentary
Part XVI1 extending from 436 to 448 deals with penalties for violation of provisions under the
MS Act 1958 and procedure for establishing liability and enforcing penalty. This Part is under scrutiny
for change and updating process, due to redundancy of pecuniary aspects of penalty. Further, it may
be noted that, the MS Act 1958 also prescribes penalties under Section 458 in Part XVII for violation
of rules or regulations. The penalty prescribed in Section 436 (2) almost covers all the infringements/
non-compliance/violation of provisions stipulated in the MS Act 1958 or Rules thereof. Further this
Part clearly lays down that, if penalty is not specified in the table mentioned under Section 436 (2),
then the offence is fixed to the pecuniary liability of two hundred rupees.
With regard to procedural aspects of liability fixation and penalisation including trial,
cognizance, jurisdiction, cognizance, service of notices and documents etc. the details are dealt
with Part XVI of the MS Act 1958. Particular provisions concerning with power to detain foreign ship
in Indian jurisdiction and to enforce detention of Indian ships/vessels; levy of wages, etc. by distress
of movable property or ship; application of fines and offences by companies make this Part dynamic
in operation. Accurate interpretation of the provisions enshrined in Part XVI is possible when the
same is read with complementary provisions of other Parts of the MS Act 1958, which are violated.
The MS Act 1958 under Section 433, refers to detention of foreign vessel as a measure for
enforcing the obligation of possession of relevant and applicable certificates by concerned ships/
vessels/fishing boats, in different provisions grouped in different Parts. The application of Section 444
provides that if a ship, which is ordered to be detained by the concerned authority, violates the
detention order and proceeds to sea, then the master of the ship is guilty of such offence as enumerated
under the Act. Thus concerned provisions, which stipulate detention as an administrative or judicial
act has to be read together with Section 444 for the effective enforcement and implementation of
statutory/punitive measure of detention.
The Honourable Supreme Court in M.V. Elizabeth and Ors. V. Harwan Investment and Trading
2
Pvt. Ltd , while examining powers for detention of foreign ship under Section 443 and Section 444
read with Section 3, had clearly laid down that all foreign ships entering into India is presumed to
possess the knowledge that they fell within the jurisdiction of India. With respect to the jurisdiction of
Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of First Class to pass sentence on offender convicted
for violation of the Act or its rules and regulations, the Section 29 of Criminal Procedure Code is made
inapplicable by means of notwithstanding clause.3
1
Corresponding penalties are mentioned in respective commentaries applicable to specific provisions.
2
AIR 1993 SC 1014
3
Section 440 of MS Act 1958.

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PART XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
Power to appoint 449. The Central Government may appoint persons for the purpose of
examiners and to examining the qualifications of persons desirous of practising the
make rules as to profession of a ship surveyor at any port in India and may make
qualifications of ship rules-
surveyors (a) for the conduct of such examinations and the qualification
to be required;
(b) for the grant of certificates to qualified persons;
(c) for the fees to be paid for such examinations and certificates;
(d) for holding inquires into charges of incompetency and
misconduct on the part of holders of such certificates; and
(e) for the cancellation and suspension of such certificates.
No person to practise 450. No person shall in any port in which there is a person exercising
as ship surveyor the profession of a ship surveyor and holding a certificate granted
unless qualified under section 449 exercise such profession in such port unless he
holds a certificate granted under that section:
Provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent any person
employed exclusively by Lloyd’s Register of Shipping or Bureau
Vertical or any other classification society specified by the Central
Government in the Official Gazette in this behalf from discharging
any of the duties of such employment or apply to any person
specially exempted by the Central Government from the operation
of this section.
Power of ship 451. Any person holding a certificate granted under section 449 and
surveyor to inspect exercising the profession of a ship surveyor at any port in India
ship may in the execution of his duties go on board a ship and inspect
the same and every part thereof and the machinery, equipment and
cargo and may require the unloading or removal of any cargo, ballast
or tackle.
Inquiry into cause of 452. (1) If any person dies on board a foreign-going Indian ship, the
death on board Indian proper officer at the port where the crew of the ship is
ship discharged, or the proper officer at any earlier port of call in
India, shall, on the arrival of the ship at that port, inquire into
the cause of death, and shall make in the official log book
an endorsement to the effect, either that the statement of
the cause of death in the book is in his opinion true, or the
contrary, according to the result of the inquiry.
(2) If, in the course of any such inquiry, it appears to the proper
officer that a death has been caused on board the ship by
violence or other improper means, he shall either report the
matter to the Director-General or, if the emergency of the
case so requires, shall take immediate steps for bringing
the offender to trial.

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453. The following persons shall be deemed to be public servants within Certain persons
the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, namely- deemed to be public
(a) ever surveyor; servants
(b) every judge, assessor or other person acting under Part XIII;
(c) every person appointed under this Act to report information
as to shipping casualties;
(d) every person authorised under this Act to make any
investigation or inquiry under Part X and all persons whom
he calls to his aid;
(e) every person directed to make an investigation into an
explosion or fire on a ship under section 388;
(f) every other officer or person appointed under this Act to
perform any functions thereunder.
454. (1) Every judge, assessor, officer or other person who is Powers of persons
empowered by this Act to make an investigation or inquiry authorised to
or to board, survey, inspect or detain a ship- investigate, etc.
(a) may go on board any ship and inspect the same or
any part thereof, or any of the machinery, equipment
or articles on board thereof, or any certificates of the
master or other officer to which the provisions of this
Act or any of the rules or regulations thereunder apply,
not unnecessarily detaining or delaying the ship from
proceeding on any voyage, and if in consequence of
any accident to the ship or for any other reason it is
considered necessary so to do, may require the ship to
be taken into dock for the purpose of inspection or survey;
(b) may enter and inspect any premises, the entry and
inspection of which appear to be requisite for the
purpose aforesaid;
(c) may, by summons under his hand, require the
attendance of all such persons as he thinks fit to call
before him and examine them for the purpose aforesaid,
and may require answers or returns to any enquiries
he thinks fit to make;
(d) may require and enforce the production of all relevant
books papers, or documents;
(e) may administer oaths or may in lieu of requiring or
administering an oath, require every person examined by
him to make and subscribe a declaration of the truth of
the statements made by him in his examination; and
(f) may muster the crew of any such ship.
(2) No person shall hinder or obstruct any officer or person
referred to in sub-section (1) from going on board any ship or
otherwise impedes him in the execution of his duties or the
exercise of his powers under this Act.

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Explanation :In this Section ship includes a sailing vessel.

Power to prescribe [454A. Where this Act requires that a particular fitting, material, appliance
1
alternative fitting, etc. or apparatus or any type thereof shall be fitted or provided for in a
ship or that any particular provision shall be made in a ship, the
Central Government after satisfying itself by trials or otherwise
that any other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus or type thereof
or provision is as effective as that so required, may permit, by
general or special order, such other fitting, material, appliance or
apparatus or type thereof or provision to be used or provided.]
Exemption of public 455. (1) This Act shall not, except where specially provided, apply
ship, foreign and to ships belonging to any foreign prince or State and
Indian employed otherwise than for profit in the public service of
the foreign prince or State.
Gazette, direct that the provisions of this Act or any of them
shall not apply to ships belonging to the Government or to
any class such ships.
Power to exempt 456. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Central
Government may, by order in writing an upon such conditions,
if any, as it may think fit to impose, exempt any ship or
sailing vessel or any master, tindal or seaman from any
specified requirement contained in or prescribed in
pursuance of this Act or dispense with the observance of
any such requirement in the case of any ship or sailing
vessel or any master, tindal or seaman, if it is satisfied that
that requirement has been substantially complied with or
that compliance with the requirement is or ought to be
dispensed with in the circumstances of the case :
[Provided that no exemption, which is prohibited by the
2
Safety Convention, shall be granted under this sub-section.]

(2) Where an exemption is granted under sub-section (1) subject
to any conditions, a breach of any of those conditions shall,
without prejudice to any other remedy, be deemed to be an
offence under this sub-section.
General power to 457. Without prejudice to any power to make rules contained elsewhere
make rules in this Act, the Central Government may make rules generally to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
Provisions with 458. (1) All rules and regulations made under this Act shall be
respect to rules and published in the Official Gazette.
regulations (2) In making a rule or regulation under this Act, the Central
Government may direct that a breach thereof shall be
punishable-

2 Added by MS (Amend.) Act 1966

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(a) in the case of a rule made under 1[section 331 or section

344I], with imprisonment, which may extend to two
years, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand
rupees, or with both;
(b) in the case of any other rule of regulation made under
any other provision of this Act, with fine which may
extend to one thousand rupees;
and in either case if the breach is a continuing one, with
further fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every day
after the first during which the breach continues.
1
[(3) Every rules or regulation made under this Act shall be laid
as soon as may be after it is made before each House of
Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty
days which may be comprised in one session or in 2[two or
more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the
session immediately following the session or the successive
sessions, aforesaid,] both Houses agree in making any
modification in the rule or the regulation, or both Houses
agree that the rule or regulation should not be made, the
rule or regulation shall, thereafter, have effect only in such
modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so
however, that any such modification or annulment shall be
without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done
under that rule or regulation.]
459. (1) The Central Government may, if it thinks fit, constitute one Power to constitute
or more committees consisting of such number of persons committees to advise
as it may appoint thereto representing the interests on rules, regulations
principally affected or having special knowledge of the subject- and scales of fees
matter, for the purpose of advising it when considering the
making or alteration of any rules, regulations or scales of
fees under this Act or for any other purpose connected with
this Act.
(2) There shall be paid to the members of any such committee
such travelling and other allowances as the Central
Government may fix.
(3) Committees may be constituted under this section to advise
the Central Government either generally as regards any
rules, regulations or scales of fees or as regards any class
or classes of rules, regulations or scales of fees in particular
or for any other purpose connected with this Act.
460. No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for Protection of persons
anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under acting under Act
this Act.


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1
Removal of difficulties [460A. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this
Act, in so far as they relate to the Safety Convention or to
the Load Line Convention or to the Convention referred to in
clause (a) of section 356B, the Central Government may,
by order published in the Official Gazette, make such
provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing
the difficulty and giving effect to the provisions of such
Convention :
Provided that no order shall be made under this Section
after the expiry of three years from the date of publication of
the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1970 in the Official
Gazette.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid as soon
as may be after it is made before each House of Parliament
while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which
may be comprised in one session or in two successive
sessions.]
1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) 1970

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PART XVII – Commentary
Part XVII deals with miscellaneous provisions, including, appointment of examiners;

qualifications and powers of ship surveyor; inquiry into case of death on board the Indian ships;
powers of investigating officers, persons deemed to be public servants under section 21 of the Indian
Penal Code 1860; power to prescribe alternate fittings; power to exempt; general rule making power;
penalties for violation of rules and procedures to be adopted for adoption of rules pertaining to the
provisions of the Act; power to constitute committees; immunity for persons acting under the Act for
acts done in good faith; and the adoption of measures to remove difficulties in administration and
effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.
Similar to the Part XVI on Penalties and Procedure, Part XVII on Miscellaneous Provisions
are specific in nature but general in application. The application has to be understood when the same
is read with other provisions under the Act. For instance, the “power to exempt” mentioned under
Section 456 of the MS Act 1958 is a precise power that can be generally applied through a non
arbitrary executive order in writing. This discretion and leverage is kept for ensuring the efficiency of
the Act in rising to the necessities that are unforeseen by the lawmakers through the existing provisions.
Further, the Rule making power entrusted with the Central Government under various Parts of the Act
has to be read with the enactment procedures mentioned in Section 458 of the MS Act 1958, which
otherwise would amount to non compliance of procedures laid down in the statute and hence will be
declared arbitrary and unconstitutional.

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PART XVIII
REPEALS AND SAVINGS
Repeals and savings 461. (1) The enactments specified in Part I of the Schedule are hereby
repealed to the extend specified in the fourth column thereof.
(2) The enactments specified in Part II of the Schedule, in so
far as they extend to and operate as part of the law of India,
are hereby repeals.
(3) Notwithstanding the repeal of any enactment by sub-section
(1) or sub-section (2):
(a) any notification, rule, regulation, bye-law, order or
exemption issued, made or granted under any
enactment hereby repealed shall, until revoked, have
effect as if it had been issued, made or granted under
the corresponding provision of this Act;
(b) any officer appointed and any body elected or
constituted under any enactment hereby repealed shall
continue and shall be deemed to have been appointed,
elected or constituted, as the case may be, under this
Act;
(c) any document referring to any enactment hereby
repealed shall be constructed as referring to this Act
or to the corresponding provision of this Act;
(d) any fine levied under any enactment hereby repealed
may be recovered as if it had been levied under this
Act;
(e) any offence committed under any enactment hereby
repealed may be prosecuted and punished as if it had
been committed under this Act;
(f) sailing vessels registered under any enactment hereby
repealed shall be deemed to have been registered under
the Act;
(g) mortgages of ships recorded in any register book
maintained at any port in Indian under any enactment
hereby repealed shall be deemed to have been recorded
in the register book under the corresponding provision
of this Act;
(h) any licence, certificate of competency or service,
certificate of survey, A or B certificate, safety certificate,
qualified safety certificate, radio telegraphy certificate,
radio telephony certificate, safety equipment certificate,
exemption certificate, international or Indian load line
certificate or any other certificate or document issued,
made or granted under any enactment hereby repealed

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and in force at the commencement of this Act shall be

deemed to have been issued, made or granted under
this Act and shall, unless cancelled under this Act,
continue in force until the date shown in the certificate
or document, as the case may be.
(4) The mention of particular matters in this section shall not
be held to prejudice or affect the general application of
section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897, with regard to
the effect of repeals.

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PART XVIII – Commentary
“Repeal” 1 is an abrogation of an existing law by a legislative act. “Savings”2 means an

exception or reservation of an existing law by a legislative act. MS Act 1958 under Part XVIII deals
with Repeals and Savings of statutes and rules, regulations, bye-laws or orders that existed prior to
the enactment of the MS Act 1958 (44 of 1958). Section 461 under subsection (1) lists out enactments
that are repealed to the extent of repeal mentioned in Part I of the Schedule. Further, Section 461
under subsection (2) lists out enactments under Part II of the Schedule that is repealed with respect
to extend and operation.
1
Black’s Law Dictionary (8th ed. 2004) , Page 4056. Also see Gammon India Ltd. vs. Special Chief Secretary and Ors.
2006 (3) SCC 354
2
Ibid see page 4184.

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of 1958] 313
THE SCHEDULE
ENACTMENTS REPEALED
PART I
[See section 461 (1)]
Year Number Short title Extent of repeal
1838 19 The Coasting Vessels Act, 1838 In so far as it applies to seagoing
ships fitted with mechanical means
of propulsion and to sailing vessels.
1841 10 The Indian Registration of Ships Act, 1841 The whole.
1850 11 The Indian Registration of Ships Act (1841)
Amendment Act, 1850 The whole.
1923 21 The Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1923 The whole.
1946 21 The Merchant Seamen (Litigation) Act, 1946 The whole.
1947 26 The Control of Shipping Act, 1947 The whole.
1949 18 The Merchant Shipping Laws (Extension to
Acceding States and Amendment) Act, 1949 The whole.
PART II
[See section 461 (2)]
Year Short title
1823 Lascars Act (4 Geo. 4, c.80).
1894 Merchant Shipping Act (57 & 58 Vict., c.60).
1897 Merchant Shipping Act (60 & 61 Vict., c.59).
1898 Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners) Act (61 & 62 Vict,. c.14).
1898 Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act (61 & 62 Vict., c.44).
1900 Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act (63 & 64 Vict., c.32).
1906 Merchant Shipping Act (6 Edw. 7, c.48).
1907 Merchant Shipping Act (7. Edw. 7, c.52).
1911 Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Allotment) Act (1 & 2 Geo. 5, c.8).
1911 Merchant Shipping Act (1 & 2 Geo. 5, c.42).
1911 Maritime Conventions Act (1 & 2 Geo. 5, c.57).
1914 Merchant Shipping (Certificates) Act (4 &5 Geo. 5, c.42).
1916 Merchant Shipping (Salvage) Act (6 & 7 Geo. 5, c.41).
1919 Merchant Shipping (Wireless Telegraphy) Act (9 & 10 Geo. 5, c.38).
1921 Merchant Shipping Act (11 & 12 Geo. 5, c.28).
1923 Merchant Shipping Acts (Amendment) Act (13 & 14 Geo. 5, c.40).
1925 Merchant Shipping (Equivalent Provisions) Act (15 & 16 Geo. 5, c.37).
1932 Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act (22 & 23 Geo. 5, c.9).
1936 Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Munitions to Spain) Act (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6, c.1).
1937 Merchant Shipping (Spanish Frontiers Observation) Act (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6. c.19).
1937 Merchant Shipping Act (1 Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6, c.23).
1937 Merchant Shipping (Superannuation Contributions) Act (1 Geo. 6, c.4).
1940 Merchant Shipping (Salvage) Act (3 & 4 Geo. 6, c.43).

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314 COMMENTARY TO MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958
M.V. Elizabeth: A Case Study1
Occasionally, the legislature has been slow in rising to the global industry standards and
regulations. This has proved to be both a boon and a curse for the Indian mercantile marine. It can be
a boon to the mercantile marine, because under circumstances where India fails to adopt the standards
warranted by time, slower will be the efforts to improve compliance with standards and thereby
expenditure so incurred will be much lower. It is also a curse to the Indian maritime industry. The
shipping industry in India including shipowners, who do not comply with the prescribed international
standards, have been declined opportunities to involve in trade by shipping giants; whereby the non
availability of market space due to lower levels of competency would hinder the growth of Indian
mercantile marine.
Simultaneously, in the instance of occurrence of any unforeseen or unfortunate event, the

maritime administration and the judiciary have encountered a similar lacuna of sufficient means to
effectively manage the situation, which include mitigating damage, fixation of liability, and above all,
enforcing that the wrong doer pays for his/their wrongs. To overcome such a situation, the Indian
judiciary, comprising the Honourable Supreme Court of India and various High Courts has taken an
active role in expanding the horizon of applicable laws so as to effectively adjudicate a dispute at
hand. One of such cases is that of the vessel M.V. Elizabeth.
Facts of M.V. Elizabeth
M.V. Elizabeth a foreign flag vessel, after loading cargo belonging to plaintiff - shipper, a
private limited company; left the Port of Marmagao without issuing bills of lading or other documents
for the goods shipped as required by the plaintiff. The plaintiff had also directed the owners/master
that the goods shall not be delivered to the consignee since the buyer had not made the payment of
the same, at the agreed price. But without complying with the direction of the plaintiff to not deliver
the goods to the consignee, the goods of the plaintiff were discharged and handed over to the
consignee, at the port of destination at Ras-Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
By virtue of the suit instituted at the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and the subsequent order
of the Court for arresting the vessel, the vessel M.V. Elizabeth was arrested when she entered the
port of Vishakapatanam in India. The main claims of the plaintiff were that of (a) breach of duty and
(b) conversion of goods entrusted to the defendants. Only when the owner furnished a bank guarantee
for an amount to the tune of INR 14,25,000/; was the vessel allowed to be removed from detention by
the Court. Among the major objections raised by the defendants, the main objection included dispute
as to jurisdiction. While addressing the question as to jurisdiction to arrest a foreign vessel, the
Honourable Supreme Court had clearly laid down in the following paragraphs that,
1
Opinion mentioned and emphasis made, i.e. other than that has been placed under quote/unquote; are the views of the
author. It has nothing to do with interpretation and conclusion made by the Honourable Supreme Court.

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COMMENTARY TO MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958 315
Analyzing the principles of admiralty jurisdiction, the apex court reiterated in paragraph 47 of the
judgment that,
“The foundation of an action in rem, which is a peculiarity of the Anglo-American law, arises
from a maritime lien or claim imposing a personal liability upon the owner of the vessel. A
defendant in an admiralty action in personam is liable for the full amount of the plaintiffs
established claim. Likewise, a defendant acknowledging service in an action in rem is liable to
be saddled with full liability even when the amount of the judgment exceeds the value of the res
or of the bail provided. An action in rem lies in the English High Court in respect of matters
regulated by the Supreme Court Act, 1981, and in relation to a number of claims the jurisdiction
can be invoked not only against the offending ship in question but also against a ‘sistership’
i.e., a ship in the same beneficial ownership as the ship in regard to which the claim arose.
The vessel which commits the aggression is treated as the offender, as the guilty instrument
or thing to which the forfeiture attaches, without any reference whatsoever to the character or
conduct of the owner...”.
Under Paragraph 48: Court reaffirmed the purpose of arrest of ships by analyzing the nature
of maritime trade that the “Merchant ships of different nationalities travel from port to port
carrying goods or passengers. They incur liabilities in the course of their voyage and they
subject themselves to the jurisdiction of foreign States when they enter the waters of those
States. They are liable to be arrested for the enforcement of maritime claims, or seized in
execution or satisfaction of judgments in legal actions arising out of collisions, salvage, loss of
life .or personal injury, loss of or damage to goods and the like. They are liable to be detained
or confiscated by the authorities of foreign States for violating their customs regulations, safety
measures, rules of road, health regulations and for other causes. The coastal State may
exercise its criminal jurisdiction on board the vessel for the purpose of arrest or investigation in
connection with certain serious crimes. In the course of an international voyage, a vessel thus
subjects itself to the public and private laws of various countries. A ship travelling from port to
port stays very briefly in any one port. A plaintiff seeking to enforce his maritime claim against
a foreign Ship has no effective remedy once it has sailed away and if the foreign owner has
neither property nor residence within jurisdiction. The plaintiff may therefore detain the ship by
obtaining an order of attachment whenever it is feared that the ship is likely to slip out of
jurisdiction, thus leaving the plaintiff without any security.”
In paragraph 65: Court laid down that “where statutes are silent and remedy has to be
sought by recourse to basic principles, it is the duty of the court to devise procedural rules by
analogy and expediency. Actions in rem, as seen above, were resorted to by courts as a
device to overcome the difficulty of personal service on the defendant by compelling him to
enter appearance and accept service of summons with a view to furnishing security for the
release of the res’, or, in his absence, proceed against the res itself, by attributing to it a
personality for the purpose of entering a decree and executing the same by sale of the res.

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This is a practical procedural device developed by the courts with a view to rendering justice in
accordance with substantive law not only in cases of collision and salvage, but also in cases
of other maritime liens and claims arising by reason of breach of contract for the hire of vessels
or the carriage of goods or other maritime transactions, or tortious acts, such as conversion or
negligence occurring in connection with the carriage of goods. Where substantive law demands
justice for the party aggrieved, and the statute has not provided the remedy, it is the duty of the
court to devise procedure by drawing analogy from other systems of law and practice. To the
courts of the “civil law countries” in Europe and other places, like problems seldom arise, for
all persons and things within their territories (including their waters) fall within their competence
to deal with. They do not have to draw any distinction between an action in rem and an action
in personam”.
In Paragraph 66: Court laid down that “It is likewise within the competence of the appropriate
Indian Courts to deal, in accordance with the general principles of maritime law and the applicable
provisions of statutory law, with all persons and things found within their jurisdiction. The
power of the court is plenary and unlimited unless it is expressly or by necessary implication
curtailed. Absent such curtailment of jurisdiction, all remedies which are available to the courts
to administer justice are available to a claimant against a foreign ship and its owner found
within the jurisdiction of the concerned High Court. This power of the court to render justice
must necessarily include the power to make interlocutory orders for arrest and attachment
before judgment”.
Under Paragraph 67: Court reiterated that the “High Courts in India are superior courts of
record. They have original and appellate jurisdiction. They have inherent and plenary powers.
Unless expressly or impliedly barred, and subject to the appellate or discretionary jurisdiction
of this Court, the High Courts have unlimited jurisdiction, including the jurisdiction to determine
their own powers. ….. Prima facie, no matter is deemed to be beyond the jurisdiction of a
superior court unless it is expressly shown to be so, while nothing is within the jurisdiction of
an inferior court unless it is expressly shown on the face of the proceedings that the particular
matter is within the cognizance of the particular court.”
In paragraph 76: listing out the enactments in India, which are applicable to maritime trade/
merchant shipping, Court reiterated that, “In India, carriage of goods by sea is governed by the
Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, the Merchant
Shipping Act, 1958, and general statutes, such as the Marine Insurance Act, 1963, the Contract
Act, 1872, the Evidence Act, 1872, the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Transfer of Property Act,
1882, the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, the Companies
Act, 1956, etc. etc. as well as the general principles of law such as the law of tort, public and
private international law etc. In this connection, reference may also be made to the Indian
Ports Act, 1908 and the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 concerning the administration of the port
and the jurisdiction over ships in port, the Customs Act, 1962 containing various regulatory

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measures affecting ships, goods and persons in connection with importation or exportation of
goods, as well as the provisions governing employment of labour. The Indian Bills of Lading
Act, 1856 emphasises the negotiable and other characteristics of a bill of lading. The Carriage
of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, contains the Hague Rules regulating the respective rights and
liabilities of the parties to a contract governed by bills of lading or similar documents of title for
carriage of goods by sea “from any port in India to any other port whether in India or outside
India”.
Referring to the delay on the part of legislature of India, Court mentioned that “It is true that
Indian statutes lag behind the development of international law in comparison to
contemporaneous statutes in England and other maritime countries. Although the Hague Rules
are embodied in the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, India never became a party to the
International Convention laying down those rules (International Convention for the Unification of
Certain Rules of Law relating to Bills of Lading, Brussels 1924). The Carriage of Goods by Sea
Act, 1925 merely followed the (United Kingdom) Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1924. The
United Kingdom repealed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1924 with a view to incorporating
the Visby Rules adopted by the Brussels Protocol of 1968. The Hague-Visby Rules were
accordingly adopted by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1971 (United Kingdom). Indian
legislation has not, however, progressed, notwithstanding the Brussels Protocol of 1968 adopting
the Visby Rules or the United Nations Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea, 1978
adopting the Hamburg Rules. The Hamburg Rules prescribe the minimum liabilities of the
carrier far more justly and equitably than the Hague Rules so as to correct the tilt in the latter
in favour of the carriers. The Hamburg Rules are acclaimed to be a great improvement on the
Hague Rules and far more beneficial from the point of view of the cargo owners. India has also
not adopted the International Convention relating to the Arrest of Sea-going Ships, Brussels,
1952. Nor has India adopted the Brussels Conventions of 1952 on civil and penal jurisdiction in
matters of collision; nor the Brussels Conventions of 1926 and 1967 relating to maritime liens
and mortgages13. India seems to be lagging behind many other countries in ratifying and
adopting the beneficial provisions of various conventions intended to facilitate international
trade. Although these conventions have not been adopted by legislation, the principles
incorporated in the conventions are themselves derived from the common law of nations as
embodying the felt necessities of international trade and arc as such part of the common law
of India and applicable for the enforcement of maritime claims against foreign ships.
And the Court on the applicability of Merchant Shipping Act 1958 (Act 44 of 1958), had laid
down that Paragraph 76: “…………………The Merchant Shipping Act embodies rules regarding
registration of Indian ships; transfers or mortgages of ships or shares; national character and
flag; employment of seamen; safety, nuclear ships; collisions, accidents at sea and liability;
limitation of liability; navigation; prevention of pollution; investigation and enquiries; wreck and
salvage; coasting trade; sailing vessels; penalties and procedure, etc. May of these provisions
have been adopted from rules formulated by various international conventions.”

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Paragraph 77: “The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 contains various provisions to enforce
territorial jurisdiction. The Act being essentially regulatory in character, the various authorities,
tribunals and Courts entrusted with the administration and enforcement of its provisions are
specifically stated. The High Court is defined under Section 3(15) as follows:
3(15). ‘High Court’, in relation to a vessel, means the High Court within the limits of whose
appellate jurisdiction-
(a) the port of registry of the vessel is situate:
(b) the vessel is for the time being: or
(c) the cause of action wholly or in part arises;
Accordingly, a foreign ship falls within the jurisdiction of the High Court where the vessel
happens to be at the relevant time - i.e., at the time when the jurisdiction of the High Court is
invoked, or, where the cause of action wholly or in part arises.”
Paragraph 78: “The detention of a foreign ship is authorised in terms of sections 443 and
444. ………………………….. These provisions relate to detention by reason of damage caused
in any part of the world by a foreign ship to property belonging to the Government of India or to
an Indian citizen or company. The sections are wide in terms and the expression ‘damage’ is
not necessarily confined to physical damage. Ordinarily damage is caused by physical contact
of the ship, such as in collision. But damage can also be caused to property by breach of
contract or acts of commission or omission on the part of the carrier or his agents or servants
by reason of the negligent operation and management of the vessel, as, for example, when
cargo is damaged by exposure to weather or by negligent stowage; or, by the misconduct of
those in charge of the ship, like when cargo is disposed of contrary to the instructions of the
owner or by reason of theft and other misdeeds. In all these cases, damage arises by reason
of loss caused by what is done by the snip or by the breach, negligence or misdeeds of those
in charge of the ship. It must however be noticed that the expression ‘damage done by any
ship’ has been construed by the English Courts as not to apply to claims against the carrying
ship for damage done to cargo. In the Victoria 1887 12 PD 105, the Court so construed
Section 7 of the Admiralty Court Act, 1861 (24 Victorine c.10).14 It has been held to apply only
to physical damage done by a ship by reason of its coming into contact with something. See
The Vera Cruz, (1884) 9 PD 96; Currie v. M. Knight (1897) AC 97 and The Jade (1976)1 All.E.R.
920. In view of the specific provisions of the English statutes of 1920, 1925, 1956 and 1981, it
was unnecessary for the English Courts to construe the expression broadly so as to include
cargo claims and the like. The last two enactments contain an exhaustive list of maritime
claims and questions in regard to which the High Court can exercise jurisdiction over any
merchant ship by arresting it as it enters the waters of Britain. This power, as already noticed,
is available, whatever be the nationality of the ship or its owner or the domicile or place of
residence or business of the owner, or wherever the cause of action has arisen. About the

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words ‘damage done by a ship’ in Section 7 of the Admiralty Court Act, 1861 and the decision
in The Victoria (1887) 12 PD 105 to the effect that the section had no application to claims
against the carrying ship for damage to cargo, the following observation significantly appears
in Halsbury’s Laws of England, 4th ed, Vol. 1(1), para 319 N. 12.
... but this question is academic in the light of the fact that jurisdiction in respect of claims for
damage to cargo carried in a ship is now expressly given by the Supreme Court Act, 1981
Section 20(2)(g).”
Paragraph 79: In the absence of any statute in India comparable to the English statutes on
admiralty jurisdiction, there is no reason why the words “damage caused by a ship” appearing
in Section 443 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 should be so narrowly construe as to limit
them to physical damage and exclude any other damage arising by reason of the operation of
the vessel in connection with the carnage of goods. The expression is wide enough to include
all maritime questions or claims. If goods or other property are lost or damaged, whether by
physical contact or otherwise, by reason of unauthorised acts or negligent conduct on the part
of the shipowner or his agents or servants, wherever the cause of action has arisen, or wherever
the ship is registered, or wherever the owner has his residence or domicile or place of business,
such a ship, at the request of the person aggrieved, is liable to be detained when found within
Indian jurisdiction by recourse to sections 443 and 444 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
read with the appropriate rules of practice and procedure of the High Court. These procedural
provisions are but tools for enforcement of substantive rights which are rooted in general
principles of law, apart from statutes, and for the enforcement of which a party aggrieved has
a right to invoke the inherent jurisdiction of a superior court.”
Paragraph 80: “The Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 applies to carriage of goods
by sea under bills of lading or similar documents of title from a port in India to any other port
whether in or outside India. (See Section 2). The Act imposes certain responsibilities and
liabilities and confers certain rights and immunities upon the carrier (see Articles III & IV). In
respect of a claim relating to an outward cargo, the cargo owner has a right to bring a suit
against a shipowner subject to the period of limitation specified under the Act, namely, one
year [Article III (6)]. The substantive rights recognised by the statute are of equal application to
foreign merchant ships as they are to Indian merchant ships. The Carriage of Goods by Sea
Act does not, however, contain any provision for the enforcement of the right by arresting the
foreign vessel found in Indian waters. In the absence of arrest, no effective remedy against a
foreign owner may be available to the cargo owner. The same is the position with regard to
claims relating to cargo carried under a charterparty. It is, therefore, necessary that he should
have recourse to the remedy available to him under the Merchant Shipping Act. That Act, as
stated earlier, confers a right to arrest a vessel in respect of any damage caused by a ship. If
that. expression, in the absence of any other more appropriate statute, is understood sufficiently
broadly as an enabling provision to effectively assume jurisdiction over a foreign ship for the

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enforcement of a substantive right recognised by law, there would be no difficulty in finding a

remedy for the right the law has conferred on the cargo owner.”
Paragraph 81: “The Merchant Shipping Act empowers the concerned High Court to arrest a
ship in respect of a substantive right. A right conferred by the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea
Act, 1925 in respect of outward cargo is one of those rights which can be enforced by arrest
and detention of the foreign ship in order to found jurisdiction over the vessel and its owners,
just as it can be done in respect of inward cargo by reason of the substantive rights conferred
by the Admiralty Court Act, 1961 read with the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, 1890, and
other rules of law. The same principle must hold good for carriage under a charterparty. These
and other laws, such as a the law of contract, tort, crime, mortgage, marine insurance, customs,
port operations, etc., and the Civil and Criminal Procedure Codes as well as the relevant rules
of court regulating procedure and practice together constitute the body of substantive and
procedural laws governing claims relating to inward and outward cargo, and such claims are
enforceable against foreign ships by recourse to arrest and detention when found within
jurisdiction. Viewed in this light, and by this reasoning, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, as a
successor to the Madras High Court, does not lack admiralty jurisdiction in respect of claims
relating to outward cargo.”
Paragraph 82: “The admiralty jurisdiction of the High Court is dependent on the presence of
the foreign ship in Indian waters and founded on the arrest of that ship. This jurisdiction can be
assumed by the concerned High Court, whether or not the defendant resides or carries on
business, or the cause of action arose wholly or in part, within the local limits of its jurisdiction.
Once a foreign ship is arrested within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High Court, and
the owner of the ship has entered appearance and furnished security to the satisfaction of the
High Court for the release of the ship, the proceedings continue as a personal action.”
Paragraph 83: The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 provides a detailed code of substantive and
procedural rules regulating shipping as an industry and the control exercised over it by the
competent authorities in conformity with various international conventions which have, under
the auspices of International Organisations such as the IMO or the ILO, unified and developed
various aspects of snipping laws. Conventions regulating sea traffic, safety of life at sea,
employment of seamen, wages, hours of work, social security, etc. are cases in point. Likewise,
the substantive rules concerning transport of goods are contained in the Indian Bills of Lading
Act, 1856 and the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925. But the jurisdictional questions
concerning arrest of foreign ships for enforcement of claims against the shipowner as a
transporter of goods, which in England are regulated by The Supreme Court Act, 1981, are in
many respects left unregulated by Indian legislation. While the provisions of various international
conventions concerning arrest of ships, civil and penal jurisdiction in matters of collision,
maritime liens and mortgages etc. have been incorporated into the municipal laws of many
maritime States, India, as stated above, lags behind them in adopting these unified rules. By

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reason of this void, doubts about jurisdiction often arise, as in the present case, when substantive
rights, such as those recognised by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, are sought to be
enforced. The remedy lies, apart from enlightened judicial construction, in prompt legislative
action to codify and clarify the admiralty laws of this country. This requires thorough research
and investigation by a team of experts in admiralty law, comparative law, and public and private
international law. Any attempt to codify without such investigation is bound to be futile.”
Paragraph 86: “The judicial power of this country, which is an aspect of national sovereignty,
is vested in the people and is articulated in the provisions of the Constitution and the laws and
is exercised by courts empowered to exercise it. It is absurd to confine that power to the
provisions of imperial statutes of a bygone age. Access to court which is an important right
vested in every citizen implies the existence of the power of the Court to render justice according
to law. Where statute is silent and judicial intervention is required, Courts strive to redress
grievances according to what is perceived to be principles of justice, equity and good
conscience.”
The case of M. V. Elizabeth is thus an eye – opener with regard to the need for the development and
updation of the existing legal regime.

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MANUAL OF

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958

A CD version accompanied with this book

Price Rs. 450/- (with CD)

Published by Capt. V. K. BHANDARKAR OF BHANDARKAR PUBLICATIONS,

Printed at Mahim, Mumbai-400 016.

Following words subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 1976, wherever they occur

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NATIONAL SHIPPING BOARD

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OBLIGATION OF CERTAIN CERTIFICATE HOLDERS TO SERVE

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PART IX – A - Commentary ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 192

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COLLISIONS, ACCIDENTS AT SEA AND LIABILITIES

CIVIL LIABILITY FOR OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE

INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION COMPENSATION FUND

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PROVISIONS FOR CONTAINMENT OF ACCIDENTAL POLLUTION

INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUIRIES

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WRECK AND SALVAGE

CONTROL OF INDIAN SHIPS AND SHIPS ENGAGED IN COASTING TRADE

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PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE

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PART XVII – Commentary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 309

REPEALS AND SAVINGS

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THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1958

1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 40 of 2007

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1 Subs. by MS (Amend.) Act 12 of 1983

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(5) “country to which the Load Line Convention applies” means,-

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1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1984

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(a) the port of registry of the vessel is situate; or

1 Ins. by MS (Amend.) Act 1966