Act 27 of 2025

The Indian Ports Act, 2025

An Act to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure the optimum utilisation of India's coastline; establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports; establish the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector; provide for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with India's obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes; and address matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

  • Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
  • Enacted 2025-08-21
  • 86 sections

This page lists all 86 sections of The Indian Ports Act, 2025. Open any section to read its official text.

SectionTitle
1 Short title, commencement and application.Read
2 Definitions.Read
3 Establishment of Council.Read
4 Powers of Chairperson.Read
5 Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Council.Read
6 Functions of Council.Read
7 Employees of Council.Read
8 Grants by Central Government.Read
9 Delegation of powers of Council.Read
10 Port operations.Read
11 Notification of new port and alteration of port limits.Read
12 Adherence to national perspective plan and guidelines issued by Council.Read
13 Establishment of State Maritime Board.Read
14 Transfer of assets and liabilities, etc.Read
15 Functions of State Maritime Board.Read
16 Resolution of disputes.Read
17 Civil court not to have jurisdiction.Read
18 Appointment of conservator, harbour master and other port officers.Read
19 Powers of conservator to issue directions.Read
20 Removal of obstructions within port limits.Read
21 Power to specify restrictions on activities within port limits.Read
22 Fouling of moorings.Read
23 Power to board vessels and enter buildings.Read
24 Appointment and powers of health officer and prevention of contagious diseases.Read
25 Indemnity of Government against act or default of port officers or pilot.Read
26 Damage to property of port.Read
27 Warping.Read
28 Master to take order to extinguish fire.Read
29 Offences in connection with safety of vessels, etc.Read
30 Unauthorised person not to search for lost stores.Read
31 Injuring banks or shores of port prohibited.Read
32 Moving of vessels without pilot or permission of harbour master or port officer.Read
33 Port officer to co-operate in manoeuvres for defence of port.Read
34 Authority and Director-General to regulate certain activities.Read
35 Definitions.Read
36 Reception facilities.Read
37 Direction to provide adequate reception facilities.Read
38 Port waste reception and handling plans.Read
39 Advance waste notice.Read
40 Delivery of vessel-generated waste.Read
41 Charges for vessel-generated waste.Read
42 Audit of ports.Read
43 Maintenance of information on portal.Read
44 Measures for prevention or containment of pollution.Read
45 Directions for securing compliance.Read
46 Levy of fees and other charges.Read
47 Port tariff.Read
48 Receipt of fees or other charges.Read
49 Owner, agent or master to report arrival.Read
50 Detention and sale on refusal to pay fees or other charges.Read
51 Grant of port-clearance.Read
52 Master not to evade payment of fees or other charges.Read
53 Offences and penalties.Read
53A Compounding of certain offences.Read
54 Authority for imposition of penalty and procedure therefor.Read
55 Cognizance of offences.Read
56 Penalty for wilful failure to comply with orders of Dispute Resolution Committee.Read
57 Penalty for failure to furnish information, etc.Read
58 Recovery of fine or penalty.Read
59 Recovery of expenses and damages.Read
60 Cost of distress.Read
61 Magistrate to determine amount to be levied in case of dispute.Read
62 Place of trial and jurisdiction.Read
63 Offences by companies.Read
64 Service of documents.Read
65 Hoisting unlawful colours in port.Read
66 Emergency preparedness and response plan.Read
67 Reporting of incident.Read
68 Shore based welfare services for seafarers.Read
69 Port community system and vessel traffic service.Read
70 Order for securing compliance.Read
71 Prior clearance.Read
72 Obligations of ports under international conventions.Read
73 Notification of mega port.Read
74 Chairperson, members, officers and employees of Council, etc., to be public servants.Read
75 Application of certain laws.Read
76 Power of Central Government to make rules.Read
77 Power of State Government to make rules.Read
78 Power of Central Government to make rules in consultation with State Governments.Read
79 Power of Council to make regulations.Read
80 Power of Council to issue guidelines.Read
81 Laying of rules and regulations before Parliament and State Legislature.Read
82 Protection of action taken in good faith.Read
83 Power to amend Second Schedule.Read
84 Power to remove difficulties.Read
85 Repeal and savings.Read
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