Section 15 of The Indian Ports Act, 2025: Functions of State Maritime Board.
About this Act
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.
(a) initiating plans for development of ports;
(b) promoting the use, development and improvement of ports;
(c) executing such works within or outside the limits of ports and providing such appliances to ports, as the Board may deem expedient or necessary;
(d) exercising licensing functions in respect of infrastructure and services of ports;
(e) exercising supervision and control over all port works, including port works contracted out to third parties;
(f) regulating and controlling navigation wi thin the limits and the approaches to the ports;
(g) fixing of port tariff;
(h) developing new ports, subject to obtaining security clearance as per the guidelines issued by the Central Government;
(i) protecting ecological balance and safeguarding social and environmental issues;
(j) advising or issuing directions in relation to matters referred to the Board by the State Government;
(k) providing or ensuring the provision of such other services and facilities which may be considered necessary for the efficient operation of ports;
(l) ensuring compliance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder;
(m) carrying out all other functions that are or may be notified by the State Government.
(2) The State Maritime Board shall ensure transparency in the exercise of its powers and discharging of its functions.
(3) The State Maritime Board may, for the purposes of discharging its functions under sub-section (1), issue such directions from time to time, in writing, to any port or port officer, as it may consider necessary, and such port or port officer shall comply with such directions.