Section 19 of The Indian Ports Act, 2025: Powers of conservator to issue directions.
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.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the conservator may issue directions relating to all or any of the following matters, namely:—
(a) the berthing, mooring or anchoring including the method of anchoring, of a vessel;
(b) the removal of the vessel from any place within the port to any other place and the time within which such removal is to be effected;
(c) the regulation, restriction or prohibition of movement of vessels in the port and the approaches to the port;
(d) requiring the master of any vessel to place at his disposal, such number of crew as may be deemed fit, for the purpose of preventing or extinguishing fire or for any other matter under this Act;
(e) prohibiting any vessel from entering or leaving the port, where such vessel fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force or the rules, regulations or directions issued thereunder;
(f) cutting, or causing to be cut, any warp or rope endangering the safety of any vessel in the port.
(3) If any person refuses or neglects to obey any direction of the conservator under this section, the conservator may cause or cause to be done, all necessary acts for execution of the directions and may hire and employ suitable persons for this purpose, and all expenses incurred in this behalf shall be recoverable from the person for such refusal or neglect.