Section 32 of The Indian Ports Act, 2025: Moving of vessels without pilot or permission of harbour master or port officer.
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) upon application to the proper officer the master was unable to procure a pilot, harbour master or port officer to go on board the vessel;
(b) an authority in writing has been obtained from the conservator or any officer authorised to give such authority:
Provided that the Government may, by notification, direct that in any port as may be specified therein, the provisions of this sub-section shall not apply to sailing vessels of any measurement not exceeding a measurement so specified therein.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), the owner or master of a vessel, shall be answerable for any loss or damage caused by the vessel or by any fault of the navigation of the vessel.