Section 34 of The Indian Ports Act, 2025: Authority and Director-General to regulate certain activities.
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) the vessel movement and safety of navigation, including determining the schedules and procedural protocols for vessel entry, departure, and transit within port limits;
(b) assigning the berths, including designating specific berths, stations, and areas for vessel docking in the port;
(c) the anchor and equipment management, focusing on the correct stowage and positioning of cargo gear, anchors, and other external apparatus on vessels;
(d) the cargo and passenger operations, including regulating locations and methods for passenger embarkation and loading and unloading of cargo;
(e) standards for bunkering practices and equipment for vessel fueling operations;
(f) specifying the requirements for the clear passage to ensure designated safe passage areas are maintained near docking structures and within port limits;
(g) standards and procedure for mooring and anchoring of vessels and related equipment;
(h) specifying the access and usage protocols for Government-owned docking and storage facilities;
(i) standards and procedures for licensing various maritime transport vessels and the conditions for licence renewal or revocation;
(j) specifying protocols for the consistent and safe use of visual and signal aids by vessels and ports;
(k) standards relating to occupational health, safety and security of dock workers, seafarers and port visitors; and
(l) the protocols to ensure seafarer and port workers’ welfare-related resources and activities.
(2) The Director-General may also issue such guidelines on any of the matters and activities specified in sub-section (1), as may be deemed necessary, from time to time.
(3) Any guidelines issued by the Authority under sub-section (1), shall be in conformity with the guidelines issued by the Director-General under sub-section (2).
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “Director-General” means the Director-General appointed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.