Section 163
Receiving distressed seamen on ships.
The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958
About this Act
An Act to foster the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine in a manner best suited to serve the national interests and for that purpose to establish a National Shipping Board to provide for the registration, certification, safety and security of Indian ships and generally to amend and consolidate the law relating to merchant shipping.
(1) The master of an Indian ship shall receive on
board his ship and afford passage and maintenance to all distressed seamen whom he is required by
the Indian consular officer to take on board his ship, and shall during the passage provide every such
distressed seaman with accommodation equal to that normally provided for the crew of the ship and
subsistence, proper to the rank or rating of the said distressed seaman.
(2) The master of a ship shall not be required to receive on board his ship a distressed seaman in terms of this section, if the Indian consular officer is satisfied that accommodation is not and cannot be made available for such seaman.
(2) The master of a ship shall not be required to receive on board his ship a distressed seaman in terms of this section, if the Indian consular officer is satisfied that accommodation is not and cannot be made available for such seaman.