Section 198
Entries and certificates of desertion abroad.
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) In every case of desertion from an
Indian ship whilst such ship is at any place out of India, the master shall produce the entry of
desertion in the official log book to the Indian consular officer at the place, and that officer shall
thereupon, make and certify a copy of the entry.
(2) The master shall forthwith transmit such copy to the shipping master at the port at which the seaman or apprentice was shipped, and the shipping master shall, if required, cause the same to be produced in any legal proceeding.
(3) Such copy, if purporting to be so made and certified as aforesaid, shall, in any legal proceeding relating to such desertion, be admissible in evidence.
(2) The master shall forthwith transmit such copy to the shipping master at the port at which the seaman or apprentice was shipped, and the shipping master shall, if required, cause the same to be produced in any legal proceeding.
(3) Such copy, if purporting to be so made and certified as aforesaid, shall, in any legal proceeding relating to such desertion, be admissible in evidence.