Section 111
Deserters from foreign vessels.
The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025
About this Act
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to merchant shipping to ensure compliance with India's obligation under the maritime treaties and international instruments to which India is a party and also to ensure the development of Indian shipping and efficient maintenance of Indian mercantile marine in a manner best suited to serve the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(1) Where it appears to the Central Government that due facilities are or shall be given by the Government of any State outside India for recovering and apprehending seafarers who desert from Indian vessels in that State, the Central Government may, by notification, stating that such facilities are or shall be given, declare that this section shall apply to seafarers belonging to vessels of such State, subject to such limitations or conditions as may be specified in the notification.
(2) Where this section applies to seafarers belonging to vessels of any State other than India and a seafarer deserts from any such vessel, when within India, any court that would have taken cognizance of the matter if the seafarer had deserted from an Indian vessel shall, on an application of the ambassador of that State, aid in apprehending the deserter and for that purpose may, on information given on oath, issue a warrant for his apprehension and on proof of the desertion, order him to be conveyed onboard his vessel or delivered to the master or the ship owner or his agent to be so conveyed and any such warrant or order may be executed accordingly.
(2) Where this section applies to seafarers belonging to vessels of any State other than India and a seafarer deserts from any such vessel, when within India, any court that would have taken cognizance of the matter if the seafarer had deserted from an Indian vessel shall, on an application of the ambassador of that State, aid in apprehending the deserter and for that purpose may, on information given on oath, issue a warrant for his apprehension and on proof of the desertion, order him to be conveyed onboard his vessel or delivered to the master or the ship owner or his agent to be so conveyed and any such warrant or order may be executed accordingly.