Section 116
Safety and security requirements.
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) Every vessel shall, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, comply with the provisions of the following international conventions, treaties or agreements, as applicable, namely:—
(a) the Safety Convention;
(b) the Load Lines Convention, 1966;
(c) the Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971;
(d) the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972;
(e) the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979;
(f) the Tonnage Measurement Convention, 1969;
(g) the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972;
(h) such other convention or agreement or treaty relating to safety or security to which India is a party, as may be notified by the Central Government:
Provided that vessels to which the provisions of the above conventions, treaties or agreements are not applicable, shall comply with such safety and security requirements as may be prescribed:
Provided further that it shall be a defense for the master or ship owner to prove that a contravention was solely due to deviation or delay caused by stress of weather or other circumstances which neither the master nor the ship owner nor the charterer, if any, could have prevented or forestalled.
(2) The safety and security requirements for different classes of vessels and certificates to be held by such vessels shall be such as may be prescribed.
(a) the Safety Convention;
(b) the Load Lines Convention, 1966;
(c) the Special Trade Passenger Ships Agreement, 1971;
(d) the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972;
(e) the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979;
(f) the Tonnage Measurement Convention, 1969;
(g) the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972;
(h) such other convention or agreement or treaty relating to safety or security to which India is a party, as may be notified by the Central Government:
Provided that vessels to which the provisions of the above conventions, treaties or agreements are not applicable, shall comply with such safety and security requirements as may be prescribed:
Provided further that it shall be a defense for the master or ship owner to prove that a contravention was solely due to deviation or delay caused by stress of weather or other circumstances which neither the master nor the ship owner nor the charterer, if any, could have prevented or forestalled.
(2) The safety and security requirements for different classes of vessels and certificates to be held by such vessels shall be such as may be prescribed.