Section 12
Shipping office.
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) The Central Government may, by notification, establish a shipping office at every port in India in which it thinks it necessary so to do, and shall as it may consider necessary, appoint thereto—
(a) a shipping master and as many deputy shipping masters and assistant shipping masters as may be required;
(b) a director and as many deputy directors and assistant directors as may be required; and
(c) seafarer’s welfare officers.
(2) The Central Government may appoint seafarer’s welfare officers at such ports in or outside India as it may consider necessary.
(3) The Central Government may direct that at any port at which no separate shipping office is established, the whole or any part of the business of the shipping office shall be conducted at such office as the Central Government may specify, and thereupon the same shall be conducted accordingly.
(a) a shipping master and as many deputy shipping masters and assistant shipping masters as may be required;
(b) a director and as many deputy directors and assistant directors as may be required; and
(c) seafarer’s welfare officers.
(2) The Central Government may appoint seafarer’s welfare officers at such ports in or outside India as it may consider necessary.
(3) The Central Government may direct that at any port at which no separate shipping office is established, the whole or any part of the business of the shipping office shall be conducted at such office as the Central Government may specify, and thereupon the same shall be conducted accordingly.