Section 125
Penalties for certain acts.
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) A person shall be liable to penalty under this Act if he commits any of the following acts, namely:—
(a) being drunk or disorderly attempts to enter a vessel; or
(b) onboard molest any person; or
(c) travels or attempts to travel without payment of fare; or
(d) wilfully refuses or neglects to quit the vessel on arrival at destination; or
(e) fails to exhibit his ticket when requested by the master or other officer; or
(f) misconducts himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance or injury to persons onboard; or
(g) carries any substance that could jeopardise the safety or security of the vessel, life onboard or the environment in general.
(2) The master may refuse to receive onboard any person referred to in sub-section (1) and if such person is onboard, may put him on shore, and the person so refused admittance or put on shore shall not be entitled to return of any fare he has paid.
(3) The master or other officer of any such vessel and all persons called by him or other officer to his assistance, may detain any person who commits any offence under sub-section (1) and convey the offender with all convenient dispatch before the nearest police station to be dealt with in accordance with the law.
(a) being drunk or disorderly attempts to enter a vessel; or
(b) onboard molest any person; or
(c) travels or attempts to travel without payment of fare; or
(d) wilfully refuses or neglects to quit the vessel on arrival at destination; or
(e) fails to exhibit his ticket when requested by the master or other officer; or
(f) misconducts himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance or injury to persons onboard; or
(g) carries any substance that could jeopardise the safety or security of the vessel, life onboard or the environment in general.
(2) The master may refuse to receive onboard any person referred to in sub-section (1) and if such person is onboard, may put him on shore, and the person so refused admittance or put on shore shall not be entitled to return of any fare he has paid.
(3) The master or other officer of any such vessel and all persons called by him or other officer to his assistance, may detain any person who commits any offence under sub-section (1) and convey the offender with all convenient dispatch before the nearest police station to be dealt with in accordance with the law.