Section 133
Control of discharge or emission of harmful substances or dumping at sea.
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) Save as otherwise provided, all vessels shall be under an obligation to prevent discharge or emission of harmful substances or mixtures containing harmful substances.
(2) All Indian vessels shall be fitted with such equipment and comply with such requirements and conditions relating to construction, survey of equipment and structure of vessel, as may be prescribed.
(3) No certificate shall be granted under this Part unless the requirements and conditions of this section are complied with.
(4) The Central Government may designate such specific areas requiring more stringent standards for pollution prevention as may be prescribed.
(5) The Central Government may, either at the request of the ship owner or otherwise, arrange for the survey of the hull, equipment or machinery of any vessel by a surveyor and, if found fit, shall grant certificates in accordance with the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder in such form, for such duration and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.
(6) The Central Government may take measures, as it may consider appropriate, to prevent the pollution of the sea by the dumping of waste and other matter that is liable to create hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine life, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate use of the sea.
(7) The Central Government may, by notification, specify the items permitted for dumping in the coastal waters and may prescribe the manner in which permissions for the dumping of such items may be obtained.
(8) Unless expressly permitted, no vessel, port, platform or other man-made structures at sea shall engage in dumping in the coastal waters.
(2) All Indian vessels shall be fitted with such equipment and comply with such requirements and conditions relating to construction, survey of equipment and structure of vessel, as may be prescribed.
(3) No certificate shall be granted under this Part unless the requirements and conditions of this section are complied with.
(4) The Central Government may designate such specific areas requiring more stringent standards for pollution prevention as may be prescribed.
(5) The Central Government may, either at the request of the ship owner or otherwise, arrange for the survey of the hull, equipment or machinery of any vessel by a surveyor and, if found fit, shall grant certificates in accordance with the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder in such form, for such duration and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.
(6) The Central Government may take measures, as it may consider appropriate, to prevent the pollution of the sea by the dumping of waste and other matter that is liable to create hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine life, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate use of the sea.
(7) The Central Government may, by notification, specify the items permitted for dumping in the coastal waters and may prescribe the manner in which permissions for the dumping of such items may be obtained.
(8) Unless expressly permitted, no vessel, port, platform or other man-made structures at sea shall engage in dumping in the coastal waters.