Section 151
Power to conduct inspections.
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, appoint such persons to conduct inspections of any vessel to which this Part applies, in order to—
(a) verify whether the vessel has violated any provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder;
(b) comply with the request of a contracting party to any convention, agreement or treaty referred to in section 147, for an investigation as to violation of any provisions of such convention, agreement or treaty, by an Indian vessel;
(c) comply with such other matter as may be prescribed.
(2) The violation noticed in the inspection conducted under sub-section (1) shall be reported to the Central Government in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(3) The Central Government may, upon receipt of the report under sub-section (2), take any action or direct the master of the vessel to take such action as may be required.
(a) verify whether the vessel has violated any provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder;
(b) comply with the request of a contracting party to any convention, agreement or treaty referred to in section 147, for an investigation as to violation of any provisions of such convention, agreement or treaty, by an Indian vessel;
(c) comply with such other matter as may be prescribed.
(2) The violation noticed in the inspection conducted under sub-section (1) shall be reported to the Central Government in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(3) The Central Government may, upon receipt of the report under sub-section (2), take any action or direct the master of the vessel to take such action as may be required.