Section 156
Joint and several liability for loss of life or personal injury.
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) Whenever loss of life or personal injuries are suffered by any person onboard a vessel owing to the fault of that vessel and any other vessel, the liability to third parties, of the owners of the vessels concerned shall be joint and several.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as depriving any person of any right of defence on which he might have relied in an action brought against him by the person injured, or any person entitled to sue in respect of such loss of life, or shall affect the right of any person to limit his liability in cases to which this section relates.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as depriving any person of any right of defence on which he might have relied in an action brought against him by the person injured, or any person entitled to sue in respect of such loss of life, or shall affect the right of any person to limit his liability in cases to which this section relates.