Section 271
Agreements in respect of fishing vessel.
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.
Subject to the provisions of C-188 Convention, as the Central Government may deem necessary,—
(a) the owner or his agent or skipper of an Indian fishing vessel shall enter into an agreement in such form and manner as may be prescribed, with every fisher whom he engages to man the vessel and shall submit a copy thereof to the person or authority as may be notified by the Central Government;
(b) a fisher’s right to wages and provisions shall begin either at the time he commences work or at the time specified in the agreement or presence onboard, whichever is earliest;
(c) a fisher engaged under this section shall not,—
(i) by any agreement forfeit his lien on the fishing vessel; or
(ii) be deprived of any remedy for the recovery of his wages to which, in the absence of the agreement, he shall be entitled; or
(iii) by any agreement abandon his right to wages in case of the loss of the fishing vessel; or
(iv) abandon any right that he may have or obtain in the nature of salvage, and every agreement inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall be void.
(a) the owner or his agent or skipper of an Indian fishing vessel shall enter into an agreement in such form and manner as may be prescribed, with every fisher whom he engages to man the vessel and shall submit a copy thereof to the person or authority as may be notified by the Central Government;
(b) a fisher’s right to wages and provisions shall begin either at the time he commences work or at the time specified in the agreement or presence onboard, whichever is earliest;
(c) a fisher engaged under this section shall not,—
(i) by any agreement forfeit his lien on the fishing vessel; or
(ii) be deprived of any remedy for the recovery of his wages to which, in the absence of the agreement, he shall be entitled; or
(iii) by any agreement abandon his right to wages in case of the loss of the fishing vessel; or
(iv) abandon any right that he may have or obtain in the nature of salvage, and every agreement inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall be void.