Section 37
National colours for Indian vessels.
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, declare the proper national colours for all Indian vessels and for all vessels owned by the Government and different colours may be declared for different classes of vessels.
(2) Vessels registered under this Part shall hoist the proper national colours,—
(a) on a signal being made to her by any vessel of the Indian Navy or Indian Coast Guard;
(b) on entering or leaving any port.
(3) Any commissioned officer of the Indian Navy or an officer of the Indian Coast Guard or a surveyor or an Indian ambassador may board any vessel on which any colours are hoisted contrary to this Act and seize and take away the colours which shall be forfeited to the Government.
(4) No person on board a vessel which is not an Indian vessel shall, for the purpose of making it appear to be an Indian vessel, use the Indian national colours, unless the assumption of Indian character has been made for the purpose of escaping capture by the enemy or by a foreign vessel of war in the exercise of some belligerent right.
(2) Vessels registered under this Part shall hoist the proper national colours,—
(a) on a signal being made to her by any vessel of the Indian Navy or Indian Coast Guard;
(b) on entering or leaving any port.
(3) Any commissioned officer of the Indian Navy or an officer of the Indian Coast Guard or a surveyor or an Indian ambassador may board any vessel on which any colours are hoisted contrary to this Act and seize and take away the colours which shall be forfeited to the Government.
(4) No person on board a vessel which is not an Indian vessel shall, for the purpose of making it appear to be an Indian vessel, use the Indian national colours, unless the assumption of Indian character has been made for the purpose of escaping capture by the enemy or by a foreign vessel of war in the exercise of some belligerent right.