Section 5
Constitution of Seafarer’s Welfare Board.
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) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification specify in this behalf, there shall be constituted an advisory board to be called as Seafarer’s Welfare Board (hereinafter referred to as the Welfare Board) for the purposes of advising the Central Government on the measures to be taken for promoting the welfare of seafarers under this Act, generally and in particular on the following matters, namely:—
(a) the establishment of hostels or boarding and lodging houses for seafarers;
(b) the establishment of clubs, canteens, libraries and other like amenities for the benefit of seafarers;
(c) the establishment of hospital and provision of medical treatment for seafarers;
(d) the provision of educational and other facilities for seafarers;
(e) the measures to be taken for welfare of distressed or abandoned seafarers;
(f) the measures to be taken in the case of seafarer who is a foreigner but abandoned in the waters within the jurisdiction of India.
(2) The composition of the Welfare Board, the term of office of members thereof, the procedure to be followed in the conduct of its business, the travelling and other allowances payable to, members of the Welfare Board, shall be such as may be prescribed.
(3) The fee payable by the owners of vessels for the purposes of providing amenities to seafarers, the procedure by which any such fee may be collected or recovered and the manner in which the proceeds of such fees, after deduction of the cost of collection, shall be utilised, shall be such as may be prescribed.
(4) The port based welfare facility and any other measures to be taken for promoting the welfare of seafarers shall be such as may be prescribed.
(a) the establishment of hostels or boarding and lodging houses for seafarers;
(b) the establishment of clubs, canteens, libraries and other like amenities for the benefit of seafarers;
(c) the establishment of hospital and provision of medical treatment for seafarers;
(d) the provision of educational and other facilities for seafarers;
(e) the measures to be taken for welfare of distressed or abandoned seafarers;
(f) the measures to be taken in the case of seafarer who is a foreigner but abandoned in the waters within the jurisdiction of India.
(2) The composition of the Welfare Board, the term of office of members thereof, the procedure to be followed in the conduct of its business, the travelling and other allowances payable to, members of the Welfare Board, shall be such as may be prescribed.
(3) The fee payable by the owners of vessels for the purposes of providing amenities to seafarers, the procedure by which any such fee may be collected or recovered and the manner in which the proceeds of such fees, after deduction of the cost of collection, shall be utilised, shall be such as may be prescribed.
(4) The port based welfare facility and any other measures to be taken for promoting the welfare of seafarers shall be such as may be prescribed.