Section 55
Definitions.
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.
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance” means a declaration issued by the Central Government or by any officer, authority or organisation authorised by the Central Government in this behalf, in respect of a vessel that it meets with the requirements and standards set out in the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention;
(b) “recruitment and placement service” means any person, company, institution, agency or other organisation, in public or private sector which is engaged in recruiting seafarers on behalf of employers or placing seafarers with the employers;
(c) “ship owner” means the owner of the ship or any organisation or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on ship owners in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention, even if any other organisation or persons fulfil certain of the duties or responsibilities on behalf of the ship owner.
(a) “Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance” means a declaration issued by the Central Government or by any officer, authority or organisation authorised by the Central Government in this behalf, in respect of a vessel that it meets with the requirements and standards set out in the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention;
(b) “recruitment and placement service” means any person, company, institution, agency or other organisation, in public or private sector which is engaged in recruiting seafarers on behalf of employers or placing seafarers with the employers;
(c) “ship owner” means the owner of the ship or any organisation or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on ship owners in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention, even if any other organisation or persons fulfil certain of the duties or responsibilities on behalf of the ship owner.