Section 83
Shipping master to adjudicate disputes involving seafarer.
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) Where under the agreement with the seafarer any dispute arises between the master, ship owner or his agent and any of the seafarer of the vessel, it shall be submitted to the shipping master.
(2) Any dispute of an Indian seafarer, on a vessel registered in a State other than India, in the territorial waters of India, with the master or ship owner or his agent, may be submitted to the shipping master.
(3) The shipping master shall hear and after giving the parties an opportunity to be heard, decide the dispute submitted under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), pass an award in writing containing reasons, within a period of thirty days which shall be conclusive as to the rights of parties and any document relating to such dispute or award itself shall be prima facie evidence thereof:
Provided that if the shipping master does not pass an award within thirty days from the date of receipt of the dispute for sufficient cause, the shipping master may pass an award within a further period of thirty days.
(4) The award passed by the shipping master shall be enforceable in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in the same manner as if it were a decree of court.
(5) Nothing in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (22 of 1996) shall apply to any matter submitted to a shipping master for decision under this section.
(2) Any dispute of an Indian seafarer, on a vessel registered in a State other than India, in the territorial waters of India, with the master or ship owner or his agent, may be submitted to the shipping master.
(3) The shipping master shall hear and after giving the parties an opportunity to be heard, decide the dispute submitted under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), pass an award in writing containing reasons, within a period of thirty days which shall be conclusive as to the rights of parties and any document relating to such dispute or award itself shall be prima facie evidence thereof:
Provided that if the shipping master does not pass an award within thirty days from the date of receipt of the dispute for sufficient cause, the shipping master may pass an award within a further period of thirty days.
(4) The award passed by the shipping master shall be enforceable in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in the same manner as if it were a decree of court.
(5) Nothing in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (22 of 1996) shall apply to any matter submitted to a shipping master for decision under this section.