Section 96
Vessel not to be boarded without permission.
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.
Where a vessel has arrived at a port or place in India at the end of a voyage and any person, not being in the service of the Government or not being duly authorised by law for the purpose, goes onboard the vessel without the permission of the master, the master may take such person into custody and deliver him up forthwith to a police officer to be taken before a Judicial Magistrate of the first class and dealt with according to the provisions of this Act.