Home India Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Rules 2026...
Date: 2026-07-07 Category: Extra Ordinary State: Union Government Country: India

Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Rules 2026

Issued by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways · Not Applicable

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways notified the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims) Rules, 2026, which came into force on July 7, 2026. These rules supersede the 2015 regulations and establish new financial limits for maritime claims involving loss of life, personal injury, and property damage. The rules apply to all Indian vessels and foreign vessels in Indian waters, excluding non-commercial government-owned ships. **Key Points / Main Content** **Applicability and Scope** * **Vessels Covered:** Applies to every Indian vessel and all foreign vessels entering, departing, or operating in Indian coastal waters. * **Exemptions:** Does not apply to warships, naval auxiliaries, or government-owned ships used for non-commercial purposes. * **Exclusions:** These rules do not affect laws regarding nuclear damage, oil pollution damage covered by specific conventions, or liabilities related to the removal of sunken or abandoned ships and cargo. **Calculation of Liability Limits** * **Loss of Life or Personal Injury:** * Ships up to 2,000 tons: 3,020,000 Units of Account. * 2,001 to 30,000 tons: Additional 1,208 units per ton. * 30,001 to 70,000 tons: Additional 906 units per ton. * Above 70,000 tons: Additional 604 units per ton. * **Other General Maritime Claims:** * Ships up to 2,000 tons: 1,510,000 Units of Account. * 2,001 to 30,000 tons: Additional 604 units per ton. * 30,001 to 70,000 tons: Additional 453 units per ton. * Above 70,000 tons: Additional 302 units per ton. * **Passenger Claims:** Liability is limited to 175,000 Units of Account multiplied by the number of passengers the ship is authorized to carry. * **Salvors:** For salvors not operating from a ship, the limit is calculated based on a fixed tonnage of 1,500 tons. **Financial Standards** * **Unit of Account:** Defined as Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as established by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). * **Currency Conversion:** Units are converted into Indian Rupees based on the official value determined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the date the liability fund is constituted. **Impact Analysis** **Ship Owners, Charterers, and Managers** **Impact** They are subject to updated financial liability ceilings for maritime accidents and claims. The rules define the maximum amount they must pay for personal injury or property damage based on the ship's gross tonnage. **Action Required** Must ensure compliance with the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and calculate liability funds using the new SDR-based tiers in the event of a maritime claim. **Salvors** **Impact** Salvors operating independently of a vessel have their liability limited based on a standardized 1,500-ton calculation. **Action Required** Must adhere to the 1,500-tonnage limit calculation when seeking to limit liability for salvage services. **Passengers and Claimants** **Impact** The rules define the maximum compensation available for loss of life or personal injury. If the primary fund for life/injury claims is insufficient, they may rank rateably against the fund for "other claims." **Action Required** Claimants must file maritime claims in accordance with the limits specified in Rule 4 and the passenger certificate issued for the ship. **Reserve Bank of India (RBI)** **Impact** The RBI is designated as the authority for determining the official exchange rate between SDRs and Indian Rupees for these claims. **Action Required** Provide the official value of the SDR in Indian Rupees on the specific date a liability fund is constituted under the Act.

Key Entities Referenced

Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims) Rules, 2026: The primary regulation established to define the scope and calculation methods for limiting liability regarding maritime claims in Indian waters. Merchant Shipping Act, 2025: The parent legislation under which these rules are formulated, providing the legal authority for regulating maritime transport and liability. Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976: The international treaty referenced in the rules that provides the framework for defining maritime claims and calculating liability limits. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The primary government ministry responsible for issuing this notification and overseeing the implementation of maritime policies in India. International Monetary Fund: The international organization whose 'special drawing rights' are designated as the official unit of account for determining maritime liability amounts.
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रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-09072026-274303 CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D9H0x7x2x0 26-274303 xxxGIDExxx असाधारण EXTRAORDINARY भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i) PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY स.ं 527] नई दिल्ली, मगं लवार, िुलाई 7, 2026/आषाढ 16, 1948 25/आषाढ़ 3, 1947 No. 527] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026/ASHADHA 16, 1948 SHADHA 3, 1947 पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और िलमाग गमत्रं ालय अजधसचू ना नई दिल्ली, 6 िुलाई, 2026 सा.का.जन. 585(अ) .—केन्द्रीय सरकार, वाजणज्य पोत पररवहन अजधजनयम, 2025 (2025 का 24) की धारा 165 की उपधारा (1) और धारा 166 के साथ परित धारा 174 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, और वाजणज्य पोत पररवहन (समुरीय िावों के जलए िाजयत्व की सीमा) जनयम, 2015 को, उन बातों के जसवाय अजधक्ांत करत े हुए जिन्द्ह ें ऐसे अजधक्मण से पूवग दकया गया ह ैया करने का लोप दकया गया ह,ै जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती ह,ै अथागत्: - 1. संजिप्त नाम और प्रारंभ (1) इन जनयमों का संजिप्त नाम वाजणज्य पोत पररवहन (समुरीय िावों के जलए िाजयत्व की सीमा) जनयम, 2026 ह।ै (2) य ेजनयम रािपत्र म ेंइनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत होंगे। 2. लाग ू होना- (1) अजधजनयम की धारा 173 के प्रावधानों के अधीन रहते हुए, य े जनयम जनम्नजलजखत पर लाग ू होंगे: (क) प्रत्येक भारतीय िलयान; और (ख) भारत में दकसी पत्तन म ें प्रवेि करने या प्रस्ट्थान करन े वाला या तटीय समुर में प्रचाजलत होने वाला भारतीय िलयान से जभन्न प्रत्येक िलयान, ककंतु युद्धपोतों, नौसेना सहायक या दकसी राज्य की सरकार द्वारा स्ट्वाजमत्व या प्रचालन वाले और केवल गरै - व्यावसाजयक उद्देश्यों हते ु कुछ समय के जलए उपयोग दकए गए अन्द्य पोतों पर लाग ूनहीं होगा । 5101 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (2) इन जनयमों में कोई भी बात, िो परमाणु िजत, अन्द्य जवजिष्ट अजभसमयों के अधीन आन े वाली तेल प्रिषू ण िजत, या जविेष अजधजनयजमजतयों द्वारा िाजसत िाजयत्व के संबंध में भारत में प्रवृत्त दकसी अन्द्य जवजध के संचालन को प्रभाजवत नहीं करेगा, जिसम ें डूबन,े नष्ट होने, फंसे हुए या पररत्यि पोत, या िहािी माल सजहत दकसी चीज़ को उिाने, हटान,े नष्ट करन े या हाजनरजहत बनाने स ेसंबंजधत मामले िाजमल हैं, िो ऐसे पोत पर हो या रहा हो। 3. पररभाषाए ँ- (1) इन जनयमों में, िब तक दक संिभ गअन्द्यथा अपेजित न हो, - (क) "अजधजनयम" स े वाजणज्य पोत पररवहन अजधजनयम, 2025 (2025 का 24) अजभप्रेत ह;ै (ख) "अजभसमय" स े समुरीय िावों के जलए िाजयत्व की सीमा पर यथा संिोजधत अजभसमय, 1976 अजभप्रेत ह ै; (ग) "िाजयत्व" का वही अथ ग होगा िो अजधजनयम की धारा 162 के स्ट्पष्टीकरण 2 के खडं (क) म ें उसका ह ै और इसमें धारा 162 की उप-धारा (1) म ेंजवजनर्िगष्ट िावे िाजमल माने िाएंगे; (घ) िाजयत्व की सीमा के संबंध म ें "समुरीय िावा", स े अजधजनयम की धारा 162 की उप-धारा (1) म ें अजभप्रेत ह;ै (ड़) "पोत स्ट्वामी" से समुर म ेंचलन े वाले पोत का स्ट्वामी, चाटगरर, प्रबंधक और प्रचालक; अजभप्रेत ह,ै और (च) "टन भार" स े अजधजनयम के अधीन बनाए गए लागू जनयमों के अनुसार सगं जणत सकल टन भार अजभप्रेत ह।ै (2) इन जनयमों म ें प्रयुि और अपररभाजषत िब्िों और अजभव्यजियों का वही अथग होगा िो अजधजनयम में क्मिः उनके ह।ैं 4. समुरीय िावों के जलए िाजयत्व की सीमा - (1) अजधजनयम की धारा 162 में जनर्िगष्ट कोई व्यजि, िो यात्री िावों से जभन्न दकसी जवजिष्ट अवसर पर उत्पन्न होने वाले समुरीय िावों के जलए अपने िाजयत्व को सीजमत करना चाहता ह,ै उसकी सगं णना जनम्नजलजखत रीजत से की िाएगी, अथागत:् - (क) मृत्य ुहोने या वैयजिक िजत के िावों के संबंध में, - (i) 2000 टन स ेअनजधक टन भार वाले पोत के जलए लेखे की 3,020,000 इकाईयां; (ii) 2000 टन स े अजधक टन भार वाल े पोत के जलए, खडं (क) के उप-खडं (i) म ें उजल्लजखत के अजतररि जनम्नजलजखत रकम, - (अ) 2,001 से 30,000 टन तक के प्रत्येक टन के जलए, लेख ेकी 1208 इकाईया;ं (आ) 30,001 से 70,000 टन तक के प्रत्येक टन के जलए, लेखे की 906 इकाईया;ं और (इ) 70,000 टन से अजधक प्रत्येक टन के जलए, लेखे की 604 इकाईया ं । (ख) दकन्द्हीं अन्द्य िावों के संबंध म,ें - (i) 2000 टन स ेअनजधक कम टन भार वाले पोत के जलए लेख ेकी 1,510,000 इकाईयां; (ii) 2,000 टन से अजधक टन भार वाल े पोत के जलए, खडं (ख) के उप-खडं (i) म ें उजल्लजखत के अजतररि जनम्नजलजखत रकम: (अ) 2,001 से 30,000 टन तक प्रत्येक टन के जलए, लेखे की 604 इकाईया;ं (आ) 30,001 से 70,000 टन तक के प्रत्येक टन के जलए, लेखे की 453 इकाईया;ं और (इ) 70,000 टन से अजधक प्रत्येक टन के जलए, लेखे की 302 इकाईया ं । (2) िहां उप-जनयम (1) के खडं (क) के अनुसार सगं जणत रकम उसमें उजल्लजखत िावों का पूणग संिाय करने के जलए अपयागप्त ह,ै वहा ं उप-जनयम (1) के खडं (ख) के अनुसार सगं जणत रकम उप-जनयम (1) के खंड (क) के अधीन िावों की असंित्त अजतिेष रकम संिाय के जलए उपलब्ध होगी, और ऐसी असंित्त अजतिेष रकम उप-जनयम (1) के खडं (ख) के अधीन उजल्लजखत िावों के साथ अनुपाजतक रूप म ेंहोगी।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3 (3) दकसी भी पोत से काम नहीं करने वाले दकसी भी उबारक के जलए या केवल दकसी पोत पर ही काम करने वाल े दकसी उबारक के जलए, या जिसके संबंध म ें वह बचाव सेवाएं प्रिान कर रहा है, िाजयत्व की सीमा की सगं णना 1,500 टन के टनभार के अनुसार की िाएगी। (4) दकसी पोत के याजत्रयों को हुई मृत्य ु या वैयजिक िजत के जलए दकसी जवजिष्ट अवसर पर उत्पन्न होन े वाल े िावों के संबंध म,ें पोत स्ट्वामी के िाजयत्व की सीमा लेख े की 1,75,000 इकाइयों को पोत के जलए िारी दकए गए यात्री प्रमाण पत्र के अनुसार पोत को ले िान े के जलए अजधकृत याजत्रयों की संख्या से गुणा करके कोई रकम होगी। 5. लेखे की इकाईयां - (1) इन जनयमों में जनर्िष्टग लेखे की इकाइयाँ अंतराष्ट्रग ीय मुरा जनजध द्वारा यथा पररभाजषत जविेष आहरण अजधकार ह।ैं (2) लेख े की इकाईयों को भारतीय रुपय े म ें ऐसे जविेष आहरण अजधकारों के रूप म ें आजधकाररक मल्ू य के अनुसार सपं ररवर्तगत दकया िाएगा, िो अजधजनयम की धारा 168 के अधीन जनजध के गिन की तारीख को भारतीय ररिवग बैंक द्वारा जनधागररत दकया िाए।ं [फा. स.ं एसवाई-19014/192/2025-एमिी-भाग(1)] मुकेि मंगल, अपर सजचव MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 6th July, 2026 G.S.R. 585(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by section 174 read with sub-section (1) of section 165 and section 166 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025), and in supersession of the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims) Rules, 2015, except in respect of things done or omitted to be done before such supersession, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely: – 1. Short title and commencement. — (1) These rules may be called the Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims) Rules, 2026. (2) These rules shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Application. — (1) Subject to the provisions of section 173 of the Act, these rules shall apply to, (a) every Indian vessel; and (b) every vessel, other than an Indian vessel, entering or departing a port in India or operating in the coastal waters, but shall not apply to warships, naval auxiliary or other ships owned or operated by the government of any State and used for the time being, only for non-commercial purposes. (2) Nothing in these rules shall affect the operation of any other law in force in India in respect of nuclear damage, oil pollution damage covered under other specific conventions, or liability governed by special enactments, including matters relating to the raising, removal, destruction or rendering harmless of a ship that is sunk, wrecked, stranded or abandoned, or of anything, including cargo, that is or has been on board such ship. 3. Definitions. — (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, - (a) “Act” means the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (24 of 2025); (b) “Convention” means the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, as amended; (c) “liability” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (a) of Explanation 2 to section 162 of the Act and shall be deemed to include claims specified in sub-section (1) of section 162; (d) “maritime claim”, in relation to limitation of liability, means a claim as specified in sub-section (1) of section 162 of the Act; (e) “ship owner” means the owner, charterer, manager, and operator of a sea-going ship; and (f) “tonnage” means the gross tonnage, calculated in accordance with the applicable rules made under the Act.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (2) The words and expressions used in these rules and not defined, but defined in the Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Act. 4. Limitation of liability for maritime claims. — (1) Any person referred to in section 162 of the Act, who seeks to limit their liability for maritime claims other than passenger claims, arising on any distinct occasion, shall be calculated in the following manner, namely:— (a) In respect of claims for loss of life or personal injury, — (i) 3,020,000 Units of Account for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 2000 tons; (ii) For a ship with a tonnage in excess of 2000 tons, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in sub-clause (i) of clause (a), — (A) For each ton from 2,001 to 30,000 tons, 1208 Units of Account; (B) For each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 906 Units of Account; and (C) For each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 604 Units of Account. (b) In respect of any other claims, — (i) 1,510,000 Units of Account for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 2000 tons; (ii) For a ship with a tonnage in excess of 2,000 tons, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in sub-clause (i) of clause (b): (A) For each ton from 2,001 to 30,000 tons, 604 Units of Account; (B) For each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 453 Units of Account; and (C) For each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 302 Units of Account. (2) Where the amount calculated in accordance with clause (a) of sub-rule (1) is insufficient to pay the claims mentioned therein in full, the amount calculated in accordance with clause (b) of sub-rule (1) shall be available for payment of the unpaid balance of claims under clause (a) of sub-rule (1), and such unpaid balance shall rank rateably with the claims mentioned under clause (b) of sub-rule (1). (3) The limit of liability for any salvor not operating from any ship or for any salvor operating solely on the ship to, or in respect of which he is rendering salvage services, shall be calculated according to a tonnage of 1,500 tons. (4) In respect of claims arising on any distinct occasion for loss of life or personal injury to passengers of a ship, the limit of liability of the ship owner shall be an amount of 1,75,000 Units of Account multiplied by the number of passengers which the ship is authorised to carry according to the passenger certificate issued for the ship. 5. Units of accounts. — (1) The units of account referred to in these rules are the special drawing rights, as defined by the International Monetary Fund. (2) The units of account shall be converted into Indian rupees according to the official value in rupees of the special drawing rights as determined by the Reserve Bank of India on the date of constitution of the fund under section 168 of the Act. [F. No. SY-19014/192/2025-MG-Part(1)] MUKESH MANGAL, Addl. Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.

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