Home India Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014...
Date: 2015-01-16 Category: DGS Circular State: Union Government Country: India

Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014

Issued by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways · Directorate General of Shipping

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Executive Summary & Key Takeaways

**Executive Summary** The document is the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014, enacted by the Parliament of India and assented to by the President on December 9, 2014. The Act amends the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, by inserting a new Part XIB concerning the control of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships. The Act comes into force on a date appointed by the Central Government via official gazette notification. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Applicability (Section 356P):** * Applies to every Indian ship, ships operating under Indian authority, and ships entering Indian ports or waters. * Does not apply to warships or naval auxiliary ships used solely for government non-commercial service. The Government must take measures to operate such ships consistently with the Act. * **Definitions (Section 356Q):** * Defines key terms such as "anti-fouling system," "authority," "Committee," "Convention," "gross tonnage," "international voyage," "length," "Organisation," "port," and "ship." * **Control of Anti-Fouling Systems (Section 356R):** * Indian ships and ships operating under Indian authority must comply with the requirements of Part XIB, including standards and measures. * All other vessels to which this Part applies must comply with the requirements of the anti-fouling systems. * **International Anti-Fouling System Certificate (Section 356S):** * Ships of 400 gross tonnage and above engaged in international voyages must have an International Anti-Fouling System Certificate. * Ships of 24 meters or more but less than 400 gross tonnage engaging in international voyages must have a declaration on board. * Indian ships of 400 gross tonnage and above not engaged in international voyages must be issued an Indian Anti-Fouling System Certificate. * **Certificate Issuance (Section 356T):** * The Central Government may issue International Anti-Fouling System Certificates for foreign ships at the request of their governments. * The Central Government may request foreign governments to issue certificates for Indian ships. * **Waste Control (Section 356U):** * The Central Government shall prescribe rules and measures to ensure safe and environmentally sound collection, handling, treatment, and disposal of wastes from anti-fouling systems. * **Record Keeping (Section 356V):** * Every ship to which Part XIB applies must maintain a record of anti-fouling systems. * **Inspection and Control (Section 356W):** * Authorised surveyors may inspect ships to ensure compliance with the Act, verify certificates or declarations, sample anti-fouling systems, and verify records. * **Contravention and Penalties (Section 356X, 436):** * The Director-General may detain ships contravening the Act or levy penalties as specified in section 436. * The Director-General may request assistance from the Indian Navy or Coast Guard. * Penalties are specified for offences related to compliance with sections 356R, 356S, 356U, 356V, and 356W. * **Rule-Making Power (Section 356Y):** * The Central Government may make rules to carry out the provisions of Part XIB, including measures for ship operation, standards for compliance, certificate procedures, waste disposal, and record-keeping. **Impact Analysis** **Ship Owners and Operators** *Impact:* Required to comply with new regulations on anti-fouling systems, including certification, waste disposal, and record-keeping. *Action Required:* Ensure ships meet the standards set forth in Part XIB, obtain necessary certifications, and maintain required records. **Central Government (Director-General, Surveyors, etc.)** *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and enforcing the new regulations, including inspections, certification, and waste management. *Action Required:* Establish rules, procedures, and infrastructure to implement the Act, conduct inspections, issue certificates, and manage waste. **Foreign Governments** *Impact:* May be requested to issue or recognise International Anti-Fouling System Certificates for Indian ships. *Action Required:* Cooperate with the Indian Government in issuing and recognising certificates as per the Convention. **Port Authorities** *Impact:* Shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Indian Port Act, 1908, the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, or under any other law for the time being in force. *Action Required:* Include any terminal, either within the port limits or otherwise;

Key Entities Referenced

Merchant Shipping Act, 1958: The principal Act that the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014 amends. Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014: The main subject; amends the Merchant Shipping Act of 1958, particularly by adding Part XIB concerning harmful anti-fouling systems on ships. Part XIB: New section added to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 by the Amendment Act, concerning control of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships. Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department): The ministry responsible for publishing the Act. International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001: International agreement referenced regarding standards for anti-fouling systems.
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jftLVªh lañ Mhñ ,yñ—(,u)04@0007@2003—14 REGISTERED NO. DL—(N)04/0007/2003—14 vlk/kkj.k EXTRAORDINARY Hkkx [k.M II — 1 PART II—Section 1 izkf/kdkj ls izdkf'kr PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY lañ ubZ fnYyh] cq/kokj] fnlEcj 10] 2014@ vxzgk;.k 19] 1936 ¼'kd½ 37] No. 37] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014/AGRAHAYANA 19, 1936 (SAKA) bl Hkkx esa fHkUu i`"B la[;k nh tkrh gS ftlls fd ;g vyx ladyu ds :i esa j[kk tk ldsA Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a separate compilation. MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE (Legislative Department) New Delhi, the 10th December, 2014/Agrahayana 19, 1936 (Saka) The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 9th December, 2014, and is hereby published for general information:— THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2014 (NO. 31 OF 2014) [9th December, 2014.] An Act further to amend the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-fifth Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 1. (1) This Act may be called the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014. Short title and commencement. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. 44 of 1958. 2. In the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), Insertion of after Part XIA, the following Part shall be inserted, namely:— new Part XIB. 'PART XIB CONTROL OF HARMFUL ANTI-FOULING SYSTEMS ON SHIPS 356P. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Part, this Part shall apply to— Application. (a) every Indian ship, wherever it is; (b) ships not entitled to fly the flag of India, but which operate under the authority of India; and2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— (c) ships that enter a port, shipyard, or offshore terminal or place in India or within the territorial waters of India or any marine areas adjacent thereto over which India has, or may hereafter have, exclusive jurisdiction in regard to control of pollution under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 or any other law for the time being in 80 of 1976. force. (2) This Part shall not apply to any warship, naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated by or under the authority of India and used, for the time being, only on Government non-commercial service: Provided that in case of such ships, the Government shall ensure by the adoption of appropriate measures not impairing operations or operational capabilities of such ship that such ships are operated in a prescribed manner consistent with this Part. Definitions. 356Q. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,— (a) “anti-fouling system” means a coating, paint, surface treatment, surface, or device that is used on a ship to control or prevent attachment of unwanted organisms; (b) “authority” means— (i) the Government of India under whose authority the ship is operating; (ii) with respect to a ship entitled to fly a flag of any other country, the Government of that country; and (iii) with respect to floating platforms engaged in exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed and subsoil thereof adjacent to Indian coast over which Government of India exercises sovereign rights for the purposes of exploration and exploitation of its natural resources (including Floating Storage Units and Floating Production Storage and Offloading Units), the Government of India; (c) “Committee” means the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the Organisation; (d) “Convention” means the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001; (e) “gross tonnage” means the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations contained in Annex 1 to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, or any successor Convention as ratified or acceded to or adopted by the Government of India; (f) “international voyage” means a voyage by a ship entitled to fly the flag of one State to or from a port, shipyard, or offshore terminal under the jurisdiction of another State; (g) “length” means the length as defined in the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as modified by the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto, or any successor Convention as ratified or acceded to or adopted by the Government of India; (h) “Organisation” means the International Maritime Organisation; (i) “port” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in the Indian Port Act, 1908, the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, or under any other law for the time 15 of 1908. being in force and shall include any terminal, either within the port limits or 38 of 1963. otherwise;SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 3 (j) “ship” means a vessel of any type whatsoever operating in the marine environment and includes hydrofoil boats, air-cushion vehicles, submersibles, floating craft, fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units and floating production storage and off-loading units. 356R. (1) Every Indian ship and other ships which are not entitled to fly Indian Control of flag but operating under the authority of India, shall comply with the requirements set anti-fouling systems. forth in this Part, including the applicable standards and requirements as prescribed from time to time as well as effective measures to ensure that such ships comply with the requirements, as may be prescribed from time to time. (2) All other vessels to which this Part applies shall comply with requirements of the anti-fouling systems as prescribed from time to time. 356S. (1) No Indian ship or other ships entitled to fly Indian flag or operating Issuance of under its authority, which is of 400 gross tonnage and above shall engage in International Anti-Fouling International Voyage unless there is on-board, in respect of that ship, a certificate System issued by the Director-General, to be called as International Anti-Fouling System Certificate. Certificate, in such form, for such duration and subject to such procedures and conditions as may be prescribed, from time to time. (2) No Indian ship or other ships entitled to fly Indian flag or operating under its authority excluding fixed or floating platforms, Floating Storage Units and Floating Production Storage and Offloading Units which is of 24 metres or more in length, but less than 400 gross tonnage, shall engage in international voyage unless there is on- board a declaration in such form and subject to such procedures and conditions as may be prescribed, from time to time. (3) Indian ships entitled to fly Indian flag which are of 400 gross tonnage and above, with appropriate conditions as applicable for each type of ships and not engaged in international voyage and are required to be registered under this Act, shall be issued an Indian Anti-Fouling System Certificate, as may be prescribed from time to time. 356T. (1) The Central Government may, at the request of the Government of a Issue of Anti- country to which the Convention applies, cause an International Anti-Fouling System Fouling Certificate to be issued in accordance with the Convention in respect of any ship of System Certificate that country to which the Convention applies, if it is satisfied that such certificate can for foreign properly be issued, and where a certificate is so issued, it shall contain a statement ships in India that it has been so issued on a request, as per the procedure prescribed in this behalf and Indian from time to time. ships in foreign (2) The Central Government may request the Government of a country to which countries. the Convention applies, to issue an International Anti-Fouling System Certificate in accordance with the Convention in respect of a ship to which this Part applies and the certificate so issued in pursuance of such a request shall contain a statement that it has been so issued and shall have the same effect as if it had been issued by the Central Government under this Act. 356U. Taking into account the international rules, standards and requirements, Controls of the Central Government shall prescribe the rules and take appropriate measures in its waste territory to require that wastes from the application or removal of an anti-fouling materials. system, are collected, handled, treated and disposed of in a safe and environmentally sound manner, by any person in India, to protect human health and the environment. 356V. (1) Every ship to which this Part applies shall maintain, a record of anti- Record of fouling systems in the prescribed form. anti-fouling systems. (2) The manner, in which the record of anti-fouling systems to be maintained shall be prescribed having regard to the provisions of the Convention and this Part.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PART II— Inspection 356W. (1) Any person authorised by the Director-General as Surveyor in this and control of behalf may inspect, at any reasonable time, any ship to which any of the provisions of all ships this Part applies, for the purposes of— above 400 gross tonnage. (a) ensuring that the prohibitions, restrictions and obligations imposed by or under this Part are complied with; (b) verifying that, where required, there is on-board a valid International Anti-Fouling System Certificate or a declaration on anti-fouling system; or (c) brief sampling of the ship's anti-fouling system that does not affect the integrity, structure, or operation of the anti-fouling system taking into account the procedures as prescribed from time to time; and (d) verifying any record required to be maintained on-board. (2) For the purposes of clause (c) of sub-section (1), the time required to process the results of such sampling shall not be used as a basis for preventing the movement and departure of the ship. (3) Any person authorised by the Director-General as surveyor in this behalf, may, certify any matter referred to in sub-section (1) in respect of such ship as a copy of the records of the ship to be a true copy and such copy shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated therein. Information 356X. (1) If, on receipt of a report from a surveyor or other person authorised to regarding inspect a ship, the Director-General is satisfied that any provision of this Part has contravention been contravened by such ship within the coastal waters, the Director-General or any of the officer authorised by him in this behalf, may— provisions of Convention. (a) detain the ship until the causes of such contravention are removed to the satisfaction of the Director-General or the officer authorised by him; and (b) levy penalty on such ship as specified in section 436: Provided that where the Director-General deems it necessary, he may request the Indian Navy or the Coast Guard for preventing the ship from proceeding to sea and the Indian Navy or the Coast Guard, as the case may be, shall take action as requested by the Director-General. (2) On receipt of information from the Government of any country to which the Convention applies that a ship has contravened any provision of the Convention, the Central Government may, if it deems it necessary so to do, request such Government to furnish further details of the alleged contravention and, if satisfied that sufficient evidence is available, conduct investigation of the alleged violations and take appropriate measures in respect thereof. Power to 356Y. (1) The Central Government may, having regard to the provisions of the make rules. Convention, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Part. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:— (a) appropriate measures for operation of ships under the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 356P; (b) the standards, requirements and measures to ensure compliance under section 356R; (c) procedure and conditions and the fees which may be levied for inspection and issuance of international Anti-Fouling Systems Certificate under section 356S;SEC. 1] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY 5 (d) procedure and the fees which may be levied for issuance of Anti-Fouling Systems Certificate for foreign ships in India and Indian ships in foreign countries under section 356T; (e) procedure for collection, handling and disposal of wastes under section 356U; (f) the format of record of Anti-Fouling Systems, the manner in which such record shall be maintained under section 356V; (g) any other matter which is required to be or may be prescribed.’. 3. In section 436 of the principal Act, after serial number 115G and the entries relating Amendment thereto, the following shall be inserted, namely:— of section 436. Sl. Offences Section of this Act Penalties No. to which offence has reference 1 2 3 4 "115H. If the owner of an Indian ship fails 356R Fine which may extend to to comply with section 356R fifteen lakh rupees. 115-I If a master proceeds or attempts 356S Fine which may extend to to proceed to sea in contravention three lakh rupees. of section 356S 115J If the owner of an Indian ship or 356U Fine which may extend to any person fails to comply with one Lakh and fifty thousand the rules made or measures taken rupees. by the Central Government under section 356U 115K If the master of a ship fails to 356V Fine which may extend to maintain records as required one lakh and fifty thousand by section 356V rupees. 115L If the master of a ship fails to 356W(1) Fine which may extend to comply with sub-section (1) of one lakh and fifty thousand section 356W rupees.". ———— DR. SANJAY SINGH, Secretary to the Govt. of India. PRINTED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI—2014. GMGIPMRND—3501GI(S3)—11-12-2014.

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