Bill introduced in Lok Sabha for expanding eligibility criteria for merchant ships' ownership
Merchant Vessels: A bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, which provides for expanding the eligibility criteria for ownership of ships under the Indian flag and increasing the tonnage.
On Tuesday, a bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha that provides for expanding the eligibility criteria for ownership of ships under the Indian flag and increasing the tonnage.
Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal introduced the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024. It provides for a body to be notified by the Central Government that will carry out the regulatory and inspection functions regarding the safety of ships and port facilities.
The object and reasons of the Bill state that it has become imperative to repeal the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and provide for a "contemporary, forward-looking and dynamic law" to meet the needs of India as an emerging economy.
The bill provides for the registration of foreign ships chartered by Indian charterers on bareboat charter-cum-demise contracts to expand international trade opportunities and increase Indian tonnage. This shall be associated with the temporary registration of ships intended for recycling in India or granted to the Indian vessel by way of a provisional certificate of registration.
It provides for monitoring and supervision of maritime education and training. So that a certificate of competency or a certificate of proficiency can be provided to facilitate Indian seafarers to work on ships. And the rules of the Maritime Labor Convention Regulations can be adopted.
The bill makes provision for making standards in preventing pollution cases that are necessary for precautionary measures and incidents giving out threats for causing pollution in the air, marine, environment, coasts, or any part of coastal waters.
It empowers the Central Government to seize and arrest the ships within India or in coastal waters as a ship without nationality if a ship is not legally entitled to fly the flag of any State or has lost such right.
The Bill enables the Central Government to give directions to the port authorities or State maritime boards or any other authority or agency for assistance, in respect of abandoned ships, on or near the coast of India or in the coastal waters.
The Bill enables the Principal Officer to take action against unsafe ships that present a threat to the safety of life or the environment and enables the Central Government to take control and detain ships within or in the coastal waters of India as a ship without statehood if such a ship is not legally entitled to fly the flag of any State or has lost such right.
