The Merchant Shipping Act of 1958 was enacted to comprehensively legislate maritime matters in independent India, replacing the prior Act from 1923 based on UK law. The 1958 Act has since been amended and revised numerous times to conform with international standards. It addresses the registration of Indian ships, certification of officers, rights of seamen, safety of ships and passengers, pollution prevention, casualties and more over 24 parts. The Act establishes bodies like the National Shipping Board and aims to regulate India's shipping industry in line with international law.

1. Merchant Shipping Act
1958
Outline

2. History
 The first Indian Merchant Shipping Act was enacted in 1923, the
provision of which were in line with the U.K. Merchant Shipping Act,
1894. After independence, taking care of new conditions and
changes that have taken place in the Shipping Industry, a
comprehensive legislation passed by Indian Parliament in 1958
known as Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The Act has been constantly
under revision and amendments to ratify the changes approved by
the International Maritime Organisation, through its conventions and
protocols, to which India is a Member.
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3. The Merchant Shipping Act as is existed today
has 24 parts.

4. Part I deals with the preliminary giving short
title of the Act and date of commencement,
application of the Act and definitions of the
terms used in the Act. The definitions have
been given for 66 terms. Besides certain
terms have been defined in their appropriate
part where they have occurred specifically.

5. Part II of the Act contains provisions
relating to the establishment and
composition of' National Shipping
Board, its functions and powers of the
Government to make rules in this
respect for term of office of members,
appointment of officers or other
allowances of Board members.

6. Part III deals with the General Administration,
appointment of Director General, establishment of
Mercantile Marine Departments, Shipping Offices,
Seaman's employment offices and Seamen's Welfare
Offices. It also deals with the appointment of Principal
Officers at MMD, Mumbai, Calcutta and Madras and
other officers at other ports, appointment of surveyors,
radio inspectors, Shipping Masters, Director of
Seamen's Employment Offices and Seamen's Welfare
Officers.

7. Part IV - which dealt with the formation of
Shipping Development Fund and
establishment of Shipping Development
Fund Committee, has been abolished
vide M.S. (Amendment) Act of 1986 (66
of 1986)

8. Part V deals with the registration of Indian ships. It
defines the Indian ships, contains provisions for
obligation to register, procedure for registration,
Grant of certificate of registry, endorsement for
change of Master and Owner, provision far transfer
of ships shares etc., rules as to name of ship,
provisions for registry of alternations registry a
new and transfer of registry, national character of
the ships and flag etc.

9. Part VI - gives provisions relating to
the certificates of officers - Masters,
Mates, Engineers, Skippers etc.,
and also requirments of officers on
board various category of ships.

10. Part VI A contains provisions for
obligation of certain certificate
holders to serve Government or in
Indian ships.

11. Part VII deals with seamen and apprentices. It gives wide ranging
provision for classification of seamen, their engagements,
discharge, payment of wages, their right for wages dispute
between seamen and employers, provisions for property of
deceased seamen and apprentices, distressed seamen,
provisions for health and accommodation, protection of seamen
in case of litigation and other matters, provision as to discipline,
duties of Shipping Master, business of Seamen's employment
offices and function of National Welfare Board for seafarers,
provisions for rule making powers for imposition of the Board,
term of office of members, procedure for conduct of business,
levy of fee for providing amenities to seamen and procedure for
collection and recovery of Levy fee.

12. Part VIII deals with passenger ships, their
survey, Certificate of survey, powers of
surveyor, fee, duration of survey, etc. It
provides for keeping order in passenger
ships specifying certain acts of persons as
an offence under the act. This part also
contains provision for special trade
passenger ships and pilgrim ships

13. Part IX of the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 deals with the provisions relating to
Safety.
This part gives the provisions relating to construction rules for ships,
prevention of collisions, life saving appliances and fire appliances,
installation of radio telegraphy radio telephony and direction finders,
signaling lamp and provisions relating to stability information. The part also
deals with the provisions relating to Safety Certificates, Safety equipment
certificates, Safety radio telegraphy Certificates, exemption certificates, etc.,
provision for determining load lines, issue of load line certificates and special
provisions as to ships other than Indian ships. This part also provides
powers to make rules as to timber cargo, carriage of dangerous goods, grain
loading plan and carriage of grain. The provisions also exists for sub division
load lines, unseaworthy Ships, detention of unsafe ships and liability for cost
of detention and powers to make rules to issue certificates under this part.

14. Part IX A Deals with Nuclear Ships which
includes application or non application
of certain provision of this Act to
Nuclear ships, issue of Nuclear
passenger and Nuclear Cargo Ship
Safety Certificate and powers to make
rules in this respect.

15. Part X - This part deals with the
collision, accident at sea and
liability which includes provision for
division of loss in case of collision,
damages for personal injury etc.

16.  Part X A - gives provision for limitation of liability of
owners in case of certain damages.
 Part X B – gives provision for civil liability for oil
pollution damage. It embodies provisions for limitation
of liability of the owner, constitution of limitation fund,
consolidation of claims & distribution of fund amongst
claimants, provision for compulsory insurance or other
financial guarantee and rule making powers.

17. Part XI - This part gives provision for regular method of
giving helm orders, duty of master to report danger to
navigation, manner of communicating reports of danger to
navigations, obligation to render assistance to persons and
ships in danger, etc. This part is also under amendments in
accordance with the recommendations given by the review
committee to include foreign flag vessels under perview,
giving information by Indian ships about position, course,
speed to maritime administration and provision for Indian
ships to be fitted with prescribed navigational aids and
equipments.

18. Part XI A – Prevention and containment of pollution of sea by Oil :
This part contains provision for prevention of pollution and gives
powers to Central Government for prohibition as to discharge of
oil and oily mixtures, inspection and control of ships to which
Oil Pollution Convention applies, maintenance or Oil record
book, oil reception facilities at the ports in India and powers of
the Government to take measures for preventing or containing
oil pollution, direction to certain ships to render assistance and
levy of oil pollution cess. Rules can also be framed by the
Government under the provision of this part.

19. Part XII : This part provides the provision for investigation and
inquiries in shipping casualties. It gives powers to the Court for
holding formal investigations, to arrest witnesses or enter the
ships, to commit trial, to censure masters, mates or engineer, or
to remove master. A marine board can be appointed by
counselor officer if the casualty occurs at foreign waters.
Central Government can cancel or suspend certificate of Master,
Mate or Engineer. Constitution of court of survey, reference in
difficult cases to scientific persons and investigation into
explosions or fire on board of ship are the other provisions of
this part.

20. Part XIII - This part gives provision
for matters relating to wreck and
salvage. India has ratified 1989
Salvage Convention .

21. Part XIV - of the Act gives powers to the
Central Govt. for control of Indian ships
and ships engaged in coasting trade.
Section 412 giving powers to fix
shipping rates has already been
abolished. Some relaxation have also
been given under cabotage law.

22. Part XV – contains the provisions for
sailing vessels and part XVA for
fishing boats, their registry, name,
inspection, certification etc.

23. Part XVI – gives the provisions for
penalties for violation of the
provisions of the Act and procedure
thereof.

24. Part XVII` contains miscellaneous
provisions for appointing
examiners, powers of ship
surveyor, inquiry into case of death
on board the ships etc.