An Act to forester the development and ensure the efficient maintenance of an Indian mercantile marine in a manner best suited to seven the national interests and for that purpose to established a National Shipping Board and a Shipping Development Fund, to provide for the registration of Indian ships and generally to amend and consolidate the law relating to merchant shipping.
Short Title and Commencement
- This Act may be called the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
- It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.
Application of The Merchant Shipping Act 1958
- Unless otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this Act which apply to ships which are registered in India or which in terms of this Act are required to be registered shall so apply wherever the ships may be.
- Unless otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this Act which apply to ships other than those referred to in sub-section (1) shall so apply only while any such ships is within India, including the territorial waters thereof.
Provisions Relating to Welfare of Workers
- Crew accommodation.
- Supply of sufficient drinking water.
- Supply of necessities like bedding models, mess utensils.
- To supply medicines, medical stores and provisions of surgical and medical advice etc.
- Maintenance of proper weights and measures on board and grant of relief to distressed sea men abroad a ship.
- Every foreign going ship carrying more than the prescribed number of persons, including the crew, is required to have on board as part of her complement a qualified medical officer.
- Appointment of a seamen’s welfare officer at such ports in or outside India as the government may consider necessary.
- Establishment of hostels, clubs and canteen, libraries etc.
- Provision of educational facilities etc.
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