Cabinet clears introduction of new Merchant Shipping Bill

The Dollar Business Bureau

In order to simplify the laws governing the merchant shipping in the country, the Cabinet has given its nod for introducing the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016, in the Parliament.

“The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 for introducing it in the Parliament,” said an official release.

The Bill is a revised version of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 and provides for repealing of the 1958 act along with the repealing of Coasting Vessels Act of 1838, the release said.

Over the years, the 1958 act had become a massive piece of legislation due to several amendments, which are carried out from time to time. Between 1966 and 2014, the Act was amended 17 times as a result the number of sections has been increased to more than 560. The sections have been meticulously cut short to 280 in the new Bill.

The new Bill is aimed to simplify the laws which govern the merchant shipping in India. In addition, some specific provisions which become redundant will be dispensed with and provisions remaining will be combined and simplified in order to promote transparency, ease of doing business and effective delivery of services.

The new Bill will also introduce various welfare measures for seafarers and augment the Indian tonnage promotion and development of coastal shipping in the country.

Further, the bill also covers the registration of some specific residuary category of vessels, which are not covered under any other statute and will make provisions for aspects related to security.

After the enactment of the Bill, it will incorporate all the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) protocols and conventions in Indian norms up-to-date, which is a vital pre-requisite for complying with the Member-State Audit Scheme of IMO that is mandatory since January 1, 2016, by introducing provisions with regards to different conventions.