The Acts administered by the DGS can be accessed Home page under the Tab: Acts & Rules.

• Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Rules, 2016
• Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Amendment Rules, 2021
• Merchant Shipping (Ships and Port Facility Security) Rules, 2024
• Designated Authority

Part V of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 readwith Merchant Shipping (Registration of Indian Ships) Rules, 1960 contain law related to registration of ships under Indian flag.

Both of these are available on DGS website as mentioned above.

Part VII of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (section 88 to 218A) read with MS (Maritime Labour) Rules, 2016, MS (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2016, MS (CDC) Rules, 2017 contain law relating to welfare of seafarers.

Part XIV of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (section 405 to 414) contain law relating to licening requirements for foreign flag vessels for coastal, import and export of cargo.

India became a party to four International Convention for safe operation of ships, welfare of seafarers and recycling industry;

1. International Convention on Control of Anti-Fouling Systems, on ships, 2001 [AFS Convention], 2001 of IMO, in October, 2015.
2. Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 of ILO, in October, 2015.
3. Seafarers Identity Document Convention of ILO, in October, 2015.
4. Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 in November, 2019

Thirteen (13) Merchant Shipping Rules were identified as old & obsolete and have been repealed for ease of doing business and reduction of compliance burden in the year 2015 and 2016

All Merchant Shipping will be revised once new proposed legislation (Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024) is enacted by the Parliament.

The following Acts have been enacted;

1. Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014 incorporation of Maritime Labour Convention into Indian domestic law, for welfare of seafarers.
2. Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014 for implementation of Anti-fouling Convention of IMO for protect marine environment.
3. Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Act, 2017, for enabling redressal of admiralty matters of ships and seafarers.
4. Recycling of Ships Act, 2019

1.Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, for safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships has been enacted.

2.Rules under the Act has also been notified.

Director General of Shipping vide notification dated 27.10.2020 has been designated as National Authority to administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to ship recycling under Recycling of Ships Act, 2019.

The following Rules have been notified:

1. Merchant Shipping (STCW) Rules, 2014 notified in July 2014, For facilitation of training and certification seafarers
2. Merchant Shipping (Control of Anti-Fouling Systems) Rules, 2016 notified in January, 2016. for prevention of marine pollution caused by organotin compounds used in anti-fouling systems.
3. Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Amendment Rules, 2016 notified in January, 2016, for medical examination of seafarers
4. Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Rules, 2016 notified in February, 2016, for providing minimum labour conditions and welfare conditions for seafarers, including social security.
5. Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Rules, 2016 notified, February, 2016, For recruitment and placement of seafarers.
6. Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Accommodation) Rules, 2016, For providing minimum standards for accommodation of seafarers on board ships
7. Merchant Shipping (CDC), 2017 notified on 14.07.17, For providing the mechanism for easy issuance of Continuous Discharge Certificate for boosting seafarer employment opportunities.
8. Merchant Shipping (Conditions for Carriage of Livestock) Rules, 2020, For providing minimum standards and conditions for carriage of livestock by sea.