merchant-shipping-bill-2024-introduced-in-lok-sabha

Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal introduced a bill to expand the eligibility criteria for ownership of the merchant shipping vessels and provide for investigation and enquiries on marine casualties in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

 

The bill seeks to repeal the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, and provides for contemporaneous, futuristic, and dynamic legislation to meet the requirements of India as an emerging economy.

 

The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, empowers the central government to take charge and detain vessels within India or in coastal waters as vessels without nationality if such vessels are not legally entitled to fly the flag of a state or have lost such right.

 

As per the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, the proposed legislation would provide for maritime liability and compensation in claims arising out of the collision of vessels and accidents at sea leading to damage or loss of vessel, cargo, or property.

 

It also provides for the limitation of liability for damages in respect of certain claims and the constitution of a limitation fund.

 

Besides, the bill, which was tabled in the Lower House by Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, seeks to "expand the eligibility criteria for ownership of the vessels and increase tonnage under the Indian flag.".

 

It also provides for marine incident and emergency response in order to provide time-effective and efficient emergency responses to a marine incident and provides for "investigation and enquiries on marine casualties.".

 

There was a brief lull in the din created by the opposition over Adani and other issues when the Merchant Shipping Bill was being introduced by Sonowal.

 

Sonowal clarified that the bill has been brought as per constitutional provisions and has been vetted by two law ministry departments—legal affairs and legislative. 

 

Opposing the bill at the introductory stage, Manish Tewari (Cong) said the government lacked legislative competence to legislate on merchant shipping, as the subject has no direct entry in the central or concurrent list on which the Union (central government) can bring laws.

 

Saugata Roy of the TMC said the proposed legislation will only help hand over more powers to the bureaucracy. He said it will only hinder and not develop merchant shipping in the country.