The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on February 05, 2025, issued the Draft Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Amendment Rules, 2025, to further amend the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Rules, 2016.
The following has been stated namely: -
• In rule 12, after sub-rule (17), a new sub-rule shall be inserted, namely: -“(18) Where a seafarer has died during a ship’s voyage, the Directorate General of Shipping in whose territory the death has occurred or, where the death has occurred on the high seas, into whose territorial waters the ship next enters, shall facilitate the repatriation of the body or ashes by the ship-owner, in accordance with the wishes of the seafarer or their next of kin, as appropriate.”
• In rule 16, after sub-rule (3), a new sub-rule shall be inserted, namely: - “(4) The Ship owners and Managers shall provide reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone communications, where available, with any charge with the use of these services being reasonable in amount.”
• In rule 17, sub-rule 8(a) shall be substituted with “8(a) supplies of food and drinking water in relation to their quantity, nutritional value, quality and variety;”.
• All the stakeholders shall submit their comments via email at [email protected], [email protected], & [email protected], on or before February 19, 2025.
The detailed notification is attached document.
