THE INDIAN PORTS ACT, 1908

ACT NO. 15 OF 1908 · Enacted [18th December, 1908.] · 73 sections

PRELIMINARY

Section 1.Title and extent.

Section 2.Savings.

Section 3.Definitions.

POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT

Section 4.Power to extend or withdraw the Act or certain portions thereof.

Section 5.Alteration of limits of ports.

Section 6.Power to make port-rules.

PORT-OFFICIALS AND THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES

Section 7.Appointment of conservator.

Section 8.Power of conservator to give and enforce directions for certain specified purposes.

Section 9.Power to cut warps and ropes.

Section 10.Removal of obstructions within limits of port.

Section 11.Recovery of expenses of removal.

Section 12.Removal of lawful obstructions.

Section 13.Fouling of Government moorings.

Section 14.Raising or removal of wreck impeding navigation within limits of port.

Section 15.Power to board vessels and enter buildings.

Section 16.Power to require crews to prevent or extinguish fire.

Section 17.Appointment and powers of health-officer.

Section 18.Indemnity of Government against act or default of port -official or pilot.

RULES FOR THE SAFETY OF SHIPPING AND THE CONSERVATION OF PORTS — General Rules

Section 19.Injuring buoys, beacons and moorings.

Section 20.Wilfully loosening vessel from moorings.

Section 21.Improperly discharging ballast.

Section 22.Graving vessel within prohibited limits.

Section 23.Boiling pitch on board vessel within prohibited limits.

Section 24.Drawing spirits by unprotected artificial light.

Section 25.Warping.

Section 26.Leaving out warp or hawser after sunset.

Section 27.Discharge of fire-arms in port.

Section 28.Penalty on master omitting to take order to extinguish fire.

Section 29.Unauthorised person not to search for lost stores.

Section 30.Removing stones or injuring shores of port prohibited.

RULES FOR THE SAFETY OF SHIPPING AND THE CONSERVATION OF PORTS — Special Rules

Section 31.Moving of vessels without pilot or permission of harbour -master.

Section 32.Provision of certain vessels with fire-extinguishing apparatus.

PORT-DUES, FEES AND OTHER CHARGES

Section 33.Levy of port-dues.

Section 34.Variation of port-dues by Government.

Section 35.Fees for pilotage and certain other services.

Section 36.Receipt, expenditure and account of port-charges.

Section 37.Grouping of ports.

Section 38.Receipts for port-charges.

Section 39.Master to report arrival.

Section 40.Conservator may in certain cases ascertain draught and charge expense to master.

Section 41.Ascertainment of tonnage of vessel liable to port -dues.

Section 42.Distraint and sale on refusal to pay port-charges.

Section 43.No port-clearance to be granted until port-charges are paid.

Section 44.Port-charges payable in one port recoverable at any other port.

Section 45.Penalty for evading payment of port-charges.

Section 46.Port-due on vessels in ballast.

Section 47.Port-due on vessels not discharging or taking in cargo.

Section 48.Port-due not to be chargeable in certain cases.

Section 49.Power to impose hospital port-dues.

Section 50.Application and account of hospital port-dues.

HOISTING SIGNALS

Section 51.Master to hoist number of vessel.

Section 52.Pilot to require master to hoist number.

Section 53.Penalty on pilot disobeying provisions of this Chapter.

PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO PENALTIES

Section 54.Penalty for disobedience to rules and orders of the Government.

Section 55.Offences how triable, and penalties how recovered.

Section 56.Costs of conviction.

Section 57.Ascertainment and recovery of expenses and damages payable under this Act.

Section 58.Costs of distress.

Section 59.Magistrate to determine the amount to be levied in case of dispute.

Section 60.Jurisdiction over offences beyond local limits of jurisdiction.

Section 61.Conviction to be quashed oil merits only.

SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS

Section 62.Hoisting unlawful colours in port.

Section 63.Foreign deserters.

Section 64.Application of sections 10 and 21.

Section 65.Grant of sites for sailors’ institutes.

Section 66.Exercise of powers of conservator by his assistants.

Section 67.Service of written notices of directions.

Section 68.Publication of orders of Government.

Section 68A.Authorities exercising jurisdiction in ports to co-operate in manoeuvres for defence of port.

Section 68B.Duties of the said authorities in an emergency.

Section 68C.Application of certain provisions of the Act to aircraft.

Section 68D.Maritime seruity.

Section 69.[Repealed.].