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The Indian Ports Act 2025

Central

An Act to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business and ensure the optimum utilisation of Indias coastline; establish and empower State Maritime Boards for effective management of ports other than major ports; establish the Maritime State Development Council for fostering structured growth and development of the port sector; provide for the management of pollution, disaster, emergencies, security, safety, navigation, and data at ports; ensure compliance with Indias obligations under international instruments to which it is a party; take measures for the conservation of ports; provide for adjudicatory mechanisms for the redressal of port-related disputes; and address matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Act number
27 of 2025
Ministry
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Enacted
21 Aug 2025

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

86 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, commencement and application.
  2. Section 2Definitions.
  3. Section 3Establishment of Council.
  4. Section 4Powers of Chairperson.
  5. Section 5Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Council.
  6. Section 6Functions of Council.
  7. Section 7Employees of Council.
  8. Section 8Grants by Central Government.
  9. Section 9Delegation of powers of Council.
  10. Section 10Port operations.
  11. Section 11Notification of new port and alteration of port limits.
  12. Section 12Adherence to national perspective plan and guidelines issued by Council.
  13. Section 13Establishment of State Maritime Board.
  14. Section 14Transfer of assets and liabilities, etc.
  15. Section 15Functions of State Maritime Board.
  16. Section 16Resolution of disputes.
  17. Section 17Civil court not to have jurisdiction.
  18. Section 18Appointment of conservator, harbour master and other port officers.
  19. Section 19Powers of conservator to issue directions.
  20. Section 20Removal of obstructions within port limits.
  21. Section 21Power to specify restrictions on activities within port limits.
  22. Section 22Fouling of moorings.
  23. Section 23Power to board vessels and enter buildings.
  24. Section 24Appointment and powers of health officer and prevention of contagious diseases.
  25. Section 25Indemnity of Government against act or default of port officers or pilot.
  26. Section 26Damage to property of port.
  27. Section 27Warping.
  28. Section 28Master to take order to extinguish fire.
  29. Section 29Offences in connection with safety of vessels, etc.
  30. Section 30Unauthorised person not to search for lost stores.
  31. Section 31Injuring banks or shores of port prohibited.
  32. Section 32Moving of vessels without pilot or permission of harbour master or port officer.
  33. Section 33Port officer to co-operate in manoeuvres for defence of port.
  34. Section 34Authority and Director-General to regulate certain activities.
  35. Section 35Definitions.
  36. Section 36Reception facilities.
  37. Section 37Direction to provide adequate reception facilities.
  38. Section 38Port waste reception and handling plans.
  39. Section 39Advance waste notice.
  40. Section 40Delivery of vessel-generated waste.
  41. Section 41Charges for vessel-generated waste.
  42. Section 42Audit of ports.
  43. Section 43Maintenance of information on portal.
  44. Section 44Measures for prevention or containment of pollution.
  45. Section 45Directions for securing compliance.
  46. Section 46Levy of fees and other charges.
  47. Section 47Port tariff.
  48. Section 48Receipt of fees or other charges.
  49. Section 49Owner, agent or master to report arrival.
  50. Section 50Detention and sale on refusal to pay fees or other charges.
  51. Section 51Grant of port-clearance.
  52. Section 52Master not to evade payment of fees or other charges.
  53. Section 53Offences and penalties.
  54. Section 53ACompounding of certain offences.
  55. Section 54Authority for imposition of penalty and procedure therefor.
  56. Section 55Cognizance of offences.
  57. Section 56Penalty for wilful failure to comply with orders of Dispute Resolution Committee.
  58. Section 57Penalty for failure to furnish information, etc.
  59. Section 58Recovery of fine or penalty.
  60. Section 59Recovery of expenses and damages.
  61. Section 60Cost of distress.
  62. Section 61Magistrate to determine amount to be levied in case of dispute.
  63. Section 62Place of trial and jurisdiction.
  64. Section 63Offences by companies.
  65. Section 64Service of documents.
  66. Section 65Hoisting unlawful colours in port.
  67. Section 66Emergency preparedness and response plan.
  68. Section 67Reporting of incident.
  69. Section 68Shore based welfare services for seafarers.
  70. Section 69Port community system and vessel traffic service.
  71. Section 70Order for securing compliance.
  72. Section 71Prior clearance.
  73. Section 72Obligations of ports under international conventions.
  74. Section 73Notification of mega port.
  75. Section 74Chairperson, members, officers and employees of Council, etc., to be public servants.
  76. Section 75Application of certain laws.
  77. Section 76Power of Central Government to make rules.
  78. Section 77Power of State Government to make rules.
  79. Section 78Power of Central Government to make rules in consultation with State Governments.
  80. Section 79Power of Council to make regulations.
  81. Section 80Power of Council to issue guidelines.
  82. Section 81Laying of rules and regulations before Parliament and State Legislature.
  83. Section 82Protection of action taken in good faith.
  84. Section 83Power to amend Second Schedule.
  85. Section 84Power to remove difficulties.
  86. Section 85Repeal and savings.