The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) on May 12, 2026, issued the Merchant Shipping (Marine Incident and Emergency Response) Rules, 2026.
The nodal authority is entrusted with coordinating and supervising responses to marine incidents to minimize damage to life, property, vessels, cargo, and the environment. It has wide powers to issue directions, mobilize resources, and ensure cooperation among various stakeholders such as ship owners, crew, port authorities, and national and international agencies. Where necessary, it may directly intervene by taking control of ships or property, entering premises, and implementing emergency measures like salvage, firefighting, and pollution control.
The authority also ensures compliance with its directives and may trigger penalties for violations, while the Director-General facilitates overall coordination and communication. It can initiate emergency response actions if the primary response party fails or delays, and later transfer control once they are operational. All costs incurred in responding to incidents are recoverable from the ship owner, including those borne by governments or affected landowners.
Additionally, ports and offshore facilities are required to maintain incident and inspection records for a minimum of five years. The nodal authority is empowered to conduct regular or surprise audits to assess preparedness and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
They shall come into force on May 12, 2026.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 354(E)]
