The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), on July 6, 2026, notified the Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Accommodation) Rules, 2026, superseding the Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Accommodation) Rules, 2016. The Rules, issued under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and prescribe updated standards for seafarer accommodation, recreational facilities, certification, and inspections on board ships.
The Rules apply to ships registered or required to be registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, subject to specified exceptions, and require shipowners to provide and maintain minimum, decent accommodation and recreational facilities for seafarers in accordance with the prescribed schedules. They also provide for submission and approval of accommodation plans, issuance of a Record of Compliance, periodic inspections by surveyors and other authorized officers, and permit equivalent arrangements where justified under the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.
The Rules prescribe detailed standards for the design, construction, safety, and maintenance of accommodation spaces, including provisions relating to health, welfare, noise and vibration control, fire safety, non-combustible materials, and prohibition of asbestos in seafarer accommodation, with the objective of ensuring safe and humane living conditions for seafarers.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 587(E)]
