The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPS&W) on September 17, 2026, notified the Merchant Shipping (Survey, Audit and Certification) Rules, 2026.
The following has been stated: -
•The Merchant Shipping (Survey, Audit and Certification) Rules, 2026 establish requirements for surveys, audits, inspections and certification of Indian vessels, companies and ports, with limited application to foreign vessels in Indian waters.
•They prescribe specific requirements under 15 Schedules covering cargo/passenger vessels, high-speed crafts, offshore units, safety management, security, MLC, ballast water, anti-fouling, polar operations and other specialised vessels.
•The Rules require applicable vessels, companies and ports to maintain valid statutory certificates and comply with relevant international conventions, protocols and codes ratified by India.
•The Director-General may prescribe additional or alternative survey and certification requirements and specify measures for implementing newly applicable international maritime instruments.
They shall come into force on October 06, 2026.
The detailed notification is given in the document below.
[Notification No.: G.S.R. 823(E)]
