Cabinet approved new Merchant Shipping Bill

Cabinet approved new Merchant Shipping Bill

Question: Which of the following is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships?
a) IMO – the International Maritime Organization
b) World Maritime University (WMU)
c) International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI)
d) None of the above.
Ans: (a)
Reletad facts:

  • On 23rd November, 2016 The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 for introducing it in the Parliament.
  • The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2016 is a revamped version of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The Bill provides for repealing of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 as well as for the repealing of the Coasting Vessels Act, 1838.
  • The Coasting Vessels Act, 1838, which is an archaic legislation of the British era providing for registration of non-mechanically propelled vessels to a limited jurisdiction of Saurashtra and Kutch, is proposed to be repealed since the new Bill has for registration of all vessels for the whole of India.
  • The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 had become a bulky piece of legislation due to amendments carried out in the Act from time to time. It was amended 17 times between 1966 and 2014 resulting in an increase in the number of sections to more than 560 sections.
  • These provisions have been shortened to 280 sections in the Bill. The provisions of the Bill will simplify the law governing the merchant shipping in India.
  • The provisions for survey, inspection and certification of vessels which were scattered in various Parts of the existing Act are placed together to provide for a simplified regime for convenience of Indian shipping industry.
  • Certain redundant provisions will be dispensed with and remaining provisions will stand consolidated and simplified so as to promote case of doing business, transparency and effective delivery of services.

Benefits:

  • It will augment Indian tonnage and development of coastal shipping in India by allowing substantially-owned vessels and vessels on Bare Boat-cum-Demise (BBCD). It will also facilitate recognising Indian controlled tonnage as a separate category. It will do away with the requirement for issuing of licences to Indian flag vessels for coastal operation and for port clearance by the Customs authorities.
  • Welfare measures for seafarers have been introduced under this Bill. It provides for wages for seafarers held in hostage, insurance for crew engaged on vessels including fishing, sailing without mechanical means of propulsion. The crew will not be required to sign articles of agreement before the Shipping Master.
  • The bill upon enactment will incorporate all International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions/Protocols in the Indian laws up-to-date. These are:
  • a) the Intervention Convention 1969,
    b) the Search and Rescue Convention 1979
    c) the Protocol for Prevention of Pollution from Ships Annex VI to Marine Pollution Convention,
    d) the Convention for Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004,
    e) the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, 2007,
    f) the Salvage Convention 1989 and
    g) the International Convention for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=154201
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/shipping-/-transport/cabinet-approves-new-merchant-shipping-bill/articleshow/55588748.cms
http://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/Default.aspx