Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued nine notifications under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. The notifications prescribe rules relating to load lines, prevention of air pollution from ships, seafarer accommodation, construction, fire appliances and surveys of ships, continuous discharge certificates, control of anti-fouling systems, prevention of pollution by harmful substances carried by sea in packaged form, civil liability for bunker oil pollution damage, and civil liability for oil pollution damage. Certain notifications supersede earlier rules issued under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 or previous Merchant Shipping Rules, to the extent specified therein.

Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 519(E)] prescribe requirements relating to load lines, certification, applicability, and technical requirements for Indian and foreign vessels covered under the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.

Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 586(E)] prescribe requirements relating to air pollution prevention, including compliance with Annex VI of MARPOL and associated schedules applicable to vessels covered under the rules.

Merchant Shipping (Seafarers’ Accommodation) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 587(E)] prescribe requirements relating to accommodation and recreational facilities for seafarers, including applicability to vessels registered or required to be registered under the Act.

Merchant Shipping (Construction, Fire Protection, Fire Detection, Fire Extinction and Surveys) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 590(E)] prescribe requirements relating to ship construction, fire protection measures, surveys, and associated technical standards applicable to specified vessels.

Merchant Shipping (Continuous Discharge Certificate) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 594(E)] prescribe eligibility criteria, application procedures, renewal, replacement, and electronic module requirements for issuance of Continuous Discharge Certificates to Indian citizens meeting the prescribed conditions.

Merchant Shipping (Control of Anti-Fouling Systems) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 595(E)] prescribe requirements relating to anti-fouling systems used on ships and provide for restrictions on harmful anti-fouling systems in accordance with the schedules appended to the rules.

Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried by Sea in Packaged Form) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 596(E)] prescribe requirements for carriage, handling, and discharge restrictions relating to harmful substances carried in packaged form and require compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 610(E)] prescribe provisions relating to limitation of liability, mandatory insurance or financial security, and issuance or registration of insurance certificates for bunker oil pollution damage.

Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage) Rules, 2026 [G.S.R. 611(E)] prescribe provisions relating to mandatory insurance or other financial security, issuance and renewal of certificates, and applicability to vessels carrying oil as cargo in accordance with the rules.

These rules apply to the categories of vessels, ship owners, operators, seafarers, applicants, insurers, and other persons specified in the respective notifications.