On 15 October 2026, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways notified the Merchant Shipping (Tribunal Members’ Qualification and Submission of Award) Rules, 2026, prescribing the qualifications for Tribunal members, providing for the designation of a Chairperson, and establish timelines for passing and submitting awards.
The Rules are applicable to all Tribunals constituted under Section 89 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and seek to ensure timely resolution of maritime disputes.
The Rules came into force on 15 October 2026 and are intended to facilitate efficient adjudication of disputes referred to Tribunals under the Act.
Key provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Tribunal Members’ Qualification and Submission of Award) Rules, 2026:
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The Rules are framed under clauses (y) and (z) of sub-section (2) of Section 113 read with sub-sections (1) and (7) of Section 89 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
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They apply to every Tribunal constituted by the Central Government under Section 89(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
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The Rules define key terms such as “Act”, “Chairperson”, “member” and “Tribunal” for the purposes of administration and interpretation.
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A person will be eligible for appointment as a member of the Tribunal only if he or she:
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Possesses knowledge of maritime matters;
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Has not less than 15 years’ experience in administration; and
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Has at least 3 years’ experience in the maritime sector.
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Where a Tribunal consists of more than one member, the Central Government may designate one member as the Chairperson of the Tribunal.
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The Tribunal is required to dispose of every reference made by the Central Government by passing an award within 90 days from the date of reference.
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For the purpose of calculating the prescribed timeline, the “date of reference” means the date on which a dispute is referred by the Central Government to the Tribunal under Section 89(1) of the Act.
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If the Tribunal is unable to pass an award within the stipulated 90-day period, it must record the reasons in writing and seek an extension from the Central Government.
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Upon such request, the Central Government may extend the period for passing the award by a further period not exceeding 60 days.
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After passing the award, the Tribunal must submit the award in writing to the Central Government along with the reasons supporting its decision as soon as practicable.
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The Rules establish a framework for the constitution and functioning of maritime Tribunals by prescribing minimum qualification standards for members and introducing a time-bound adjudication process.
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The prescribed eligibility criteria seek to ensure that Tribunal members possess both administrative experience and sector-specific maritime expertise, thereby strengthening the quality of decision-making.
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The introduction of a 90-day disposal timeline, coupled with a limited extension mechanism, is intended to promote expeditious resolution of maritime disputes and procedural efficiency.
Overall, the Rules operationalise the Tribunal mechanism envisaged under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and provide greater certainty, accountability and consistency in maritime dispute resolution.
Also Read
[Merchant Shipping (Tribunal Members’ Qualification and Submission of Award) Rules, 2026, dated 15 October 2026]
