Chapter V WORKS AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED AT MINOR PORTS BY THE BOARD

1. (1) The Board may, subject to any other law for the time being in force, execute such works, within or without the limits of port and provide such appliances as it may deem necessary or expedient. (2) Such works and appliances may include,-
   • (a) Wharves, quays, docks, stages, jetties, piers, place of anchorage and other works within the port or port approaches or on the foreshore of the port or port approaches in the State, with all such convenient arches, drains, landing places, stairs, fences, roads, bridges, tunnels and approaches, and buildings required for the residence of the employees of the Board as the Board may consider necessary;
   • (b) buses, locomotives, rolling stock, sheds, hotels, warehouses and other accommodation for passengers and goods and other appliances for carrying passengers and for conveying, receiving and storing goods landed, or to be shipped or otherwise;
   • (c) moorings and cranes, scales and all other necessary means and appliances for loading and unloading of vessels;
   • (d) reclaiming, excavating, enclosing and raising any part of the foreshore of the port or port approaches which may be necessary for the execution of the works authorised by this Act or otherwise for the purposes of this Act;
   • (e) such breakwaters and other works as may be expedient for protection of the port;
   • (f) dredgers and other machines for cleaning, widening, deepening and improving any portion of the port or port approaches or of the foreshore of the port or port approaches;
   • (g) light-houses, light-ships, beacons, buoys, pilot boats and other appliances necessary for the safe navigation of the port and the port approaches in so far as it relates to State functions;
   • (h) vessels, tugs, boats, barges and launches and lighters for the use within the limits of the port or beyond those limits, whether in territorial waters or otherwise, for the purpose of towing or rendering assistance to any vessel whether entering or leaving the port or bound elsewhere and for the purpose of saving or protecting life or property and for the purposes of landing, shipping or transhipping passengers or goods under section 32;
     • (i) sinking of tubewells and equipment, maintenance and use of boats, barges and other appliances for the purpose of the supply of water at the port;
   • (j) engines and other appliances necessary for extinguishing of fires;
   • (k) lands abutting the sea coast including creeks;
   • (l) ferry boats and other works and equipment appertaining to the running ferry service at or between the ports;
   • (m) construction of models and plans for carrying out hydraulic studies;
   • (n) dry docks, slipways, boat basins and workshop to carry out repairs or overhauling of vessels, tugs, boats, machinery or other appliances.

1. (1) The Board may undertake to carry out on behalf of any person any works or services or any class of works or services, on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Board and the person concerned.
2. (2) The Board may, if it considers necessary or expedient in the public interest so to do, lend any of its vessels or appliances or the services of any of its employees to any person for such period not exceeding three months and on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon between the Board and the person concerned.

1. (1) When any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty or pier erected at any port or port approaches under the provisions of this Act has been completed with sufficient Warehouses, sheds and appliances for receiving, landing or shipping goods or passengers from and upon sea-going vessels, the Board may, after obtaining the approval of the Collector of Customs and by notification published in three consecutive issues of the Official Gazette, declare that such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage is ready for receiving, landing and shipping or for landing or for shipping goods or passengers from and upon sea-going vessels.
2. (2) As from the date of the publication of such notification for the third time it shall be lawful for the Board, from time to time, when there is room at such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty or pier, to order to come alongside of such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage for the purpose of landing and shipping goods or passengers or for landing or for shipping the same any sea-going vessel within the post or port approaches which has not commenced to discharge goods or passengers or which being about to take in goods or passengers has not commenced to do so: Provided that, before making such order the Board shall have regard, as far as possible, to the convenience of such vessel and of the shippers in respect of the rule of any particular dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage: Provided further that, if the Board is not the Conservator of the Port, the Board shall not itself make the order as aforesaid but shall require the Conservator of the Port or other person exercising the rights, powers and authorities of the Conservator of the Port to make such order.

When sufficient number of docks, berths, wharves, quays, stages, jetties or piers have been provided at any port or port approaches as aforesaid, the Board may, after obtaining the approval of the Collector of Customs and by notification published in three consecutive issues of the Official Gazette, direct that no goods or passengers shall be landed or shipped from or upon any sea-going vessel within the minor port or port approaches otherwise than at such docks, berths, wharves, quays, stages, jetties or piers, except with the sanction of the Board and in accordance with such conditions as the Board may specify.

Any officer appointed by the Board in this behalf, may, in cases of emergency or for any reason which appears to him sufficient, by notice in writing, order the master or owner or agent of any sea-going vessel not to bring such vessel alongside of, or to remove such vessel from, any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage belonging to or under the control of the Board and if, such notice is not complied with, the Board may charge in respect of such vessel such sum as it thinks fit, not exceeding one thousand rupees for each day of twenty-four hours or portion of such day, during which such vessel remains at such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage: Provided that, in the case of a vessel ordered to be removed, such charge shall not commence to be made till after the expiry of twelve hours from the service of such notice as aforesaid on the master or owner or agent of the vessel.

Notwithstanding anything contained in section 27 or 28, the Government may, if in its opinion it is necessary in the public interest so to do, by general or to special order, from time to time, permit certain specified vessels or classes of vessels to discharge or ship goods or certain specified goods or classes of goods at such place in a port or within the port approaches, in such manner, during such period and subject to such payments to the Board and on such conditions as the Government may think fit.

1. (1) When any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage for receiving, landing or shipment of goods or passengers from or upon vessels, not being sea-going vessels, has been made and completed with all proper appliances in that behalf, the Board may, after obtaining the approval of the Collector of vessels Customs, by order published in the Official Gazette,-
   • (i) declare that such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage is ready for receiving, landing or shipment of goods or passengers from or on vessels not being sea-going vessels; and
   • (ii) direct that within certain limits to be specified therein it shall not be lawful without the express sanction of the Board, to land or ship any goods or passengers out of, or into, any vessel not being sea-going vessel of any class, specified in such order, except at such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage.
2. (2) As from the date of the publication of the order mentioned in sub-section (1), it shall not be lawful, without the consent of the Board, for any vessel of such class,-
   • (i) to land or ship any goods or passengers at any place within the limits so specified except at such dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage;
   • (ii) while within such limits, to anchor fasten or lie within fifty yards of the ordinary low-water mark.
3. (3) If after the publication of such order, any such vessel, while within the limits so specified, so anchor, fasten or lie, it shall be lawful for the Board to cause the same to be removed out of the said limits at the expense of the master or owner or agent of the vessel.

1. (1) The Board shall have power to undertake the following services :-
   • (a) stevedoring, landing, shipping or transhipping passengers and goods by between vessels in port and the wharves, piers, quays or docks belonging to or in the possession of the Board;
   • (b) receiving, removing, shifting, transporting, storing or delivering goods brought within the Boards premises;
   • (c) carrying passengers within the limits of the port or port approaches, by such means and subject to such restrictions and conditions as the State Government may think fit to impose; and
   • (d) piloting, hauling, mooring, remooring, hooking or measuring of vessels or any other service in respect of vessels.
2. (2) The Board may, if so requested by the owner, take charge of the goods for the purpose of performing the service or services and shall give a receipt in such form as the Board may specify.
3. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Board may authorise any person to perform any of the services mentioned in sub-section (1) on such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon.
4. (4) No person authorised under sub-section (3) shall charge or recover for such service any sum in excess of the amount leviable according to the scale framed under sections 37, 38 or 40.
5. (5) Any such person shall, if so required by the owner, perform in respect of the goods any of the services and for that purpose take charge of the goods and give a receipt in such form as the Board may specify.
6. (6) The responsibility of any such person for the loss, destruction or deterioration of goods of which he has taken charge shall, subject to the other provisions of this Act, be that of a bailee under sections 151, 152 and 161 of the Contract Act, 1872 (9 of 1872).
7. (7) After any goods have been taken charge of and a receipt given for them under this section, no liability for any loss or damage which may occur to them shall attach to any person to whom a receipt has been given or to the master or owner of the vessel from which the goods have been landed or transhipped.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the responsibility of the Board for the loss, destruction or deterioration of goods of which it has taken charge shall,-
   • (i) in the case of goods received for carriage by railway, be governed by the provisions of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (9 of 1890), and
   • (ii) in other cases, be that of a bailee under sections 151, 152 and 161 of the Contract Act, 1872 (9 of 1872), omitting the words "in the absence of any special contract" in section 152 of that Act: Provided that, no responsibility under this section shall attach to the Board,-
   • (a) until a receipt mentioned in sub-section (2) of section 32 is given by the Board; and
   • (b) after the expiry of such period as may be prescribed by regulations from the date of taking charge of such goods by the Board.
2. (2) The Board shall, not be in any way responsible for the loss, destruction or deterioration of, or damage to, goods of which it has taken charge, unless notice of such loss or damage has been given within such period as may be prescribed by regulations made in this behalf from the date of taking charge of such goods by the Board under sub-section (2) of section 32.

1. (1) Where the Collector of Customs has, under the provisions of any Act for the levy of duties of customs, appointed any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier, place of anchorage, warehouse of shed or a portion of any warehouse or shed provided at any port under the provisions of this Act for the use of sea-going vessels to be an approved place for the landing or shipping of goods or a warehouse for the storing of dutiable goods on the first imports thereof without payment of duty, within the meaning of the first-mentioned Act, the Board shall set apart and maintain such place on or adjoining such dock, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier or a place of anchorage or in such warehouse or shed or portion thereof, for the use of officers of Customs as may be necessary.
2. (2) Notwithstanding that any dock, berth, wharf, quay, stage, jetty, pier, place of anchorage, warehouse or shed or portion thereof at any port has, under the provisions of sub-section (1), been set apart for the use of the officers of customs at the port, all rates and other charges payable under this Act in respect thereof or for the storage of goods therein, shall be payable to the Board, or to such person or persons as may be appointed by the Hoard to receive the same.

1. (1) No person shall make, erect or fix within the limits of a port or port approaches any wharf, dock, quay, stage, jetty, pier, erection or mooring or undertakes any reclamation of foreshore within the said limits except with the previous permission in writing of the Board and subject to such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board may specify.
2. (2) If any person makes, erects or fixes any wharf, dock, quay, stage, jetty, pier, erection or mooring or undertakes any reclamation of foreshore in contravention of sub-section (1), the Board may, by notice, require such person to remove it within such time as may be specified in the notice and if the person fails so to remove it, the Board may cause it to be removed at the expense of that person.

1. (1) Where as a result of an order published under section 28, or section 31 the use of any wharf, dock, berth, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage, made, fixed or erected by any person is rendered unlawful, the Board may, after hearing the person concerned by order, close, remove, fill up or destroy such wharf, dock, berth, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage, or permit the use thereof to such person on payment of such rates and charges as the Board may, with the previous sanction of the State Government, determine.
2. (2) Save as otherwise provided under sub-section (3), no person shall be entitled to claim compensation for any injury, damage or loss caused or alleged to have been caused by an order made under sub-section (1).
3. (3) If it is proved to the satisfaction of the Board that any such wharf, dock, berth, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage, was made, fixed or erected by any person with the previous permission of the authority competent to grant such permission, he shall be paid by the Board compensation, the amount of which shall be determined in the manner and in accordance with the principles hereinafter set out that is to say :-
   • (a) in computing the compensation, there shall not be taken into account any rates or other changes which such person shall be liable to pay for using any wharf, dock, berth, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage, provided by the Board;
   • (b) the amount of compensation shall be calculated with reference to the cost of construction of such wharf, dock, berth, quay, stage, jetty, pier or place of anchorage;
   • (c) where the amount of compensation can be fixed by agreement, it shall be paid in accordance with such agreement;
   • (d) where no such agreement can be reached, the State Government shall appoint as an arbitrator, a person who is, or has been, or is qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court;
   • (e) the Government may, in any particular case, nominate a person possessing special knowledge of any matter relating to any case under inquiry to assist the arbitrator in determining any question which has to be decided by him under this section, and where such nomination is made the person to be compensated may also nominate an assessor for the same purpose;
   • (f) at the commencement of the proceeding before the arbitrator, the Board and the person to be compensated shall state what in their respective opinion is a fair amount of compensation;
   • (g) the arbitrator shall after hearing the dispute, make an award determining the amount of compensation which appears to him, to be just and specify the person or persons to whom such compensation shall be paid;
   • (h) where there is a dispute as to the person or persons who are entitled to the compensation, the arbitrator shall decide such dispute and if the arbitrator finds that more persons than one are entitled to compensation he shall aportion the amount thereof among such persons;
     • (i) nothing in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (26 of 1996) shall apply to arbitrations under this section;
   • (j) the arbitrator appointed under this section, while holding arbitration proceedings under this Act shall have all the powers of a Civil Court while trying a suit under the Code of the Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely :-
     • (i) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
     • (ii) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
     • (iii) receiving evidence on affidavits;
     • (iv) issuing commissions for examination of witnesses or documents;
   • (k) every award shall also state the amount of costs incurred in the arbitration proceedings under this section and by what persons and in what proportions they are to be paid;
   • (l) any person aggrieved by an award of the arbitrator made under this section may, within thirty day from the date of the award, prefer an appeal to the High Court within whose jurisdiction the port is situated: Provided that, the High Court may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.