IndiaPosted at: Sep 27 2026 9:53AM


India tightens medical safety rules for ships, mandates doctors on vessels carrying over 100 people

New Delhi, Sept 27 (UNI) India has strengthened medical and public health requirements for ships. Indian vessels carrying more than 100 people, including crew, must now have a qualified doctor on board.
The new rules also set detailed standards for medicines, emergency medical supplies, and infectious disease response at sea.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has notified the Merchant Shipping (Medicines, Medical Stores, Appliances and Medical Officers) Rules, 2026, replacing regulations dating back to 1961 and 1994. The rules were issued under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and came into force on publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the new rules, every Indian ship carrying more than 100 people, including crew, must have a medical officer on board. The doctor must hold a recognized degree in medicine and surgery and be registered with a state or union Territory medical commission.
The rules apply to Indian ships engaged in international voyages and in coastal trade with a gross tonnage of 200 or more, subject to exemptions or modifications that may be specified by the maritime administration.
The government has set comprehensive requirements for medicines, medical stores, instruments, dressings, disinfectants, emergency kits, and medical records to be maintained on board. For ships with more than 40 people, additional sets of specified medical supplies are required for every extra 40 people or part thereof.
For ships that must have a medical officer, the required medicines and appliances must cover 99 people. The doctor will determine any additional needs based on the voyage duration and area of operation. Cargo ships carrying chemicals above specified limits must also maintain extra medicines for chemical-related emergencies.
The rules establish safeguards for managing infectious diseases at sea. The ship's master must arrange treatment, isolate the patient, prevent further infection, and monitor contacts for symptoms. Cases must be reported immediately to the port health officer at the next port of call, using electronic communication or, if needed, VHF, port control, or the vessel's authorized agent.
Medical stocks will be subject to stricter oversight. Medicines used during a voyage must be replenished at the next port, and replacement medicines must have at least one year of shelf life remaining from the date of purchase. Medicines must be properly labeled and stored in designated lockers or medicine chests, with separate storage for different categories.
The notification requires annual certification of a ship's medicine chest. The certificate is valid for 12 months unless cancelled earlier after an inspection. Poisons, narcotics, and other dangerous drugs must be kept securely under lock and key.
The notification assigns responsibility for compliance to the ship's master, agent, and owner. Any violation will result in punitive action under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025.
These new rules represent a comprehensive overhaul of India's shipboard medical framework, replacing the Merchant Shipping (Medicines, Medical Stores and Appliances) Rules, 1994 and the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Medical Officers) Rules, 1961.
UNI KK ATP ARN
Tags: #India tightens medical safety rules for ships# mandates doctors on vessels carrying over 100 people
More News

Pawan Khera seeks answers on 10 2 cr names excluded in SIR

27 Sep 2026 | 1:04 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday sought an explanation for the fate of 10.2 crore names excluded from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), after the BJP said around 2.8 crore of the 13 crore excluded voters were deceased.

see more..

PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat focuses on terror response, census and India’s heritage, environment and rural enterprise

27 Sep 2026 | 12:35 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday used the 138th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, to highlight the 10th anniversary of the 2016 surgical strikes, India’s stated zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, the ongoing Census and a wide range of citizen-led initiatives in areas ranging from heritage conservation and environmental protection to nutrition, sports and rural livelihoods.

see more..

Pawan Khera questions Maha’s water priorities as drought hits 265 Talukas, data-centre expansion gathers pace

27 Sep 2026 | 12:07 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday questioned the Maharashtra government’s water allocation priorities, asking whether farmers and ordinary citizens would be given precedence over the expanding data-centre industry as nearly three-fourths of the state’s talukas face drought conditions.

see more..

Govt orders captive power plants to generate more electricity, maintain stocks

27 Sep 2026 | 12:06 PM

New Delhi, Sep 27 (UNI) The government has directed captive coal-based power plants with a capacity of 50 MW or more to generate electricity to the maximum extent possible from October 1, as it prepares for higher power demand in the coming months.

see more..

India tightens medical safety rules for ships, mandates doctors on vessels carrying over 100 people

27 Sep 2026 | 9:53 AM

New Delhi, Sept 27 (UNI) India has strengthened medical and public health requirements for ships. Indian vessels carrying more than 100 people, including crew, must now have a qualified doctor on board.

see more..