Claims of ship owners to wreck

Section 245 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 deals with claims of ship owners to wreck. The owner of any wreck in the possession of the receiver, upon establishing his claim to the satisfaction of the receiver within one year from the time at which the wreck came into the possession of the receiver shall, upon paying the salvage and other charges, be entitled to have the wreck or the p The Act came into force on 15 Mar 2026.

(1) The owner of any wreck in the possession of the receiver, upon establishing his claim to the satisfaction of the receiver within one year from the time at which the wreck came into the possession of the receiver shall, upon paying the salvage and other charges, be entitled to have the wreck or the proceeds thereof delivered to him.

(2) Where any articles belonging to or forming part of a ship other than an Indian vessel which is wrecked or belonging to and forming part of the cargo of such ship, are found in any area to which this Chapter applies or are brought into any port in India, the ambassador of the State in which the ship is registered or, in the case of cargo, the State to which the owners of the cargo may have belonged shall, in the absence of the owner and of the master or other agent of the owner, be deemed to be the agent of the owner, with respect to the custody and disposal of the articles.

(3) Where the owner of the wreck does not appear and claim the balance of the proceeds of sale within one year from the date of sale, the said balance shall become the property of the Central Government.

Section 245, The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 (Act 24 of 2025).