A cargo ship. Image for representation.
Credit: IStock Photo
Mumbai: Amid the escalating diplomatic stand-off between the neighbouring countries in the wake of a terror attack on tourists in the hill station of Pahalgam, India on Saturday banned ships bearing the flag of Pakistan from visiting any of the Indian ports.
Similarly, all Indian flagged ships have been asked not to enter any port of Pakistan.
The order was issued by the Mumbai-headquartered Directorate General of Shipping citing the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
This step by India comes close on the heels of sealing the Attari-Wagah border and closing the airspace for Pakistani flights.
The Directorate General of Shipping functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
The one-page order by Shyam Jagannathan, the Director General of Shipping, refers to the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.
“The order comes into force with immediate effect and remains in force till further orders,” the DG Shipping said.
“…Section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 empowers the Director General of Shipping, Government of India, to issue directions to ships, for meeting the objective of national interest or the interest of Indian shipping…Now, therefore, in exercise of power conferred by section 411 of the Merchant Shipping Act, read with objectives as enshrined under Preamble of the said Act, keeping in view of the present situation, the directions are issued,” the DG Shipping said.
As per the order, any ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port and any Indian flag ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan.
“This order is issued to ensure safety of Indian assets, cargo and connected infrastructure, in public interest and for interest of Indian shipping.Any exemption or dispensation from this order shall be examined and decided on case to case basis,” the order said.