OFFENCESCentral

Section 3 of The Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against Safety of Maritime Navigation and Fixed Platforms on Continental Shelf Act, 2002

(1)Whoever unlawfully and intentionally--
1. (a)commits an act of violence against a person on board a fixed platform or a ship which is likely to endanger the safety of the fixed platform or, as the case may be, safe navigation of the ship shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine;
2. (b)destroys a fixed platform or a ship or causes damage to a fixed platform or a ship or cargo of the ship in such manner which is likely to endanger the safety of such platform or safe navigation of such ship shall be punished with imprisonment for life;
3. (c)seizes or exercises control over a fixed platform or a ship by force or threatens or in any other form intimidates shall be punished with imprisonment for life;
4. (d)places or causes to be placed on a fixed platform or a ship, by any means whatsoever, a device or substance which is likely to destroy that fixed platform or that ship or cause damage to that fixed platform or that ship or its cargo which endangers o is likely to endanger that fixed platform or the safe navigation of that ship shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years;
5. (e)destroys or damages maritime navigational facilities or interferes with their operation if such act is likely to endanger the safe navigation of a ship shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years;
6. (f)communicates information which he knows to be false thereby endangering the safe navigation of a ship shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years and shall also be liable to fine;
7. (g)in the course of commission of or in attempt to commit, any of the offences specified in clauses (a) to (d) in connection with a fixed platform or clauses (a) to (f) in connection with a ship--
  1. (i)causes death to any person shall be punished with death;
  2. (ii)causes grievous hurt to any person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years;
  3. (iii)causes injury to any person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years;
  4. (iv)seizes or threatens a person shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years; and
  5. (v)threatens to endanger a ship or a fixed platform shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.
(2)Whoever attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, an offence punishable under sub-section (1) shall be deemed to have committed such offence and shall be punished with the punishment provided for such offence.
(3)Whoever unlawfully or intentionally threatens a person to compel that person to do or refrain from doing any act or to commit any offence specified in clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1), if such threat is likely to endanger the safe navigation of a ship or safety of a fixed platform shall be punished with the punishment provided for such offence.
(4)Where any act referred to in sub-section (1) is committed,--
1. (a)against or on board--
  1. (i)an Indian ship at the time of commission of the offence; or
  2. (ii)any ship in the territory of India including its territorial waters;
2. (b)by a stateless person, such act shall be deemed to be an offence committed by such person for the purposes of this Act. Explanation.--In this sub-section, the expression "stateless person" means a person whose habitual residence is in India but he does not have nationality of any country.
(5)Where an offence under sub-section (1) is committed and the person accused of or suspected of the commission of such offence is present in the territory of India and is not extradited to any Convention State or Protocol State, as the case may be, such person shall be dealt with in India in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(6)On being satisfied that the circumstances so warrant, the Central Government or any other authority designated by it shall take the person referred to in sub-section (5) and present in the territory of India into custody or take measures, in accordance with the law for the time being in force, to ensure his presence in India for such time as is necessary to enable any criminal or extradition proceeding to be instituted: Provided that when a person is taken into custody under this sub-section, it shall be necessary for the Central Government or any other authority designated by it to notify the Government of any Convention State or Protocol State which have also established jurisdiction over the offence committed or suspected to have been committed by the person in custody.
(7)Subject to the provisions of sub-section (8), where an offence under sub-section (1) is committed outside India, the person committing such offence may be dealt with in respect thereof as if such offence had been committed at any place within India at which he may be found.
(8)No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this section which is committed outside India unless--
1. (a)such offence is committed on a fixed platform or on board a ship flying the Indian flag at the time the offence is committed;
2. (b)such offence is committed on board a ship which is for the time being chartered without crew to a lessee who has his principal place of business, or where he has no such place of business, his permanent residence, is in India; or
3. (c)the alleged offender is a citizen of India or is on a fixed platform or on board a ship in relation to which such offence is committed when it enters the territorial waters of India or is found in India.

Summary

Committing acts of violence against a person on a ship or platform that endangers safety is punished with up to ten years in prison and a fine.
Intentionally seizing control of a ship or platform by force, or destroying them in a way that endangers safety, is punished with life imprisonment.
Placing a destructive device or substance on a ship or platform, or damaging navigation facilities, is punished with up to fourteen years in prison.
If a person causes death during the commission of these crimes, they will receive the death penalty.
Causing grievous hurt, injury, or making threats during these crimes leads to prison terms ranging from two to fourteen years.
Indian courts can only try crimes committed outside India if the ship flew the Indian flag, the ship was chartered to an Indian resident or business, the offender is an Indian citizen, or the offender is found in India.

Practical examples

1On November 5, 2024, a criminal named Vikram boards an Indian oil vessel, pulls out a weapon, and forces the crew to lock themselves in a cabin, taking control of the ship. Under Section 3, Vikram has seized control of a ship by force and threat of intimidation, which is punished with life imprisonment.

2An individual named Sarah intentionally sends a fake emergency radio signal on December 12, 2025, claiming a shipping channel is closed. This action causes a nearby container ship to make a dangerous turn that nearly capsizes it. Because Sarah intentionally communicated false information that endangered safe navigation, she faces up to fourteen years in prison and a fine.

FAQ

1. What is the punishment for causing someone's death while committing these maritime crimes?

The punishment is death.

2. What happens if someone tries to commit one of these crimes but is stopped before completing it?

Anyone who attempts to commit, or helps (abets) in committing, these crimes is punished with the exact same penalty as if they had completed the crime.

3. Can a stateless person be charged under this Act?

Yes, if a stateless person whose habitual residence is in India commits these acts, they are treated as an offender under this Act.

4. Under what conditions can an Indian court take notice of a crime committed outside India?

Only if the ship flew the Indian flag, the ship was leased to an Indian resident or business, the offender is an Indian citizen, or the offender is found on the ship or platform when it enters Indian waters or is found in India.

Test yourself

Q1.What is the punishment under Section 3 for seizing or exercising control over a ship by force?

Q2.What is the maximum prison term for intentionally placing a destructive device on a ship that is likely to endanger its safe navigation?

Q3.If a person causes death to any person while committing a violent act on a fixed platform, what is the punishment?

Q4.Who is considered a stateless person under the explanation in Section 3(4)?

Q5.What is the maximum prison term for threatening to endanger a ship or a fixed platform during the commission of another offence?

Q6.An Indian court cannot take notice of an offence committed outside India unless which of these is true?

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