No person shall engage or carry to sea any seaman under this Act in any ship, except a home-trade ship of less than two hundred tons gross, from any port in India unless the seaman is in possession of a certificate of discharge or a continuous certificate of discharge issued under this Part.

[99-A. Prohibition of engagement of seafarer without seafarer's identity document.

(1)

No person shall engage or carry to sea any seafarer in any ship, unless the seafarer is in possession of seafarer's identity document.

(2)

The seafarer's identity document under sub-section (1) shall be issued in such form and manner and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.

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