(1)

When a seaman serving in a foreign-going ship is, on the termination of his engagement, discharged in India, he shall, whether the agreement with the crew be an agreement for the voyage or running agreement, be discharged in the manner provided by this Act in the presence of a shipping master.

(2)

The provisions of sub-section (1) shall apply in relation to the discharge of seamen serving in a home-trade Indian ship of two hundred tons gross or more as they apply in relation to the discharge of seamen serving in a foreign-going ship:

Provided that this sub-section shall not apply where a seaman is discharged from a ship under an agreement made in accordance with section 103 for service in two or more ships, for the purpose of being engaged in another ship to which the agreement relates.

(3)

If the master, owner or agent of a home-trade ship, other than a ship to which the last preceding sub-section applies, so desires, the seamen of that ship may be discharged in the same manner as seamen discharged from a foreign-going ship.