1. The levy fee under Merchant Shipping (Levy of Seamen's Welfare Fee) Rules, 1974 is enhanced from Rs.25/- to Rs.250/- w.e.f. 8.10.2004 vide notification of even date in the Gazette of India.
2. The levy fee is collected by the Shipping Master, Mumbai/Kolkata/Chennai from every ship engaging any seaman under Section 100 and Section 114 of M.S. Act 1958, which is transferred to the Seafarers' Welfare Fund Society (SWFS) under Clause 8 of M.S. (Levy of Seamen's Welfare Fee) Rules, 1974, and is utilized for running various welfare schemes for the seamen by the SWFS.
3. The SWFS is facing acute resource crunch and needs timely contribution from the Indian shipowners. Accordingly, all shipowners must remit the difference in the amount of levy fees (Rs.250 - Rs.25) from 8.10.2004 to 31.12.2004 to the respective Shipping Masters immediately. The payment with effect from 1.1.2005 is required to be made at the revised rate of Rs. 250/-.
4. A compliance report of remittances for the period ending 31.12.2004 @ Rs. 250/- should be submitted to the respective Shipping Masters immediately.

Sd/-
(D.T. Joseph)
Director General of Shipping
& ex-officio Additional Secretary
Ministry of Shipping,
Government of India