What is a Special Trade ?

What is:
1. Special trade?
2. Special trade passenger?
3. Special trade passenger ship?
4. What are Subdivision loadlines?
5. What certificates are to be carried by special trade passenger ships intending to carry
special trade passengers as provided in Merchant Shipping Act 1958?

1. Special Trade
A Special Trade means the transporting of a large number of passengers by sea within
prescribed areas.

2. Special Trade Passenger

It means a passenger carried in special trade passenger ships in spaces on weather
deck or upper deck or between decks which include pilgrim or person accompanying
pilgrim.

3. A Special Trade Passenger Ship

A Special Trade Passenger Ship mean a mechanically propelled ship carrying more
than 30 special trade passengers.

4. Sub-division Loadlines
With respect to passenger ships, subdivision load lines are marked so as to indicate the
depth to which the ship may be loaded having regard to the extent to which the ship is
subdivided & space which has been allotted to passengers. No ship shall be loaded so
as to submerge the appropriate subdivision loadline in salt water. If she is so loaded the
ship is to detain until she ceases to be so loaded.

5. Certificates are to be carried by Special

Trade Passenger Ships
A ship intended to carry special trade passengers to or from ports in India is required to
have been issued a certificate “A” & a certificate “B”.
A ship intending to carry special trade passengers to or from or to a port in India to or
from a port outside India must have the following certificates:

1. A passenger ship safety certificate

2. An exemption certificate
3. A special trade passenger ship safety certificate
4. A special trade passenger ship space certificate &
5. A certificate “B”

The customs collector who is to grant port clearance shall not do so unless the ship is carrying
the appropriate certificates.