In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “drift” includes timber or other floating matter, whether the same is in the possession or under the control of any person or not;
(b) “goods” include wares and merchandise of every description and also vehicles, animals, packages and other articles;
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(c) “notification” means a notification published in the official Gazette;
(d) “owner” when used in relation to goods or drift includes any consignor, consignee, shipper, or agent for the sale, custody, landing, or shipping of such goods or drift;
(e) “passenger” means any person not below the age of three years carried in a vessel, other than the master and crew and the owner, his family and his servants;
(f) “port” means the area included within the limits of a port to which all or any of the provisions of the Indian Ports Act, 1908 (Central Act XV of 1908) are for the time being applicable other than a major port;
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(h) “vessel” includes anything made for the conveyance mainly by water of human beings or property.
3. Levy of fees on goods Shipped, etc., -(1) 1 [Fees at such rates and subject to such conditions]1 4[and to revise the fees at such intervals of time]4 as may be prescribed shall be levied 1[on]1—
(a) all passengers embarking or disembarking at any port,
(b) goods landed from or shipped into any vessel lying or being within the limits of any port,
(c) goods stored at any place provided for the purpose within the limits of any port, and
(d) animals or vehicles bringing or removing goods to or from, or plying for hire within the limits of any port;
2[(e) transhipping of passengers or goods between vessels in the harbour of any port;
(f) landing and shipping of passengers or goods from or to such vessels, from or to any wharf, quay, pier, dock, land, building or place in any port;
(g) cranage or porterage of goods on any such place;
(h) property or place in any port, used for the purpose of,—
(i) approaching or lying at or alongside any moorings, wharf, quay, pier, dock, land, building or place as aforesaid, by vessels or boats;
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(ii) entering upon or plying for hire at or on any wharf, quay, pier, dock, land, building or place as aforesaid, by animals or vehicles carrying passengers or goods;
(iii) leasing of land or sheds in any port by owners of goods imported or intended for export or by steamer agents;
(iv) any other use of any land, works or appliances in any port;
(i) any other service in respect of vessels, passengers or goods in any port.]2 in the 3[State of Karnataka]3:
Provided that the State Government may by notification exempt any class of goods, passengers, vessels, animals or vehicles, wholly or partly from any fee to which the same may be liable under this section.
2[Provided further that different fees and different conditions may be prescribed for the port of Mangalore.]2 4[Provided also that, if fees are not revised at such intervals of time, the Government may, by notification increase or decrease fees at such percentage, considering the inflation and such other conditions as may be prescribed.]4
(2) Any person who evades or attempts to evade payment of fees fixed under sub-section
(1) shall be liable to pay such penalty not exceeding twice the fees payable, as may be prescribed.
(3) The fees and penalties prescribed under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be payable in addition to all tolls or charges lawfully levied within any port.
1. Substituted by Act 8 of 1980 w.e.f. 1.1.1980
2. Inserted by Act 8 of 1980 w.e.f. 1.1.1980
3. Adapted by the Karnataka Adaptations of Laws Order 1973 w.e.f. 1.11.1973
4. Inserted by Act 45 of 2025 w.e.f ………………………….