Marine Insurance Act, 1963
48. Deviation
(1) Where a ship,
without lawful excuse, deviates from the voyage contemplated by the policy, the
insured is discharged from liability as from the time of deviation, and it is
immaterial that the ship may have regained her route before any loss occurs.
(2) There is a
deviation from the voyage contemplated by the policy-
(a) where the course of the voyage is
specifically designated by the policy, and that course is departed from; or
(b) where the course of the voyage is not
specifically designed by the policy, but the usual and customary course is
departed from.
(3) The intention to
deviate is immaterial; there must be a deviation in fact to discharge the
insurer from his liability under the contract.