Public comments invited on the draft Inland Vessels (Life Saving Appliances) Rules, 2022; proposes compulsory life saving measures for inland vessels
Ministry of Shipping has proposed the draft of the Inland Vessels [Life Saving Appliances] Rules, 2022 (“Rules”). Objections or suggestions to these draft rules, if any, are required to be addressed to the Director (IWT), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Room No. 439, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001, by post or by email at [abhay.sarode@gov.in] and [uttam.mishra27@gov.in] within 24th March 2022.
Key Highlights:
1. Threshold of Compliance:
• All existing inland vessels are required to comply with the requirements which may have been in force prior to coming into force of these Rules;
• The owner / operator and master of any new inland vessel, is required to ensure that the vessel is constructed, maintained, and operated in accordance with the requirements of these Rules and that the vessel is suitable for its intended service;
• No new inland vessel shall be issued with the certificate of survey under the Inland Vessels Act of 2021 (“Act”) and the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022, unless such vessel complies with the design and carriage requirements for Life Saving Appliances that the inland vessel must carry or those standards or requirements that are operational or procedural in nature;
• The Surveyor appointed under the Act shall satisfy himself that there is evidence of procedures in place to demonstrate that the inland vessel will be operated in accordance with these requirements.
2. Equipment Standards and Guidance:
• Any piece of life saving appliances, equipment, or machinery that the inland vessels shall be provided with or carried onboard; shall be in accordance with a national or international standard such as BIS/ ISO etc.
3. Technical Requirements:
• Every lifesaving appliance provided as per provisions of these rules shall meet the technical requirements contained in National/ International Standards and such equipment shall be type approved by the designated authority or a Classification Society who is a member of IACS. All life-saving appliances shall be properly stowed as per the approved plan and maintained/serviced as per the requirements of these Rules. Life buoys, life rafts and buoyant apparatus should be placed on board in such a way as to be capable of being float – free on submerging.
4. Retro-reflective material:
• Life-saving appliances shall be fitted with retro-reflective material and the dimensions and location of the material shall be in accordance with national/international standards
5. Safety Equipment Plan:
• All vessels up to 24 m length and over are to have a Safety Equipment plan displayed on board showing the location of various Lifesaving appliances and all the Fire Control and Fire Fighting Appliances fitted/carried on board to be used in an emergency.
A copy of the draft Rules is linked below for ease of reference.
Source: Ministry of Shipping
