Ministry of Shipping issues draft Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules 2022; public comments invited till 20th March 2022
Ministry of Shipping has proposed the draft of the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules 2022 (“Rules”). Objections or suggestions, If any, are invited and the same is required to 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] by 20th March, 2022.
Key Highlights:
• All existing inland vessels are required to comply with the requirements existing prior to coming into force of these rules. The existing inland vessels that undergo major conversion or modification shall comply with the requirements specified in these rules, as far as it is considered reasonable and practicable by the Designated Authority, and provided that in the case of change of propulsion system/main engines/ type of fuel etc, the new rules will apply to that equipment and systems only;
• The owner/operator and master of the new inland vessels is required to ensure that the vessel is constructed, maintained, and operated under the requirements related to Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals as provided under these Rules and that the vessel is suitable for its intended service;
• No new inland vessel will be issued with the certificate of survey under the Inland Vessels Act of 2021 and the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022, unless such vessel complies with requirements related to Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals including the physical design of the inland vessel or equipment that the inland vessel must carry, or those which are operational or procedural in nature. Provided that Designated authority shall ascertain that there is evidence of procedures in place to
demonstrate that the inland vessels are operated in compliance with the requirements provided under these Rules;
• The owner / operator and master of the vessel, as appropriate, shall take all reasonable measures 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 the purpose intended, having regard to its area of operation.
A copy of the Notification is linked below for ease of reference.
