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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
CG-DL-E-15072025-264667
CG-DL-E-15072025-264667
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 421]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025/ASHADHA 20, 1947
4565 GI/2025
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 11th July, 2025
G.S.R. 464(E). — In the exercise of powers conferred under sub-section (1) and (2) of section 8 read with
clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021, the draft of the Inland Vessels
(Prior Approval for Alteration and Modification) Rules, 2025, which the Central Government hereby proposes to
make, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act of 2021 (24 of
2021), is hereby published for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby; and notice is hereby given
that the said draft shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which
the copies of this notification as published in the Official Gazette are made available to the public;
Objections or suggestions, if any, to these draft rules may be sent to the Director (IWT), Ministry of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways, Room No. 545, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001, or by email at dircoord2-
psw@gov.in and psw-usiwt2@gov.in within the period specified above;
The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person in respect of the said draft rules, within the
period specified will be considered by the Central Government.
Draft Rules
1. Short Title Commencement. - (1) These rules may be called the Inland Vessels (Prior Approval for
Alteration and Modification) Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions. - (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Act" means the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021);
(b) "alteration or modification” means alterations or modifications which would affect the strength, stability and
safety or certification status or watertight integrity or change in type or primary function of any mechanically
propelled inland vessel or other criteria as notified by the Central Government.
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in these rules but defined in the Act, shall have the meanings
respectively assigned to them in the Act.
3. Prior approval of the Designated Authority. - (1) Vessel owners or operators desirous of making any
alteration or modification shall submit an application in Form 6 of Inland Vessels (Registration and other Technical
Issues) Rules, 2022, as amended, specifying the nature and scope of the proposed alteration or modification to the
Designated Authority.
(2) Upon receiving the application, the Designated Authority shall review the proposed alteration or modification
to assess their impact on vessel safety, strength, stability and structural integrity.
(3) All alterations and modifications must comply with Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as
amended safety standards, and any specific requirements outlined in the vessel's design or classification.
(4) In cases, if deemed necessary by the Designated Authority, an independent evaluation may be ordered
internally through a naval architect or marine engineer or surveyor or through classification society as applicable to
assess the technical aspects of the proposed alteration(s) or modification(s) by the vessel owner as per Inland Vessels
(Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended.
(5) In case an alteration or modification that may impact vessel safety, the environment, or any other
stakeholders, the Designated Authority shall order the vessel to undergo a thorough safety assessment. Mitigation
measures shall be proposed and implemented as would be found necessary.
(6) Upon verification of application submitted by the vessel owner or operator, the Designated Authority shall
grant a certificate of prior approval to the vessel owner or operator. The owner shall maintain the certificate of prior
approval onboard the vessel at all times.
4. Major alterations and modification. – Major alterations of existing vessels shall be generally considered to
be instances which:
(a) substantially alter a vessel's dimensions or capacity;
(a) change a vessel's type or primary function;
(b) substantially increase a vessel's service life;
(c) substantially affect the sub-division; or
(d) substantially affect the watertight and weathertight integrity.
5. Minor alterations. – (1) Minor alterations are defined as those which do not involve significant changes to
the structure of the vessel but which may have an impact on structural strength.
(2) Minor alterations should be brought to the attention of the Surveyor or the Designated Authority in writing
within a month of the alterations and modifications.
6. Criteria for Grant of Approval. – All alterations or modifications to vessels must adhere to the following:
(a) Safety and Compliance: any alteration or modification shall ensure the safety of the vessel, crew, passengers
and the environment as per Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended.
(b) Structural Integrity: structural alterations must be designed and executed in a way that maintains or enhances
the vessel's structural integrity and stability. Structural calculations and assessments may be carried out by the
designer and submitted to Designated Authority or Classification Society (for vessels under Classification Society), as
applicable, for verification and approval.
(c) Stability Analysis: for modifications that affect the vessel's stability, a stability analysis must be conducted as
per Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended, for verification by Designated Authority or
Classification Society, as applicable, and the vessel must be operated within its approved stability limits.
(d) Environmental Impact: modifications shall consider and minimize the vessel's environmental impact,
especially in terms of emissions, waste disposal and pollution prevention as per Inland Vessels (Prevention and
Containment of Pollution) Rules, 2022, as amended.
7. Reporting. Under section 28 of the Act read with rule 9 of Inland Vessels (Registration and other
Technical Issues) Rules, 2022, as amended, any alteration or modification affecting strength or stability or safety shall
obtain a revised certificate of survey and registration.
8. Failure to comply with these rules may result in regulatory non-compliance, endangerment of vessel and
crew safety and State Government in these cases may impose appropriate penalty to owner as per provisions of
section 87 of the Act.
[F. No. IWT-II-12011/4/2025-IWT-II]
P. K. ROY, Jt. Secy. (IWT-II)
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. GORAKHA NATH
YADAVA