Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-21112025-267878
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 770]
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025/ KARTIKA 29, 1947
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 19th November, 2025
G.S.R. 856(E). — The following draft of the Inland Vessels (Special Category Vessels:
LNG/CNG, Battery, Methanol & Hydrogen Fuel) Rules, 2025, which the Central Government proposes to
make in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (1) and (2) of Section 42 read with Section
106(2)(zh) and Section 98(1)(a) of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021 is hereby published as required by sub-
section (1) of section 106 of the said Act for information of all persons likely to be affected thereby; and
notice is hereby given that the said draft rules shall be taken into consideration after the expiry 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 Director (IWT-I), Ministry of Ports,
Shipping & Waterways, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001, or by email at
diriwt1-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
before the expiry of the aforesaid period will be considered by the Central Government
Inland Vessels (Special Category Vessels: LNG/CNG, Battery, Methanol & Hydrogen Fuel) Rules,
2025
1. Short title and commencement. (1) These Rules may be called the Inland Vessels (Special Category
Vessels: LNG/CNG, Battery, Methanol & Hydrogen Fuel) Rules, 2025.
(2) These rules shall come into force on the date of their final 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) "classification society” means a recognized organization within the meaning of clause (20) of section 3
of the Act, which is a member of International Association of Classification Societies.
(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.
[PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
3. Scope and application.
(1) The following classes or categories of mechanically inland vessels shall be considered as special
category vessels considering their fueling system or source of power for propulsion:
a. Vessels using natural gas (Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)) as
fuel; and
b. Vessels using batteries for main propulsion, or, as an additional source of power for propulsion;
and
с. Vessels using methanol as fuel; and
d. Vessels using hydrogen fuel cell or Hydrogen Internal combustion Engines for main propulsion.
Provided that these rules shall not apply to Pleasure Crafts and Canal Cruise Boats covered under The
Inland Vessels (Special Category: Pleasure Craft and Canal Cruise Boats) Rules, 2025 irrespective of
their fuelling system.
(2) The requirements in the following rules shall apply to special category vessels identified pursuant to
sub-rule (1):
a. Inland Vessels (Registration and Other Technical Issues) Rules, 2022
b. Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022
c. Inland Vessels (Design and construction) Rules, 2024
d. Inland Vessels (Firefighting appliances) Rules, 2022
e. Inland Vessels (Life savings appliances) Rules, 2022
f. Inland Vessels (Prevention and containment of pollution) Rules, 2022
g. Inland Vessels (Crew and passenger accommodation) Rules, 2022
h. Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, communication, and signals) Rules, 2022
i. Inland Vessels (Manning) Rules, 2022
j. Inland Vessels (Insurance, Limitation of Liability and Obligations of Service Providers and Service
Users) Rules, 2022
k. Inland Vessels (Central database and allied matters) Rules, 2024
l. Inland Vessels (Prior Approval for Alteration and Modification), Rules 2025
m. Inland Vessels (National River Traffic and Navigation System), Rules 2025
(3) Standards for design and construction
a. The standards for design and construction these special category vessels shall be governed by
Inland Vessels (Design and construction) Rules, 2024 and its subsequent amendments.
b. The engine and its fuel supply system /motors/batteries and battery management system as well as
propulsion system related components of such vessels which are not covered by sub rule 3(a) shall
be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards specified by—
i. a classification society;
PROVIDED THAT battery propelled vessels having total propulsion power less than 20 KW shall
be designed and constructed in accordance with the standards specified by:
i. Bureau of Indian Standards.
ii. a Classification Society; or
iii. International Organization for Standardization;
c. The owner shall furnish a declaration regarding standards for design and construction followed, in
Form No. 1 of these rules to the designated authority or such person or organization, as may be
delegated by the State Government under sub-section (4) of section 12 of the Act.
(4) Survey and Certification
The vessel identified as special category vessel pursuant to sub-rule (1), shall be designed, constructed,
and maintained under the survey of a classification society irrespective of rule 4 of the Inland Vessels
(Design and Construction) Rules, 2024 and its subsequent amendments.
PROVIDED that, battery-propelled vessels having total propulsion power less than 20 KW may be
designed, constructed, and maintained under the survey of—
a. a classification society; or
b. the designated authority or
such person or organization as may be delegated by the State Government under sub-
section (4) of section 12 of the Act.
PROVIDED further that, the survey conducted by Classification Society shall be in addition to the
survey carried out by the designated authority or by such person or organization as may be delegated
by the State Government under sub-section (4) of section 12 of the Act.
(5) Threshold of Compliance
a. All existing inland vessels operating with LNG, CNG, battery-electric, methanol, or hydrogen
propulsion or fuel systems prior to the commencement of these rules shall continue to comply with
the requirements that were applicable to them immediately before the coming into force of these
rules;
Provided that, where a vessel undergoes a major conversion, modification, or replacement of its
propulsion system, fuel system, or main engines and starts operation using alternate fuels, the
provisions of these rules shall apply to such altered systems or components.
b. Notwithstanding sub-rule (1), all such existing vessels shall, within two years from the date of
commencement of these rules, comply with the provisions relating to stability information and
calculation of freeboard as specified under Rules 13 and 15 of Inland Vessels (Design and
construction) Rules, 2024 and its subsequent amendments.
c. Every new inland vessel utilizing LNG, CNG, battery-electric systems, methanol or hydrogen shall
be constructed, equipped, maintained, and operated in full compliance with the provisions of these
rules and shall be suitable for its intended service as determined by the designated authority.
d. No certificate of survey shall be issued under the Act to any new inland vessel referred to in sub-
rule (3) unless such vessel is in full compliance with the design, construction, equipment, and
safety standards specified in these rules.
(6) Harmonization with other special category rules and regulatory frameworks
a. Where a vessel is designated as a special category vessel under these rules and is also
governed by other special category rules framed under the Act, it shall comply with all
applicable rules to the extent they are not inconsistent.
b. The Competent Authority shall determine the principal classification of the vessel based on
dominant functionality, risk profile, and construction; however, the certificate of fitness
shall have mention of all other special category rules and their extent of application on
these vessels.
4. Certification and statutory requirements:
The vessel identified as special category vessel pursuant to sub-rule (1), shall ensure following
compliances: -
1. Safety Measures and Load line Requirements
(a)The vessel shall be provided with safety gear and equipment in accordance with its area of operation
as prescribed by the respective State Government.
(b)The maximum carrying capacity of the vessel shall be determined by such criteria as may be
prescribed by the State Government, which may include but not limited to:
i. the specification of a safety load line or load line limits to ensure buoyancy;
ii. other condition necessary to ensure the safe voyage of such vessel, in addition to those provided
elsewhere under the Act
(c) The maximum carrying capacity of the vessel shall be endorsed in the certificate of fitness.
2. Appointment of officers and grant of certificate of fitness
The State Government shall appoint or authorize such number of officers, as may be necessary for
the purpose of implementation and enforcement of the provisions under the Chapter VII of the Act
and these rules.
a. The authorized officer shall be empowered to:
i.receive and process applications for fitness certification of these vessels;
ii.conduct inspections and surveys;
iii.issue, suspend, or cancel certificates of fitness; and
iv.record and maintain reasons for refusal, suspension, cancellation, or other enforcement actions
taken under these rules.
b. Upon an application made by the owner, operator, or master of any mechanically propelled inland
vessel, in such form and manner as may be prescribed by the State Government, the authorized
officer shall, upon being satisfied that the vessel:
i.meets the prescribed safety, structural, and stability standards;
ii.is equipped with the requisite safety equipment;
iii.bears appropriate load line markings, as applicable; and
iv.complies with the provisions of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021 and these rules,
issue a certificate of fitness indicating the carrying capacity of the vessel, in such form
and manner as may be prescribed by the respective State Government.
c. The certificate of fitness shall be issued subject to fulfilment of such conditions as may be
prescribed by the State Government, which may include but not limited to—
i. possession of a valid survey and insurance certificate;
ii. payment of applicable fees;
iii. inspection requirements, including annual or such other periodicity as may be specified by the State
Government; and
iv. operational restrictions.
d. A model format of the application for certificate of fitness (Form–2) and the certificate of
fitness (Form-3) is annexed for reference and adoption by State Governments for uniformity with
these rules.
e. Single certificate of fitness for multiple special category rules:
Wherever a vessel falls within the jurisdiction of more than one set of Special
Category Vessel Rules, a single Certificate of Fitness shall be issued in respect thereof.
This certificate shall incorporate the requirements and in accordance with sub rule(6)
of rule(3) of these rules.
3. Inter-State Operation and powers/responsibilities
(a)The home State shall be the sole authority for issuing the certificate of fitness for a special
category vessel.
(b)Such vessels holding a valid certificate of fitness issued by the home State shall be permitted to
operate in any other State, without requiring a duplicate or separate certification from other State,
provided that:
(i)the certificate of fitness issued by the home State is accepted by the State in which the
vessel is intended to be operated; and
(ii)prior intimation is given to the intended State of operation, and any conditions imposed
by that State are duly complied with.
(c) The Central Government shall facilitate inter-State data exchange mechanisms for the validation
and verification of Certificates of Fitness issued by the home State, enabling seamless operation of
Special Category Vessels across States.
4. Inspection by Surveyor
(a)A surveyor appointed under the Act, other than for the purpose of a scheduled survey, may at any
reasonable time, board a special category vessel for the purpose of inspection. Such inspection may
include, but not be limited to, examination of:
i.the hull,
ii.equipment,
iii.machinery, and
iv.any part or properties of the vessel.
b. The owner, operator, agent, master, or any person in charge of the vessel shall:
i. provide all necessary access and facilities to the surveyor for conducting the inspection or survey,
and
ii. furnish such information regarding the vessel, its machinery, equipment, or any part thereof, as the
surveyor or any authorized officer may reasonably require.
5. Enforcement of Compliance and Suspension or Cancellation of Certificate of Fitness
iii. A vessel identified as a special category vessel pursuant to these rules shall obtain the certificate of
fitness within a period of six months from the date of commencement of these rules.
iv. If any mechanically propelled inland vessel identified as a special category vessel under these
rules, is found to be in non-compliance with the provisions of the Act or the rules made thereunder,
the State Government may issue a notice of rectification to the owner, operator, master, or person
in charge of the vessel, specifying the nature of non-compliance and the time within which such
rectification must be completed.
v. In the event that the non-compliance continues beyond the time specified in the notice issued under
sub-section (1), the State Government may—after giving the concerned person an opportunity to be
heard and recording reasons in writing-suspend or cancel the Certificate of Fitness granted to
such vessel under these rules.
vi. A vessel whose Certificate of Fitness has been suspended or cancelled under sub-section (2) shall:
i. cease to operate until such suspension is revoked; or
ii. in the event of cancellation, cease to operate until a new Certificate of Fitness is granted in
accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
6. Appeal
State Government shall appoint an appellate authority for grievance redress under these rules.
An aggrieved applicant may file an appeal against the decision of refusal, suspension or
cancellation of fitness certificate to the designated appellate authority of the State Government
within 30 days from the date of communication of such order.
5. Obligations of the Owner of vessel
1. Safe operation of vessel
Subject to compliance with safe operating conditions, the Owner shall adhere to the operational
conditions specified in the certificate of fitness granted by the authorized officer of State
Government.
2. Penalties for Non-Compliance
a. The owner of the vessel shall ensure compliances of all relevant provisions of the Act and rules
framed there under applicable to such vessels in addition to these rules. The following valid
documents are mandatory for these vessels for plying in Inland Waters:
i. Certificate of Registration.
ii. Survey Certificate.
iii. Insurance Policy.
iv. Fitness Certificate.
v. Prevention of Pollution Certificate.
b. The owner shall make available all the above requisite documents at all times and shall produce
the same on demand to the officers or authorities appointed by the State Government under
relevant provisions of the Act.
c. Failure to comply with any provision of these rules shall render the Owner liable to penalties,
fines, or other actions as may be imposed under Section 87 of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
6. Power to Remove Difficulties:
The Central Government may, by order in the Official Gazette, issue directions to remove any difficulty
in implementation of these rules.
Form No 1
DECLARATION BY OWNER REGARDING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARD FOR THE
VESSEL
To
The Surveyor/Designated Authority,
[Insert Name of State/UT Maritime Board or Authorized Entity],
[Insert Address].
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Subject: Declaration on Compliance with Design and Construction Standards of the Vessel
I, [Full Name], son/daughter of [Father's/Mother's Name], aged [Age], residing at [Full Address], being the
owner of the vessel described below, hereby solemnly declare and affirm as follows:
1. Vessel Details:
ii. Name of Vessel: [Insert Vessel Name]
iii. Type of Vessel: [e.g., Passenger, Cargo, Dredger, Survey, etc.]
iv. Hull Identification Number (if available): [Insert HIN]
v. Material of Construction: [e.g., Steel, GRP/FRP, Wood, etc.]
vi. Length (LOA): [XX.XX] meters
vii. Breadth (B): [XX.XX] meters
viii. Depth (D): [XX.XX] meters
ix. Draft: [XX.XX] meters
Χ. Year of Construction: [YYYY]
x1. Place of Construction: [Workshop/Shipyard Name and Address]
xii. Builder's Name: [If applicable]
2. I hereby declare that the above-mentioned vessel has been designed and constructed in accordance
following standards: -
3. I undertake full responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided and compliance with the
statutory design and construction standards. I am aware that any false statement or
misrepresentation may lead to penalties, cancellation of registration, or other legal consequences
under the Act.
4. I shall ensure that the vessel is maintained in seaworthy condition and will not undergo any
structural alterations or modifications without obtaining prior approval from the competent
authority.
Place: [City/Town]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]
Signature of the Owner:
Name of the Owner: [Full Name]
Mobile Number: []
Email ID: [example@email.com]
Address: [Full Residential Address]
Form No 2
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS
(Under Section 43(2) of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021)
To:
The Authorised Officer
[Name of Port/State IWT/MB]
[Address]
1. Vessel and Ownership Details
Particular Details
Name of the Vessel
Registration Number (if any)
Name of Owner/Operator
Address of Owner/Operator
Contact Details
2. Vessel Specifications
Particular Details
Type of Vessel Passenger Cargo Others:
Hull Material Steel Wooden☐ GRP FRP Composite Others:
Propulsion Type OBM Inboard Engine
☐Diesel/Petrol Electric-Battery Powered □ CNG/LNG □ Hydrogen
Methanol Others:
Engine Type
Dimensions (L × B × D) m x m x m
Draft
Year of Build
Engine Details (if applicable)
Operational Area
Purpose of Application
Initial Certification
Renewal of Certificate No.
4.Special Category Endorsement:
i. (e.g. Material Based)
ii. (e.g. Fuel Based)
iii. (e.g. autonomous/semiautonomous/others)
5. Declaration
I hereby declare that the details provided above are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and I
shall comply with the provisions of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021, and the Rules made thereunder. All
required safety gear, machinery, and operational conditions are in conformity with applicable standards.
Signature of Owner/Operator:
Date: / /20
Place:
Form No 3
CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS FOR SPECIAL CATEGORY VESSEL
(Issued under Section 43(2) of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021)
Certificate No.: /20
Date of Issue: / /20
Valid Until: / /20
Issuing Authority:
1. Vessel Identification
Particular Details
Name of Vessel
Registration Number
Owner/Operator Name &
Address
Hull Material Steel Wooden GRP FRP Composite Others:
Propulsion Type OBM Inboard Engine
☐Diesel/Petrol ☐Electric-Battery Powered CNG/LNG Hydrogen
Methanol Others:
Engine Type
Type of Vessel
Operational Area
2. Principal Particulars
Particular Details
Length Overall (LOA) m
Breadth m
Depth m
Draft m
Engine Type & Power
Passenger Capacity (if any) persons
Cargo Capacity (if any) MT
3. Safety Compliance & Load line
The vessel has been surveyed and found compliant with:
• Safety equipment requirements as per categorization
• Buoyancy and floatation adequacy
• Load line markings affixed and verified Yes Not Applicable)
• Engine and propulsion systems (where applicable)
• Navigational and structural safety
• Fire and life-saving appliances
4. Conditions of Operation (if any)
Restricted to fair weather/daylight operations
Maximum persons allowed:
Max cargo load: MT
Operational area limited to:
Others:
5. Certification
I hereby certify that the vessel described above has been inspected and is fit for operation as a Special
Category Vessel in accordance with the provisions of The Inland Vessels Act, 2021 and the rules made
thereunder.
| Category | Criteria | Details/Remarks |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------------------------ | :-------------- |
| (i) Material-Based | Wooden GRP FRP Other: | |
| (ii) Fuel-Based | Electric-Battery Powered CNG/LNG Hydrogen Methanol | |
| | Others: | |
| (iii) Technology- | Autonomous Semi-Autonomous Remote-Operated | |
| Based | Other: | |
| (iv)............... | | |
Surveyor's Name:
Designation:
Signature and Seal:
Date: / /20
Note: This certificate shall be carried on board at all times. Any alteration to the structure, machinery, or
configuration without prior survey and approval shall render this certificate invalid
[F.No. IWT-II-12011/7/2025-IWT-II]
Dr. KAMALA KANTA NATH,Adviser (Stats)
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
Digitally signed by
GORAKHA NATH YADAVA
NATH YADAVA Date: 2025.11.21 11:58:00
+05'30'