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Core Purpose

Proposes amendments to the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022, concerning vessel surveys, tonnage calculation, and surveyor qualifications.

Detailed Summary

This notification from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways proposes the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) (First Amendment) Rules, 2025 to amend the principal rules of 2022. Key amendments include clarifications on calculating gross tonnage for vessels based on size and international standards. It modifies survey regulations, specifying dry dock inspection frequencies and conditions for allowing in-water surveys, particularly for younger vessels not operating in saline water. The annual survey scope is expanded to include radio and navigation equipment checks. Further, the notification revises qualifications for inland vessel surveyors, detailing required engineering degrees, experience in vessel types, and specific certifications from the Director General of Shipping. The notification also substitutes several forms related to vessel surveys and invites public comments within 30 days of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-25022025-261310 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 114] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025/PHALGUNA 6, 1946 8 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 25th February, 2025 G.S.R. 148(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 9, sub-section (2) of section 10, sub-section (1) of section 11, sub-section (1) of section 12, sub-section (3) of section 12 and sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 13 read with clauses (g) to (l) of sub-section (2) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021), the Central Government proposes to amend the the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022 notified by the Government of India in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways vide number G.S.R. 420(E) dated the 7th June, 2022 and hereby publish as required by sub-section (1) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021) 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 the Director (IWT), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Room No. 536, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001, or by email at dsiwt-psw@gov.in and uttam.mishra27@gov.in within the period specified above; Draft Amendment 1. (1) These rules may be called as the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) (First Amendment) Rules, 2025. (2) These rules shall come into force on the date of their final publication in Official Gazette. 2. In the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), after clause (d) of sub-rule (1) of rule 2, the following explanation shall be inserted, namely. - "Explanation. - For the purpose of this sub-rule, Gross Tonnage of vessels above 24 meters shall be calculated according to International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 whereas Gross Tonnage of vessels less than 24 meters shall be calculated according to Rule 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1991." 3. In sub-rule (1) of rule 8 of the said rules. i. In clause (b), for the words "Inland Vessel Certificate of Survey", the words "certificate of survey" shall be substituted; ii. In clause (c), the following shall be substituted, namely. – "a minimum of two inspections in dry dock or slipway, of the outside of the vessel's bottom, carried out during the five year period of validity of the certificate of survey; Provided the interval between any two such inspections shall not exceed thirty-six months; Provided further that one in water survey may be allowed in lieu of one inspection in dry dock or slipway, in case any of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the vessel is less than 20 years of age; (ii) the vessel is not operating in saline water." 4. In rule 10 of the said rules: i. In sub-rule (1), the following shall be substituted, namely. – "(1) The annual survey of the vessel shall include a general inspection of the items specified in sub-rule (2) of this rule to confirm that they are in satisfactory condition and fit for the service for which the vessel is intended." ii. In sub-rule (2), after sub-clause (j), the following sub-clause shall be inserted, namely. – "(k) radio and navigation equipment." 5. Rule 11 of the said rules shall be omitted. 6. In sub-rule (1) of rule 12 of the said rules, for the word and figure "rule 9", the word and figure "rule 10" shall be substituted. 9 [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY 7. In rule 22 of the said rules, sub-rule (4) shall be omitted. 8. In rule 23 of the said rules, the following rule shall be substituted namely. – "Qualifications for appointment as Surveyor. - A surveyor of inland vessels shall possess any of the following qualifications and experience- (a) Marine or Mechanical or Electrical Engineer or Naval Architect in possession of First or Second class Motor/Steam Ministry of Transport (MOT) Certificate issued by Director General of Shipping, Government of India or equivalent certificate recognized by the Government of India and 5 years of experience after first certificate of competency either in sea going regular vessels or Classification Societies or Ship Building yards or reputed International Shipping Companies or State Port Department or State Maritime Board or Directorate General of Shipping or Mercantile Marine Department or State Inland Waterways Authority or Inland Water Transport Directorate or equivalent; (b) Master Mariner (Foreign Going) with 5 years of sailing experience or experience in maritime training or marine survey after having obtained master's certificate issued by Director General of Shipping, Government of India or equivalent international certificate; or (c) Marine Engineer Officer Class III [Near Coastal Voyage Vessel (NCV) - Chief Engineer Officer] Certificate or Master (Near Coastal Voyage Vessel) certificate issued by the Director General of Shipping with minimum 10 years of sailing experience of which at least 3 years experience in the capacity of Master or Chief Engineer and 5 years of experience in Classification Societies or Ship Building yards or reputed International Shipping Companies or State Port Department or State Maritime Board or Directorate General of Shipping or Mercantile Marine Department or State Inland Waterways Authority or Inland Water Transport Directorate or equivalent; or (d) a basic degree in Naval Architecture with 7 years experience in sea going regular vessels or Classification Societies or Ship Building yards or reputed International Shipping Corporations or State Port Department or State Inland Waterways Authority or Inland Water Transport Directorate or equivalent; (e) Diploma in ship building with 15 years experience in sea going regular vessels or Classification Societies or reputed Ship Building yards or reputed International Shipping Corporations or State Port Department or State Inland Waterways Authority Inland Water Transport Directorate or equivalent." 9. Rule 24 shall be omitted. 10. In the said rules, for Form No. 1, the following form shall be substituted, namely. – "Form No. 1 Form of application for conducting survey of Inland Vessel Date: Place: To The Designated Authority At Port................................... Application for (indicate type) Survey of Inland Vessel I/We, the authorized persons under the law hereby apply to you to make necessary arrangement for the Initial/Renewal/Dry Docking/Additional/Annual (strike out the not applicable ones) of the Inland Vessel detailed below. The particulars of the vessel are as under; 1. Name of vessel 2. Official no. of the vessel 3. Port of Registry of vessel 4. Tonnage (i) Registered ......................................(ii) Gross................................(iii) Net............................... 5. Type of the vessel 10 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (Passenger/ Passenger-cum-cargo/ Cargo/ Tanker, Chemical Carrier, LNG Carrier, Tug, Dumb Barge, Survey Vessel, Work Boat, Catamaran Passenger Vessel, Pusher Tug, Dredger-any other type of vessel) 6. Category of the Vessel 7. Year of Build 8. Keel laying Date 9. Name and address of Builder 10. Hull Dimensions (LxBxDxT) 11. Place and date of last survey 12. Type & British Horse Power (BHP) of main propulsion Machinery 13. Details of other machineries 14. Owner's name and address with telephone no. 15. Agents name and address with telephone no. 16. Date and time of proposed visit of surveyor 17. Place of proposed Survey Station ...................................... Date......................................... Signature of Owner/Master/Authorized Person Enclosures: 1. Proof of payment of Survey fee and other charges 2. Copy of last Certificate of Survey 3. Copy of Certificate of Registration (if already registered) 4. Document establishing the Authority of Authorized Person (if making request)" 11. In Annexure to Form No. 2 of the said rules, in the table, in the column relating to Firefighting item, for words and brackets "Fire Pumps (Mech)", the word, brackets and symbol "Fire Pumps (Mech)/(Electrical)" shall be substituted. 12. In Form No. 4 and 5 of the said rules: i. after the words "Name of the Engineer or Engine Driver "wherever they occur, for the words "Maters COC Grade", the words "Engineer or Engine Driver COC Grade" shall be substituted; ii. for the words "Signed by Chief Surveyor", the words "Signed by Surveyor" shall be substituted. 13. In Form 5 of the said rules, - i. in the heading, the words "- Category A Vessel" shall be omitted; ii. before the words "Certificate of Survey No.", the words "Category of vessel ____________" shall be inserted. 14. In the said rules, Form 6 shall be omitted. 15. In the said rules, for Form 7, the following form shall be substituted, namely. – "Form No. 7 Particulars to be furnished for Survey of New Vessel or Vessels which are to be surveyed for the first time 1. Name of vessel (if already named)/Yard No. ________ 2. Owner's name and address 11 [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY 3. Length, breadth and depth of vessel 4. Type of Vessel. (Passenger, cargo, cargo-cum-passenger, Chemical Carrier, Liquid Carrier, Tug, Dumb barge, Chemical Carrier, LNG Carrier, Tug, Dumb Barge, Survey Vessel, Work Boat, Catamaran Passenger Vessel, Pusher Tug, Dredger or any other type of vessel) 5. Particulars of hull (a) Year of built (b) Keel Laying Date (c) Builders name and address (d) Builders certificate (e) Material of the hull (Mild Steel/Aluminium/Composite/Others) (f) Number of Bulk heads, their placement and thickness (g) Hull plating material and thickness (h) Frames (material and thickness) (i) Floors (material and thickness) 6. Particulars of propulsion of Engines (a) Number of sets fitted and Sr. No. (b) Manufacturer's name and brand (c) Model Number (d) Year of built (e) Type of Engine with HP of each (f) Stroke _________ Cylinder diameter _________ (g) Diameter of propulsion shaft and material (h) Type and Number of gears (i) Test certificate 7. Particulars of equipment (a) Anchor-Port, Starboard (type, number, weight & Material of each) (b) Anchor-Spare (type, number, weight & material of each equipment) (c) Chain: size type and length and test certificate (Port) (d) Chain: size type and length and test certificate (Starboard) (e) Mooring & Towing Ropes-size, material, breaking strength of rope and number of ropes (f) Search Lights, number, size and power (g) Life buoys, Buoyant apparatus with Self Ignited lights, Number with buoyant lanyard (h) Navigation Lights giving particulars and certificate, main mast, auxiliary mast, port, Starboard, Stem, Anchor not under command (i) Shapes for anchor not under command etc. (j) Sound signals: Mechanical or Electrical 8. Particulars of fire appliance (a) Number, size and capacity of fire pumps (b) Fire mains, diameter, material and number of hydrants (c) Number of hoses 12 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)] (d) Nozzles (i) Jet type (ii) Spray type (iii) Jet/Spray type (e) Any other equipment 9. Number of portable fire extinguisher with particulars and name of manufactures (a) Soda Acid (b) Foam (c) Dry Powder (d) Any other types 10. Particulars of communication equipment 11. Particulars of navigation equipment 12. Particulars of pollution control devices (a) Sewage treatment and disposal (b) Solid waste processing and disposal (c) Sound Pollution Control (d) Water consumption/day (e) Source of water 13. No. of deck crew ________ No. of engine crew ________ 14. Number of passengers and/or deadweight of the cargo 15. Plans, Drawings, Etc.:" [F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(2)] Dr. KAMALA KANTA NATH, Adviser (Statistics) 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.

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