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Core Purpose

Notification amending the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Rules, 2022.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, under powers conferred by sections 7, 80, and sub-section (2) clauses (zv) and (zza) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021), hereby makes the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Amendment Rules, 2025. These rules amend the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Rules, 2022, which were previously published as G.S.R. 423(E) dated 7th June, 2022. The draft amendment rules were published as G.S.R. 752(E) dated 5th December, 2024, as required by section 106(1) of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, and no objections were received. Key amendments include: inserting an explanation in rule 2(1) regarding Gross Tonnage calculation based on the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (for vessels 24m+) and Rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1987 (for vessels <24m); substituting "0.60" with "0.36" in rule 20(1); substituting rule 23(3) to require seating for 50% of passengers on voyages between 15 and 60 minutes according to stability requirements in the Inland Vessels (Design and Construction Rules), 2024; amending rule 24 to substitute minimum access width with 750 millimeters and change figures in sub-rules (4), (5), and (6) from 1600 to 1300, 680 to 650, 310 to 230, and 620 to 480 respectively; amending rule 26(6) to substitute "centralized type or individual unit type" with "centralised type" and insert a proviso allowing case-by-case exemption by the Designated Authority for Category A vessels under 300 gross tonnage; and substituting "30" with "60" in rule 31(4). The rules come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette (28th May, 2025).

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-28052025-263448 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 303] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025/JYAISTHA 7, 1947 MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 28th May, 2025 G.S.R. 346(E).—Whereas draft of the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) (First Amendment) Rules, 2024 were published, as required under sub-section (1) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021), vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways number G.S.R. 752 (E) dated the 5th December, 2024, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub- section (i), dated the 5th December, 2024, inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which copies of Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public; And whereas copies of the said notification were made available to the public on 5th December, 2024; And whereas no objections and suggestions were received from the public in respect of the said draft rules by the Central government. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-sections (1) of section 7 and section 80 read with clauses (zv) and (zza) of sub-section (2) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to amend the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Rules, 2022, namely. – 1. (1) These rules may be called as the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Amendment Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in rule 2, in sub-rule (1), after clause (c), the following explanation shall be inserted, namely: "Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, Gross Tonnage of vessels of 24 meters or above 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 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1987, as amended from time to time.". 3. In sub-rule (1) of rule 20 of the said rules, for the figures "0.60", the figures "0.36" shall be substituted. 4. For sub-rule (3) of rule 23 of the said rules, the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:- "(3) Inland vessels operating on voyages of more than 15 minutes and upto 60 minutes to provide seating for 50 per cent. of passengers, in accordance with the stability requirements given in the Inland Vessels (Design and Construction Rules), 2024, provided the motions and accelerations in all normal operation would not make standing difficult.". 5. In rule 24 of the said rules,- (a) for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely. – "(1) Suitable clear space shall be allowed for access, assembly, corridor access and escape with a minimum width of 750 millimeters being provided."; (b) in sub-rule (4), for the figures "1600", the figures "1300” shall be substituted; (c) in sub-rule (5),- (i) for the figures "680", the figures "650" shall be substituted; (ii) for the figures "310", the figures "230" shall be substituted; (d) in sub-rule (6), for the figures "620", the figures "480" shall be substituted; 6. In sub-rule (6) of rule 26 of the said rules,- (a) for the words "centralized type or individual unit type", the words "centralised type" shall be substituted; (b) in clause (b), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: – "Provided that an exemption from the above requirement may be given, on a case-to-case basis by the Designated Authority to Category A vessels of less than 300 gross tonnage.". 7. In sub-rule (4) of rule 31 of the said rules, for the figures "30", the figures "60" shall be substituted. [F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(5)] P. K. ROY, Jt. Secy. (IWT-II) Note: The prinicipal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated the 7th June, 2022, vide notification number G.S.R. 423(E), dated the 7th June, 2022.

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