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Core Purpose

Proposes first amendment to Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) Rules, 2022 regarding vessel operations and safety.

Detailed Summary

This notification from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways proposes the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signal) (First Amendment) Rules, 2025, amending the 2022 Rules. Key changes include revised explanations for Gross Tonnage calculation based on vessel length, referencing international standards and merchant shipping rules. The amendment introduces chapter titles related to restricted visibility operations and lights/shapes. It refines rules on light and shape displays for vessels, increases a figure in rule 26, and modifies rule 33 concerning radio and navigation equipment. Specifically, rule 33 now details minimum equipment requirements for vessels operating in Zone 3, including magnetic compass, VHF/UHF radio, Class B AIS, binocular, and Aldis lamp or search light. The public is invited to submit objections or suggestions within thirty days.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-30012025-260601 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 54] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025/MAGHA 9, 1946 750 GI/2025 MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 29th January, 2025 G.S.R. 83(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and (2) of section 47 read with clauses (zj) and (zk) of sub-section (2) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021), the Central Government proposes to amend the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) Rules, 2022 notified by the Government of India in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways vide number G.S.R. 424(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. 547, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi- 110001, or by email at ajay.sirohi@nic.in and uttam.mishra27@gov.in within the period specified above; Draft Amendment 1. (1) These rules may be called as the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signal) (First Amendment) Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signal) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), in clause (f) of rule 2 after the, 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. Before rule 17 of the said rules, the following title shall be inserted: - "Chapter V - Conduct of Inland Vessels of Restricted Visibility" 4. Before rule 18 of the said rules, the following title shall be inserted: - "Chapter VI - 'Lights and Shapes" 5. In rule 18, - i. In the heading, for the words “Vessels in restricted visibility", the words “General Requirements of Lights and Shapes” shall be substituted. ii. In sub-rule (4), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: - "The lights and shapes shall comply with clauses (a) and (b) of sub-rule (1) of rule 23 and sub-rule (2) of Rule 23." 6. Before rule 19 of the said rules, the title “Chapter VI – Lights and Shapes” shall be omitted. 7. In rule 23 of the said rules, in sub-rule (1), - i. In clause (a), after the words “two all-round red lights", the words “about 1 m one above another" shall be inserted; ii. In clause (b), after the words “two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line”, the words "about 1 m one above the other" shall be inserted. 8. In rule 26 of the said rules, in sub-rule (2), for the figure “20”, the figure “50” shall be substituted; 9. In rule 33 of the said rules, - i. In the opening portion, the words “Appropriate radio and navigation equipment are to be provided on the vessel depending on the area of operation and as determined by the Designated Authority.” shall be omitted and the remaining portion shall be numbered as sub-rule (1); ii. In now sub-rule (1), - a. after the words “Vessels operating in Zone 1", the words “and Zone 2” shall be inserted; b. clause (h) shall be omitted; iii. After sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be inserted, namely: - “(2) Vessels operating in Zone 3 are to be provided with the following equipment as a minimum- (a) Magnetic Compass (hand held or portable type or electronic type may be accepted); (b) Very High Frequency (VHF) radio or Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio as specified by Central Government; (c) Class B Automatic Identification System (AIS) with display (d) Binocular; (e) Aldis lamp or search light." [F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(6)] Dr. KAMALA KANTA NATH, Adviser (Statistics)

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