Gazette Tracker
Gazette Tracker

Core Purpose

The notification establishes the Marine Aids to Navigation (Training and Certification) Rules, 2025, to govern the training and certification of personnel in marine aids to navigation and vessel traffic services.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, through notification G.S.R. 395(E) dated 17th June, 2025, has enacted the Marine Aids to Navigation (Training and Certification) Rules, 2025. These rules are made in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 46, read with section 19 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 (20 of 2021). The draft rules were previously published as G.S.R. 884 (E) on 24th December, 2021, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated 27th December, 2021, with no objections or suggestions received. The rules define key terms such as "aids to navigation personnel," "vessel traffic service personnel," "International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation" (headquartered in Paris, France, with India as a member state), and "Marine Navigation Training Institute." They mandate that accredited training organizations issue certificates upon successful completion of training courses designed according to International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation standards, with the Director General specifying minimum qualification criteria. Only certified personnel can be deployed for operation and maintenance of aids to navigation stations or vessel traffic service centres. The Marine Navigation Training Institute, Kolkata, an accredited organization under the administrative control of the Director General, is specifically mentioned for issuing certificates and may conduct training at other locations with prior Central Government approval. Training courses require approval from the Director General, valid for five years, following an inspection, with a copy of approval sent to the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation Secretariat. The Director General can conduct audits, and non-conformity may lead to suspension if not rectified within thirty days. Certificates of training must be issued within seven days of assessment completion. The Director General may also recognize aid to navigation and vessel traffic service certificates granted by any member state of the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation under suitable reciprocal arrangements. Furthermore, the Director General is responsible for issuing vessel traffic service log books through accredited training organizations and maintaining a database of aids to navigation and vessel traffic service personnel, based on inputs from local authorities, vessel traffic service providers, and accredited training organizations. Mukesh Mangal is noted as the Joint Secretary.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-UP-E-19062025-263974 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 352] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025/JYAISTHA 28, 1947 MINISTRY OF MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 17th June, 2025 G.S.R. 395(E). - Whereas the draft of the Marine Aids to Navigation (Training and Certification) Rules, 2025 were published, as required by sub-section (1) of section 46 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 (20 of 2021) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), vide notification number G.S.R. 884 (E), dated the 24th December, 2021, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated the 27th December, 2021, inviting objections and suggestions from all the persons likely to be affected thereby, before the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public; And whereas the copies of the said Official Gazette were made available to the public on the 27th December, 2021; And whereas no objections or suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft rules by the Central Government. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 46 read with section 19 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021, the Central Government, hereby makes the following rules, namely: – 1.Short title and commencement. – (1) These rules may be called the Marine Aids to Navigation (Training and Certification) Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2.Definitions. –(1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, – (a) "Act" means the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021 (20 of 2021); (b) "aids to navigation personnel” means persons trained in aids to navigation and holding the certificate issued under these rules; (c) "International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation" means an intergovernmental organization that brings together governments and organizations concerned with the regulation, provision, maintenance, or operation of marine aids to navigation, with its headquarters in Paris, France, and of which India is a member state; (d) "Marine Navigation Training Institute" means the institute referred to in rule 4; (e) "person" shall include an individual, any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not by whatsoever name called or referred to; (f) "vessel traffic service personnel" means persons trained in vessel traffic service and holding the certificate issued under these rules; (g) "vessel traffic service provider" means any person authorised under sub-section (2) of section 10 of the Act. (2) The 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. Training in marine aids to navigation and vessel traffic services.–(1) An accredited training organization shall issue a certificate to a person upon successful completion of the respective training course, provided that the person meets the minimum qualification criteria specified by the Director General for the respective course and the course is designed in accordance with the standards, recommendations, guidelines, and model courses developed by the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation. (2) Only such person who is trained and has been granted a certificate under sub-rule (1) shall be deployed for the operation and maintenance of aids to navigation station or vessel traffic service centre, as applicable. (3) The Director General shall be the authority for all matters pertaining to training and certification on marine aids to navigation and vessel traffic services. (4) For the purposes of sub-rule (1), the Director General shall, from time to time, specify the minimum qualification criteria for a person to receive training in aids to navigation and vessel traffic services, in accordance with the prevailing global technical standards and best practices. 4. Marine Navigation Training Institute. (1) The Marine Navigation Training Institute, Kolkata, an accredited training organisation under the administrative control of the Director General, shall issue a certificate to a person upon successful completion of the respective training course, subject to compliance with all rules applicable to an accredited training organisation under the Act. (2) The Marine Navigation Training Institute may also conduct its training at other geographical locations depending on the future training needs with the prior approval of the Central Government. 5. Approval of training courses. (1) No accredited training organisation shall issue certificates for any training course which is not approved under this rule. (2) The accredited training organisation seeking to adopt the model training course of the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation, shall apply to the Director General in the form specified by the Director General from time to time. (3) The Director General shall conduct inspection(s) for the grant of approval of the training course so applied under sub-rule (2). (4) The Director General shall, within thirty days from the date of the final inspection conducted under sub-rule (3), grant approval for the conduct of the model training course, valid for a period of five years, and issue a certificate of approval for each such course. (5) A copy of the certificate of approval granted under sub-rule (4) shall also be dispatched to the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation Secretariat for their record and dissemination. (6) The Director General may carry out an audit at such intervals as he may deem fit, for ensuring that the accredited training organisation have in place such systems which shall include- (a) training management system (including instructors, simulators and vessel traffic service or aids to navigation training facilities); (b) training course documentation; (c) maintenance of records; (d) course presentation assessment; and (e) simulator training. Provided that if any non-conformity is identified during the audit and intimated by the Director General, and the accredited training organization fails to rectify it within thirty days from the date of intimation, the course approval shall be deemed suspended until the accredited training organization confirms compliance. 6. Certification. – (1) The accredited training organization shall issue a certificate of training, in the form specified by the Director General from time to time, to a person who has successfully completed the training, within seven days from the date of completion of the assessment. (2) Where suitable reciprocal arrangements apply, the Director General may recognize aid to navigation and vessel traffic service certificate granted by any member state of the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation if such certificate has been issued in accordance with the recommendations of the International Organisation for Marine Aids to Navigation. 7. Issue of vessel traffic service log book. –(1) The Director General shall issue a log book to each vessel traffic service personnel through the accredited training organisation for maintaining a record of trainings and work experience of such personnel. (2) The procedure for the issue of log book shall be as specified by the Director General from time to time. (3) The entries in the log book pertaining to work experience of the vessel traffic service personnel shall be made by the vessel traffic service provider and such entry shall be made available to the Director General in such form and manner as specified by the Director General from time to time. 8. Aid to navigation and vessel traffic service personnel database. – (1) Every local authority and vessel traffic service provider shall make available the details of the personnel deployed by them and status of their training to the Director General. (2) Every accredited training organization shall provide the details of the training carried out at its institute to the Director General in such form and manner as specified by the Director General from time to time. (3) The Director General shall maintain a database of the aids to navigation personnel and vessel traffic service personnel and status of their training, based on the inputs received under sub-rules (1) and (2). [F. No. LH-11012/5/2021-SL] MUKESH MANGAL, Jt. Secy. 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.

Never miss important gazettes

Create a free account to save gazettes, add notes, and get email alerts for keywords you care about.

Sign Up Free