The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways vide its notification dated 18th February 2022 has published the Draft Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules 2022 and has invited objections or suggestions from the public which shall be addressed to the Director (IWT), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Room No. 439, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001, or by email at abhay.sarode@gov.in and uttam.mishra27@gov.in within a period of 30 days.
As per the Draft rules, All existing inland vessels shall comply with the requirements existing prior to coming into force of these rules; Provided that the existing inland vessels that undergo major conversion or modification shall comply with the requirements specified in these rules, as far as it is considered reasonable and practicable by the Designated Authority, and provided that in the case of change of propulsion system/main engines/ type of fuel etc, the new rules will apply to that equipment and systems only.
No new inland vessel shall be issued with the certificate of survey under the Act and the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Rules, 2022, unless such vessel complies with requirements related to Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals including the physical design of the inland vessel or equipment that the inland vessel must carry, or those which are operational or procedural in nature,
Provided that Designated authority shall ascertain that there is evidence of procedures in place to demonstrate that the inland vessels are operated in compliance with the requirements provided under these Rules.
Every inland vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision and such vessels shall make use of searchlights to locate luminous marks used for channel marking.
