Inland Vessels Bill 2021

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Recently, the Inland Vessels Bill 2021 has been passed in Lok Sabha.

About the Bill

• It replaces the Inland Vessels Act of 1917 which provides for the regulation of inland vessel navigation by states including the registration of vessels, and safe carriage of goods and passengers.  
• Objectives and Need
  • The Bill promotes cheaper and safer navigation, ensures protection of life & cargo and brings uniformity in the application of laws related to inland waterways & navigation.
  • The Bill also seeks to bring in transparency and accountability of administration of inland water transportation, strengthen procedures governing inland vessels their construction, survey, registration, manning and navigation.
  • It would also facilitate the reduction of pollution.

Key Features the Bill  

• Mechanically Propelled Inland Vessels: The Bill defines such vessels to include ships, boats, sailing vessels, container vessels, and ferries.  
  • The central government will prescribe the classification, standards of design, construction, and crew accommodation, and type and periodicity of surveys, for these vessels.  
    • Construction or modification of such vessels will require prior approval of a designated authority, as prescribed by the central government.  
• Operation: To operate in inland waters, all such vessels must have a certificate of survey and a certificate of registration.  
  • Vessels with Indian ownership must be registered with the Registrar of Inland Vessels (appointed by the state government).  
  • The registration certificate will be valid across the country and separate permissions from States shall not be required.
    •  The vessels must also have an insurance policy to cover liability for death, injury, or damage caused due to the usage of the vessel (including accidental pollution).   
• Navigation Safety: Such vessels will be required to follow certain specifications for signals and equipment to ensure navigation safety, as specified by the central government. 
  •  In case of a navigation hazard, the master of a vessel must immediately send a danger or distress signal to other such vessels in proximity and to the concerned state government.

• Inquiry into Accidents: All accidents aboard such vessels must be reported to the head officer of the nearest police station, as well as to a state government-appointed authority. 

• The state may require the District Magistrate to inquire into these matters and submit a report recommending actions to be taken. 

• Manning Requirements: The central government will prescribe the minimum number of people that vessels must have, for various roles.
  •   Violating these requirements will attract a penalty of up to Rs 10,000 for the first offence, and Rs 25,000 for subsequent offences.  

• Prevention of Pollution: Vessels will discharge or dispose of sewage, as per the standards specified by the central government. 

•  The central government will notify the list of pollutants which will be prohibited for discharge or disposal.  

• Database on Inland Vessels: The central government will maintain an electronic centralised record of data on inland vessels.  
• Development Fund: The Bill provides for a development fund that will be utilised for various purposes including
  • Emergency preparedness.
  • Containment of pollution.
  • Boosting inland water navigation. 
• Non-mechanically Propelled Inland Vessels:  The Bill empowers state governments to delegate certain functions related to non-mechanically propelled inland vessels to their local governments.  
  • These include collating data and conducting advisory programmes for owners, operators, and users of such vessels. 

Source: PIB