Vidhi Codex

The Inland Vessels Act, 2021

The Inland Vessels Act, 2021

Infrastructure2021116 sections12 chapters

The Inland Vessels Act, 2021, regulates the registration, safety, survey, and environmental impact of vessels on India's inland waterways, such as rivers and canals. It applies directly to vessel owners, operators, charterers, masters, and crew members operating either mechanically or non-mechanically propelled boats, barges, and passenger ships. This legislation matters because it replaces outdated, century-old laws with a modernized, unified national framework. By enforcing strict safety guidelines, requiring mandatory liability insurance, limiting aquatic pollution, managing wreckage, and establishing local welfare funds, the act secures India's maritime transport lanes, protects passenger lives, and promotes eco-friendly trade across all Indian states.

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Chapter III ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS →

  1. 5Administrative role of Central Government and State Governments
  2. 6Competent authority

Chapter IV SURVEY OF INLAND VESSELS →

  1. 7Power to classify and categorise for purpose of survey
  2. 8Construction, alteration or modification of mechanically propelled inland vessel
  3. 9Survey of vessels
  4. 10Appointment and qualifications of surveyors
  5. 11Powers of surveyors
  6. 12Grant of certificate of survey and procedures
  7. 13Provisional certificate of survey and its effect
  8. 14Mechanically propelled inland vessels not to proceed without certificate of survey, and requirement of Zone to be specified in such certificate
  9. 15Suspension and cancellation of certificate of survey
  10. 16Delivery of expired, suspended or cancelled certificate of survey

Chapter V REGISTRATION →

  1. 17Registration
  2. 18Requirement of certificate of registration
  3. 19Owner or master to carry certificate of registration
  4. 20Appointment of ports or places of registry and Registrars of Inland Vessels
  5. 21Book of registry
  6. 22Central database of inland vessels
  7. 23Application and processes of registration of vessels
  8. 24Grant of certificate of registration and marking of vessel
  9. 25Effect of certificate of registration
  10. 26Duplicate certificate
  11. 27Provisional certificate of registration
  12. 28Registration of modifications or alterations
  13. 29Change of residence or place of business
  14. 30Prohibition against transfer of ownership of registered vessel
  15. 31Suspension of certificate of registration
  16. 32Cancellation of registration
  17. 33Mortgage of mechanically propelled inland vessel or share therein

Chapter VI MANNING, QUALIFICATION, TRAINING, EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION →

  1. 34Training and minimum age for employment
  2. 35Minimum manning scale and manning requirements
  3. 36Appointment and duties of examiners
  4. 37Grant of certificate of competency
  5. 38Certificate of service
  6. 39Effect of certificate of competency or certificate of service
  7. 40Suspension and cancellation of certificate
  8. 41Registry of certificate holders and central registry
  9. 42Special category vessels
  10. 43Appointment or authorisation of officers to implement provisions, grant certificate of fitness, etc.
  11. 44Safety of passengers or service users
  12. 45Inspection of vessel
  13. 46Suspension or cancellation of certificate of fitness

Chapter VIII NAVIGATION SAFETY AND SIGNALS →

  1. 47Navigation safety, lights and signals
  2. 48Obligation to ensure safe navigation
  3. 49Distress signal
  4. 50Assistance to vessels in distress and persons in distress
  5. 51Life saving, fire safety and communication appliances

Chapter IX PREVENTION OF POLLUTION CAUSED BY INLAND VESSEL →

  1. 52Chemicals, etc., to be designated as pollutants
  2. 53Certificate of prevention of pollution
  3. 54Reception facilities and containment of pollution
  4. 55Appointment of surveyor or officer to inspect
  5. 56Investigation into incidents of pollution

Chapter X WRECK AND SALVAGE →

  1. 57Prohibition against intentionally causing wreck
  2. 58Receivers of wreck
  3. 59Powers of Central Government to make rules for Chapter X
  4. 60Liability under Act
  5. 61Apportionment of loss
  6. 62Liability for personal injury, loss of life or pollution to environment
  7. 63Detention of mechanically propelled inland vessel
  8. 64Limitation of liability
  9. 65Non-applicability of limitation

Chapter XII INSURANCE OF MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VESSELS PLYING IN INLAND WATERS →

  1. 66Insurance to cover
  2. 67Contractual liability not to cover
  3. 68Issuance and terms of insurance policy
  4. 69Duty to indemnify and direct action against insurer
  5. 70Effect of death on certain causes of action
  6. 71Effect of certificate of insurance
  7. 72Transfer of certificate of insurance
  8. 73Powers of Central Government to make rules for Chapter XII
  9. 74Reporting of casualty, accident, wreck, etc
  10. 75Preliminary enquiry by designated authority and inquiry by District Magistrate
  11. 76Assessors
  12. 77Report of District Magistrate to be notified by State Government
  13. 78Powers of District Magistrate subsequent to inquiry
  14. 79Power of State Government to suspend, cancel and confiscate certificate

Chapter XIV REGULATION OF TRADE PRACTICES →

  1. 80Powers of Central Government to protect interests of service providers and service users
  2. 81Prohibited goods and dangerous goods
  3. 82Trade permission and endorsement of certificates of foreign vessels

Chapter XV PILOTAGE, VESSEL DETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT FUND →

  1. 83Pilotage
  2. 84Certified master to be deemed pilot under Act 15 of 1908
  3. 85Vessel detention and forfeiture
  4. 86Constitution of Development Fund

Chapter XVI OFFENCES AND 1[PUNISHMENTS] →

  1. 87Offences and penalties
  2. 87AAdjudication of penalties.
  3. 88Offences by companies
  4. 89Fees, additional fee, payment and collection
  5. 90Cognizance of offence

Chapter XVII NON-MECHANICALLY PROPELLED INLAND VESSEL →

  1. 91Local self-governance
  2. 92Obligation to enroll
  3. 93Certificate of enrolment and marking of vessel
  4. 94Standards of construction and safety
  5. 95Power of State Government to make rules to regulate non-mechanically propelled inland vessels
  6. 96Constitution of welfare fund
  7. 97Desertion and absence without leave
  8. 98General powers of Central Government to make rules
  9. 99Emergency preparedness
  10. 100Removal of lawful obstruction
  11. 101Validity of certificates issued under laws other than this Act
  12. 102Obstruction to officer appointed or authorised
  13. 103Place of trial
  14. 104Composition of offences
  15. 105Appeal
  16. 106Power of Central Government to make rules
  17. 107Power of State Government to make rules
  18. 108Power of Central Government to give directions
  19. 109Protection of action taken in good faith
  20. 110Power to remove difficulties
  21. 111Consistency with other laws
  22. 112Suspension or alteration of application and operation of Act
  23. 113Laying of rules and notifications
  24. 114Repeal and savings

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