**Executive Summary**
This document introduces the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026, to amend the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules, 2022. The amendments, effective upon publication in the Official Gazette, aim to clarify tonnage calculation, update operational rules for restricted visibility, and revise equipment requirements for vessels.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Title and Commencement:**
* The rules are named the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026.
* They come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
* **Tonnage Calculation Clarification:**
* An explanation is inserted for gross tonnage calculation:
* Vessels 24 meters and above: calculated per the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.
* Vessels less than 24 meters: calculated per rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1987.
* **Chapter Heading Amendments:**
* A new chapter heading, "CHAPTER V- CONDUCT OF INLAND VESSELS OF RESTRICTED VISIBILITY," is inserted after rule 16.
* This is subsequently substituted with "CHAPTER VI - LIGHTS AND SHAPES" after rule 17.
* The chapter heading “CHAPTER VI – LIGHTS AND SHAPES” is omitted after rule 18.
* **Rule 18 Amendments (Lights and Shapes):**
* The marginal heading is changed to "General requirements of lights and shapes".
* Sub-rule (4) is updated to state that lights and shapes must comply with provisions of sub-rule (1) clauses (a) and (b), and sub-rule (2) of rule 23.
* **Rule 23 Amendments (Lights and Shapes Specifics):**
* In sub-rule (1)(a), "about one metre one above another" is inserted after "two all round red lights".
* In sub-rule (1)(b), "about one metre one above the other" is inserted after "two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line".
* **Rule 26 Amendment:**
* In sub-rule (2), the figure "20" is replaced with the word "fifty".
* **Rule 33 Amendment (Radio and Navigation Equipment):**
* The entire rule 33 is substituted with new provisions for equipment requirements based on vessel zones:
* **Zone 1 and Zone 2 Vessels:** Must be equipped with a magnetic compass, very high frequency radio, class B automatic identification system with display, global positioning system navigator, binocular, aldis lamp or search light, and rudder angle indicator.
* **Zone 3 Vessels:** Must be equipped with a very high frequency radio or ultra high frequency radio, class B automatic identification system with display, magnetic compass, binocular, and aldis lamp or search light.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Vessel Operators and Owners**
* **Impact:** Will need to ensure their vessels comply with revised tonnage calculation methods, updated rules regarding lights and shapes, and new minimum equipment requirements, particularly for Zone 3 vessels.
* **Action Required:** Review the amendments to understand specific changes in equipment and operational requirements. Ensure vessels are equipped and operated in accordance with the new rules.
* **Navigational Authorities and Regulatory Bodies**
* **Impact:** Will be responsible for enforcing the amended rules and ensuring compliance by vessel operators.
* **Action Required:** Familiarize themselves with the new regulations to effectively monitor and enforce adherence.
* **Shipbuilding and Equipment Suppliers**
* **Impact:** May see changes in demand for specific navigation and communication equipment based on the revised requirements for different vessel zones.
* **Action Required:** Understand the updated equipment specifications to meet potential market demands.
Key Entities Referenced
Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026: The amended rules governing safe navigation, communication, and signals for inland vessels.
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: The primary legislation under which the rules for inland vessels are made.
Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules, 2022: The principal rules being amended by the current notification.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The government ministry issuing the notification and responsible for the regulations.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-05032026-270689
CG-DxLx-xEG-I0D5H0x3x2x0 26-270689
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 149] नई दिल्ली, बृहस्ट्प जतवार, माच ग5, 2026/फाल्ग नु 14, 1947
No. 149] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026/PHALGUNA 14, 1947
पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और िलमाग ग मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 5 माच,ग 2026
सा.का.जन. 155(अ).— अंतर्दशे ीय जलयान (सुरक्षित नौचालन संचार और क्षसग्नल) (पहला संशोधन) क्षनयम, 2025
का प्रारूप, अंतर्देशीय जलयान अक्षधक्षनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 के उपखंड (1) के अधीन यथा अपेक्षित
भारत सरकार के पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और जलमार्ग मंत्रालय म ें अक्षधसूचना संख्या सा.का.क्षन. 83 (अ) तारीख 29 जनवरी,
2025 द्वारा भारत के राजपत्र, असाधारण, भार् II, खडं 3 उपखंड (i) तारीख 29 जनवरी, 2025, द्वारा प्रकाक्षशत ककया
र्या था, क्षजसम ेंउन सभी व्यक्षियों स ेक्षजसम ेंउन सभी व्यक्षियों स,े क्षजनस ेउनस ेप्रभाक्षवत होने की संभावना थी, उस तारीख
स,े क्षजनको उि अक्षधसूचना से अंतर्वगष्ट राजपत्र की प्रक्षतयां जनता को उपलब्ध करा र्दी र्ई थी, तीस कर्दन की अवक्षध के
अवसान स े पूवग आिेप और सुझाव आमंक्षत्रत ककए र्ए थ े;
और उि अक्षधसूचना की प्रक्षतयां 29 जनवरी, 2025 को जनता के क्षलए उपलब्ध कराई र्ई थीं;
और केन्द्रीय सरकार द्वारा उि प्रारूप क्षनयम की बाबत जनता स े कोई आपक्षत्त या सुझाव प्राप्त नहीं हुए।
अत: अब, केंरीय सरकार, अंतर्देशीय जलयान अक्षधक्षनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (2)
के खंड (यञ) स े खंड (यट) के साथ परित धारा 47 की उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2), द्वारा प्रर्दत्त शक्षियों का प्रयोर् करते
1589 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
हुए, अंतर्देशीय जलयान (सुरक्षित नौचालन संचार और क्षसग्नल) क्षनयम, 2022 का संशोधन करने के क्षलए क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत क्षनयम
बनाती ह,ै अथागत्: -
1.
(1) इन क्षनयमों संक्षिप्त नाम अतं र्देशीय जलयान (सरु क्षित नौचालन संचार और क्षसग्नल्स) (पहला संशोधन) क्षनयम,
2026 ह।ै
(2) य ेराजपत्र म ें इनके प्रकाशन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंर् े ।
2. अंतर्दशे ीय जलयान (सुरक्षित नौचालन संचार और क्षसग्नल्स) क्षनयम, 2022 (क्षजसे इसमें इसके पश्चात उि क्षनयम कहा
र्या ह)ै के, क्षनयम 2 म,ें खंड (च) और उससे संबंक्षधत प्रक्षवक्षष्टयों के पश्चात, क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत स्पष्टीकरण अंत:स्थाक्षपत ककया
जाएर्ा, अथागत्:-
“स्पष्टीकरण.- इस उपक्षनयम के प्रयोजन के क्षलए, 24 मीटर स े अक्षधक के जलयानों के सकल टन भार की र्णना पोतों
के टन भार मान पर अंतरागष्ट्रीय कन्द्वेंशन, 1969 के अनुसार की जाएर्ी, जबकक 24 मीटर स ेकम के जलयानों के सकल
टन भार की र्णना वाक्षणज्य नौवहन (पोतों के टन भार माप) क्षनयम, 1987 के क्षनयम 2 के अनुसार की जाएर्ी;"।
3. उि क्षनयमों म,ें क्षनयम 16 के पश्चात, क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत अध्याय शीर्गक अंत:स्थाक्षपत ककया जाएर्ा, अथागत:् -
"अध्याय
5- क्षनबंक्षधत र्दश्ृ यता वाल े अंतर्दशे ीय जलयानों का संचालन"
4. उि क्षनयमों म,ें क्षनयम 17 के पश्चात, अध्याय शीर्गक "अध्याय 5- क्षनबंक्षधत र्दश्ृ यता वाल ेअतं र्देशीय जलयानों के संबंध म"ें
के स्थान पर क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत अध्याय शीर्गक रखा जाएर्ा ह,ै अथातग ्: -
“अध्याय 6 - रोशनी और आकार”।
5. उि क्षनयमों म,ें क्षनयम 18 म,ें -
(i) पार्श् गशीर् ग के स्थान पर क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत पार्श् ग शीर् ग रखा जाएर्ा: अथातग ्: - " रोशनी और आकार की सामान्द्य अपिे ाए"ँ ;
(ii) उप-क्षनयम (4) के स्थान पर क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत उप-क्षनयम रखा जाएर्ा, अथागत:् -
“(4)क्षनयम 23 के उप-क्षनयम (1) के खंड (क) और (ख) और उप-क्षनयम (2) के उपबंध रोशनी और आकार का अनपु ालन
करेंर्े।"।
6. उि क्षनयमों म,ें क्षनयम 18 के पश्चात, अध्याय शीर्गक "अध्याय 6 - रोशनी और आकार" का लोप कर कर्दया जाएर्ा।
7. उि क्षनयमों म,ें क्षनयम 23 म,ें उप-क्षनयम (1) म,ें -
(क) खंड (क) म,ें " र्दो आल राउंड लाल रोशनी" शब्र्दों के पश्चात, "एक मीटर एक र्दसू रे के ऊपर" शब्र्द अंत:स्थाक्षपत
ककए जाएँर्े;
(ख) खंड (ख) म,ें "ऊध्वागधर रेखा म ेंर्दो बाल या समान आकार" शब्र्दों के पश्चात, "एक मीटर एक र्दसू रे के ऊपर" शब्र्द
अंत:स्थाक्षपत ककए जाएर्ा।
8. उि क्षनयमों म,ें क्षनयम 26 म,ें उप-क्षनयम (2) म,ें "20" अकं , के स्थान पर "पचास" शब्र्द रखा जाएर्ा ।
9. उि क्षनयमों म ेंक्षनयम 33 के स्थान पर क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत क्षनयम रखा जाएर्ा, अथागत्:-[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
“33.रेक्षडयो और नौचालन उपकरण- (1) जोन 1 और जोन 2 म ें चलने वाल े जलयानों म ें न्द्यूनतम क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत
उपकरण होन े चाक्षहए, अथागत:् -
(क) चुंबकीय कम्पास (हस्तधाररत या पोटेबल प्रकार या इलेक्ट्रॉक्षनक प्रकार);
(ख) अत्यंत उच्च आवृक्षत्त रेक्षडयो;
(ग़) क्षडस््ल े सक्षहत वर् ग ख स्वचाक्षलत पहचान प्रणाली;
(घ) ग्लोबल पोक्षजशननंर् क्षसस्टम नेक्षवर्ेटर;
(ङ) र्दरू बीन;
(च) एक्षल्डस लपैं या सच ग लाइट; और
(छ) रडर एर्ं ल इंक्षडकेटर।
(2) जोन 3 म ें चलन े वाले जलयानों म ें क्षनम्नक्षलक्षखत उपकरण उपलब्ध कराए जाएर्ं े, अथागत्: -
(क) अत्यंत उच्च आवृक्षत्त रेक्षडयो या अक्षत उच्च आवृक्षत्त रेक्षडयो;
(ख) क्षडस््ल े सक्षहत वर्ग ख स्वचाक्षलत पहचान प्रणाली:
(र्) चुंबकीय कम्पास (हस्तधाररत या पोटेबल प्रकार या इलेक्ट्रॉक्षनक प्रकार);
(घ) र्दरू बीन; और
(ङ) एक्षल्डस लैंप या सचग लाइट"।
[फा. स.ं आईडब्ल्यूटी-11011/91/2021-IWT(6)]
डॉ. कमला कांत नाथ, सलाहकार (सांक्षख्यकी)
रट्पण :- अतं र्देशीय जलयान (सुरक्षित नौचालन संचार और क्षसग्नल्स) क्षनयम, 2022 भारत के राजपत्र, असाधारण, भार् II,
खंड 3, उपखडं (i), तारीख 7 जून, 2022 को अक्षधसूचना सख्ं या सा.का.क्षन. 424 (अ), तारीख 7 जून, 2022 द्वारा
प्रकाक्षशत ककया र्या।4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 5th March, 2026
G.S.R. 155(E).— Whereas a draft of the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signal) (First
Amendment) Rules, 2025 were published, as required under sub-section (1) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act,
2021 (24 of 2021) vide notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
number G.S.R. 83 (E), dated the 29th January, 2025, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3,
sub-section (i), dated the 29th January, 2025, inviting objections and suggestions from 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, copies of the said notification were made available to the public on the 29th January, 2025;
And whereas, no objections and suggestions were 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-sections (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
hereby makes the following rules to amend the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules,
2022, namely: –
1. (1) These rules may be called the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) (First Amendment)
Rules, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the said
rules), in rule 2, after clause (f), and the entries relating thereto, the following Explanation shall be inserted, namely: -
“Explanation. – For the purpose of this clause, gross tonnage of vessels measuring twenty four meters and
above shall be calculated according to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969,
whereas gross tonnage of vessels with less than twenty four meters shall be calculated according to rule 3 of
the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1987.”.
3. In the said rules, after rule 16, the following Chapter heading shall be inserted, namely: -
“CHAPTER V- CONDUCT OF INLAND VESSELS OF RESTRICTED VISIBILITY”.
4. In the said rules, after rule 17, for the Chapter heading “CHAPTER V- CONDUCT OF INLAND VESSELS OF
RESTRICTED VISIBILITY”, the following Chapter heading shall be substituted, namely: –
“CHAPTER VI - LIGHTS AND SHAPES”.
5. In the said rules, in rule 18, –
(i) for the marginal heading, the following marginal heading shall be substituted, namely:- “General requirements of
lights and shapes” ;
(ii) for sub-rule (4), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: -
“(4) The lights and shapes shall comply with the provisions of clauses (a) and (b) of sub-rule (1) and sub-rule (2)
of rule 23.”.
6. In the said rules, after rule 18, the chapter heading “CHAPTER VI – LIGHTS AND SHAPES” shall be omitted.
7. In the said rules, in rule 23, in sub-rule (1), –
(a) in clause (a), after the words “two all round red lights,” the words “about one metre one above another” shall be
inserted;
(b) in clause (b), after the words “two balls or similar shapes in a vertical line”, the words “about one metre one above
the other” shall be inserted.
8. In the said rules, in rule 26, in sub-rule (2), for the figures “20”, the words “ fifty” shall be substituted.[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
9. In the said rules, for rule 33, the following rule shall be substituted, namely: –
“33. Radio and navigation equipment. – (1) The vessels operating in zone 1 and zone 2 shall be provided with the
following equipment as a minimum, namely: –
(a) magnetic compass (hand held or portable type or electronic type);
(b) very high frequency radio;
(c) class B automatic identification system with display;
(d) global positioning system navigator;
(e) binocular;
(f) aldis lamp or search light; and
(g) rudder angle indicator.
(2) The vessels operating in zone 3 shall be provided with the following equipment as a minimum, namely: –
(a) very high frequency radio or ultra high frequency radio;
(b) class B automatic identification system with display;
(c) magnetic compass (hand held or portable type or electronic type);
(d) binocular; and
(e) aldis lamp or search light.”.
[F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(6)]
Dr. KAMALA KANTA NATH, Adviser (Statistics)
Note: The Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules, 2022 were published in the Gazette
of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated the 7th June, 2022, vide notification number
G.S.R. 424 (E), dated the 7th June, 2022.
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.