## Report on the Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Amendment Rules, 2025
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes the Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Amendment Rules, 2025, as published in the Gazette of India on May 28, 2025. This amendment modifies the Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Rules, 2022. The key changes address the calculation of Gross Tonnage, seating arrangements for passengers, space allowances, air conditioning requirements, and an extension on the time permitted for voyage. These amendments appear to be aimed at refining existing regulations to reflect practical operational considerations and ensure safety.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an overview of the Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Amendment Rules, 2025, based on the official notification published in the Gazette of India. The analysis focuses on the specific changes introduced by this amendment and their potential impact on the Inland Vessels industry.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This document amends the Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Rules, 2022.
* The core objective of the original policy (based on the amendment title and the subject of accommodation) likely focused on setting standards for crew and passenger accommodation on inland vessels to ensure safety and comfort. The objective of these amendments, based on the provided text, is to clarify and adjust these standards.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment appears to address certain practical issues and potential ambiguities within the original 2022 rules. The amendments likely stem from feedback and experience gained in the implementation of the initial regulations. Specifically:
* The change in Gross Tonnage calculation addresses inconsistencies in calculation methodology for vessels of different sizes.
* The adjustments to seating requirements on shorter routes likely considers shorter routes where seated passengers may not be necessary.
* Changes to space allowance suggest a refinement of the earlier regulations to provide for better, more accessible and efficient access to and throughout the vessels.
* The exemption for air conditioning requirements for certain vessels acknowledges cost-effectiveness and/or the suitability of alternatives in certain situations.
* The amendment to increase voyage time suggests an operational consideration.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
The Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Amendment Rules, 2025, introduce the following key changes to the 2022 Rules:
* **Rule 2 Amendment (Gross Tonnage Calculation):**
* *Original Policy:* The original policy does not appear to have explicitly defined the methodology for Gross Tonnage calculation.
* *New Rule:* An explanation is added to Rule 2(1) specifying that Gross Tonnage for vessels 24 meters or above will be calculated according to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969. For vessels less than 24 meters, it will be calculated according to Rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987.
* *Effect:* This change provides clarity and consistency in Gross Tonnage calculation, ensuring uniform application of the rules.
* **Rule 20 Amendment (Accommodation Space):**
* *Original Policy:* The original rule specified figures of 0.60
* *New Rule:* The figures 0.36 shall be substituted for 0.60.
* *Effect:* This likely reduces requirements for the accommodation space on vessels.
* **Rule 23 Amendment (Seating):**
* *Original Policy:* The original rule required vessels of more than 15 minutes to provide seating.
* *New Rule:* Inland vessels operating on voyages of more than 15 minutes and up to 60 minutes are required to provide seating for 50% of passengers, provided the stability requirements given in the Inland Vessels Design and Construction Rules, 2024 are met, and motions and accelerations in normal operations would not make standing difficult.
* *Effect:* This allows for reduced seating capacity on short voyages, provided certain safety and stability conditions are met.
* **Rule 24 Amendment (Space Allowance):**
* *Original Policy:* The original rule specified space allowance.
* *New Rule:* The figures 1600, 680, 310 and 620 shall be substituted for 1300, 650, 230 and 480, respectively.
* *Effect:* This likely reduces space constraints on vessel design.
* **Rule 26 Amendment (Air Conditioning):**
* *Original Policy:* The original rule specified air conditioning requirements.
* *New Rule:* The words centralized type shall be used. There is also a proviso for Category A vessels of less than 300 gross tonnage to be exempt from the above requirement.
* *Effect:* This allows for exemptions from air conditioning requirements for smaller vessels in Category A.
* **Rule 31 Amendment (Voyage Time):**
* *Original Policy:* The original rule specified figures of 30.
* *New Rule:* The figures 60 shall be substituted for 30.
* *Effect:* This allows more time for voyage.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The direct target audience and stakeholders affected by these amendments include:
* Owners and operators of inland vessels.
* Designers and builders of inland vessels.
* Passengers using inland vessel transportation.
* Designated Authorities responsible for vessel safety and compliance.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency:** The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the responsible agency. Designated Authority has some power.
* **Timelines:** The rules came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette (May 28, 2025).
* **Procedures:** Implementation likely involves updating vessel designs, operational procedures, and inspection protocols to comply with the new regulations. The Designated Authority will likely play a role in granting exemptions related to air conditioning.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of these amendments are:
* Improved clarity and consistency in the application of inland vessel regulations.
* Increased operational flexibility for vessel operators, particularly on shorter routes and for smaller vessels.
* Refined safety standards that reflect practical operational realities.
* A balance between passenger comfort, safety regulations, and cost-effectiveness for vessel owners.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Amendment Rules, 2025, represent a refinement of existing regulations based on practical experience and feedback. The amendments address key areas such as Gross Tonnage calculation, seating arrangements, space allowances, and air conditioning requirements. These changes are likely to have a positive impact by increasing operational flexibility, clarifying ambiguities, and ensuring a more balanced approach to safety and passenger comfort within the Inland Vessels industry.
Key Entities Referenced
NEW DELHI: Location where the notification was issued.
MAY 28, 2025: Date of the notification.
JYAISTHA 7, 1947: Date of the notification according to the Indian national calendar.
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY: Publication in which the notification appears.
PART IISEC. 3i: Section of the Gazette of India where the notification is published.
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS: The government ministry issuing the notification.
NOTIFICATION: Type of document.
G.S.R. 346E: Notification number.
Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation First Amendment Rules, 2024: Title of the rules being amended.
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: The act under which the rules are being amended (24 of 2021).
Government of India: The government of India.
G.S.R. 752 E: Notification number for the original publication of the draft rules.
5th December, 2024: Date of the original notification regarding the draft rules.
Central government: The central government of India.
Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Rules, 2022: The rules being amended.
Inland Vessels Crew and Passenger Accommodation Amendment Rules, 2025: Title of the amending rules.
Official Gazette: The official publication where the rules will be published.
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969: International standard used for calculating Gross Tonnage.
Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987: Rules used for calculating Gross Tonnage of vessels less than 24 meters.
Inland Vessels Design and Construction Rules, 2024: Rules related to the design and construction of inland vessels.
Designated Authority: Authority that can give exemptions to Category A vessels.
Category A vessels: A type of vessel as defined by the rules.
P. K. ROY: Jt. Secy. IWTII, the signing authority of the notification.
IWT11011912021IWT5: File number.
7th June, 2022: Date of publication of the principal rules.
G.S.R. 423E: Notification number of the principal rules.
Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi110064: The printing press.
Controller of Publications, Delhi110054: Publisher of the Gazette.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28052025-263448
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D8H0x5x2x0 25-263448
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 303] नई दिल्ली, बधु वार, मई 28, 2025/ज्य ेष्ठ 7, 1947
No. 303] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025/JYAISTHA 7, 1947
पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और िलमाग गमत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 28 मई, 2025
सा.का.जन. 346(अ).— अतं िेिीय िलयान (यात्री और कमीिल सुजवधा) (पहला संिोधन) जनयम, 2024 का प्रारूप,
अंतिेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (1) के अधीन अपेक्षानुसार, भारत के
रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखडं (i), तारीख 5 दिसम्बर, 2024 म ें भारत सरकार के पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और
िलमाग गमंत्रालय की अजधसूचना संखयांक सा.का.जन. 752(अ), तारीख 5 दिसम्बर, 2024 द्वारा उन सभी व्यजियों से, जिनके
उससे प्रभाजवत होन े की संभावना ह,ै ऐसी तारीख स े जिसको उि अजधसूचना को अंतवगजलत करन े वाली रािपत्र की प्रजतयां
िनसाधारण को उपलब्ध करवाई गई थीं, तीस दिन की अवजध की समाजि स े पूव ग आक्षेप और सझु ाव आमंजत्रत करत े हुए,
प्रकाजित दकया गया था ;
और, उि अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां िनसाधारण को तारीख 5 दिसम्बर, 2024 को उपलब्ध करवायी गई थीं ;
और, केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा उि प्रारूप जनयमों के संबंध में िनसाधारण से कोई भी आक्षेप और सुझाव प्राि नहीं दकए
गए थे।
3481 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
अतः, अब, केंद्रीय सरकार, अंतिेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (2)
के खंड (यफ) और (ययक) के साथ परठत धारा 7 की उपधारा (1) और धारा 80 के अधीन प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े
हुए, अंतििे ीय िलयान (यात्री और कमीिल सुजवधा) जनयम, 2022 का संिोधन करन े के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती
ह,ै अथागत ् :-
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्षि नाम अंतििे ीय िलयान (यात्री और कमीिल सुजवधा) संिोधन जनयम, 2025 ह।ै
(2) ये रािपत्र में उनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंगे।
2. अंतिेिीय िलयान (यात्री और कमीिल सुजवधा) जनयम, 2022 (जिसे इसम ें इसके पश्चात् उि जनयम कहा गया ह)ै म ें
जनयम 2 के उपजनयम (1) में खडं (ग) के पश्चात ्जनम्नजलजखत स्ट्पष्टीकरण अतं ःस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथागत ् :-
“स्ट्पष्टीकरण.- इस खडं के प्रयोिनों के जलए, 24 मीटर या उससे ऊपर के िलयानों के सकल टनभार की संगणना पोत टनभार
माप पर अंतरागष्ट्रीय कंवेन्िन, 1969 के अनुसार की िाएगी, िबदक 24 मीटर स ेकम िलयानों के सकल टनभार की संगणना
समय-समय पर हुए संिोधनों के अनुसार, पोत पररवहन (पोत टनभार माप) जनयम, 1987 के जनयम 3 के अनुसार की
िाएगी।”।
3. उि जनयमों के जनयम 20 के उपजनयम (1) में, “0.60” अंकों के स्ट्थान पर, “0.36” अंक रख ेिाएंगे।
4. उि जनयमों के जनयम 23 के उपजनयम (3) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अथातग ् :-
“(3) अंतिेिीय िलयान (जडिाइन और जनमागण), जनयम 2024 में िी गई जस्ट्थरता संबंधी अपेक्षाओं के अनुसरण में 15 जमनट
से अजधक और 60 जमनट तक की यात्राओं पर चलन े वाले अतं िेिीय िलयानों म ें 50 प्रजतित याजत्रयों के जलए बैठने का
उपबंध दकया िाता ह,ै परंतु गजत और समस्ट्त सामान्य प्रचालन में त्वरण, खडे होन े म ें करठनाई उत्पन्न नहीं करेगा।”।
5. उि जनयमों के जनयम 24 म,ें -
(क) उपजनयम (1) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अथागत ्:-
“(1) न्यूनतम 750 जमलीमीटर की चौडाई प्रिान दकए िाने के साथ अजभगमन, एकत्रण, गजलयारा अजभगमन तथा
जनकास के जलए उपयिु स्ट्पष्ट स्ट्थान अनुज्ञात दकया िाएगा ।”;
(ख) उपजनयम (4) म,ें “1600” अंकों के स्ट्थान पर, “1300” अकं रखे िाएगं ;े
(ग) उपजनयम (5) म,ें -
(i) “680” अंकों के स्ट्थान पर, “650” अंक रख ेिाएंग;े
(ii) “310” अंकों के स्ट्थान पर, “230” अंक रख ेिाएंग;े
(घ) उपजनयम (6) म,ें “620” अंकों के स्ट्थान पर, “480” अंक रखे िाएंग;े
6. उि जनयमों के जनयम 26 के उपजनयम 6 में,-
(क) “केंद्रीयकृत प्रकार की हो या वैयजिक यूजनट प्रकार की” िब्िों के स्ट्थान पर, “केंद्रीयकृत प्रकार की” िब्ि रख े
िाएंगे;
(ख) खडं (ख) में जनम्नजलजखत परंतुक अंतःस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथागत् :-[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
“परंत ु यह दक 300 सकल टनभार से कम के प्रवग ग अ िलयानों को, मामल े िर मामले के आधार पर,
अजभजहत प्राजधकारी द्वारा उपरोि अपक्षे ाओं से छूट प्रिान की िा सकेगी।”।
7. उि जनयमों के जनयम 31 के उपजनयम (4) में, “30” अंकों के स्ट्थान पर, “60” अंक रख ेिाएंगे।
[फा. सं. आईडब्ल्यूटी-11011/91/2021- आईडब्ल्यूटी(5)]
पी के रॉय, संयुक्त सचिव (आईडब्ल्यटू ी-II)
रटप्पण : मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखडं (i) में, तारीख 7 िून, 2022 को अजधसूचना
संखयांक सा.का.जन. 423(अ), तारीख 7 िून, 2022 द्वारा प्रकाजित प्रकाजित हुए थे।
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th May, 2025
G.S.R. 346(E).—Whereas draft of the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation)
(First Amendment) Rules, 2024 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. 752 (E) dated the 5th December, 2024, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-
section (i), dated the 5th December, 2024, inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected
thereby before the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which copies of 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 5th December, 2024;
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 under sub-sections (1) of section 7 and section 80 read with
clauses (zv) and (zza) 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 (Crew and Passenger Accommodation)
Rules, 2022 , namely. –
1. (1) These rules may be called as the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Amendment Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Inland Vessels (Crew and Passenger Accommodation) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules),
in rule 2, in sub-rule (1), after clause (c), the following explanation shall be inserted, namely: –
“Explanation.– For the purposes of this clause, Gross Tonnage of vessels of 24 meters or above shall be calculated
according to International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, whereas Gross Tonnage of vessels less
than 24 meters shall be calculated according to rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules,
1987, as amended from time to time.”.
3. In sub-rule (1) of rule 20 of the said rules, for the figures “0.60”, the figures “0.36” shall be substituted.
4. For sub-rule (3) of rule 23 of the said rules, the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely:–
“(3) Inland vessels operating on voyages of more than 15 minutes and upto 60 minutes to provide seating for 50 per
cent. of passengers, in accordance with the stability requirements given in the Inland Vessels (Design and Construction
Rules), 2024, provided the motions and accelerations in all normal operation would not make standing difficult.”.4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
5. In rule 24 of the said rules,–
(a) for sub-rule (1), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely. –
“(1) Suitable clear space shall be allowed for access, assembly, corridor access and escape with a minimum width of
750 millimeters being provided.”;
(b) in sub-rule (4), for the figures “1600”, the figures “1300” shall be substituted;
(c) in sub-rule (5),–
(i) for the figures “680”, the figures “650” shall be substituted;
(ii) for the figures “310”, the figures “230” shall be substituted;
(d) in sub-rule (6), for the figures “620”, the figures “480” shall be substituted;
6. In sub-rule (6) of rule 26 of the said rules,–
(a) for the words “centralized type or individual unit type”, the words “centralised type” shall be substituted;
(b) in clause (b), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: –
“Provided that an exemption from the above requirement may be given, on a case-to-case basis by the Designated
Authority to Category A vessels of less than 300 gross tonnage.”.
7. In sub-rule (4) of rule 31 of the said rules, for the figures “30”, the figures “60” shall be substituted.
[F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(5)]
P. K. ROY, Jt. Secy. (IWT-II)
Note: The prinicipal rules 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. 423(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.