## Report on the Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Amendment Rules, 2025
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes the Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Amendment Rules, 2025, as published in the Gazette of India on May 28, 2025. This amendment modifies the Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Rules, 2022, specifically concerning the calculation of Gross Tonnage of vessels for the purposes of applying the fire safety regulations. The key finding is that the amendment clarifies how gross tonnage is to be calculated for vessels of different sizes, referencing international standards for larger vessels and existing national rules for smaller vessels. This aims to improve the clarity and consistency of applying fire safety regulations.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Amendment Rules, 2025, based solely on the information provided in the official gazette notification. It focuses on the changes introduced by the amendment and their potential implications.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Original Policy Being Amended:** The Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Rules, 2022.
* **Core Objective(s):** The original policy likely aimed to establish standards and requirements for fire fighting appliances on inland vessels. The amendment suggests the original policy required clarification regarding the calculation of gross tonnage.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Amendment Rules, 2025 addresses the ambiguity in the 2022 Rules concerning the calculation of gross tonnage, which is a determining factor in applying specific fire safety regulations. The amendment resolves this by providing specific instructions on how to calculate gross tonnage for vessels of 24 meters or above and for vessels less than 24 meters, ensuring the appropriate fire safety standards are applied based on vessel size.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This section focuses specifically on the changes introduced by the amendment text.
* **Specific Part of the Original Policy Being Changed:** Rule 2, subrule 1 of the Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Rules, 2022.
* **New Rule/Provision:** An explanation is inserted after clause d in subrule 1 of rule 2, clarifying the gross tonnage calculation method. The explanation states that for vessels of 24 meters or above, gross tonnage shall be calculated according to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969. For vessels less than 24 meters, gross tonnage shall be calculated according to rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987, as amended from time to time.
* **Difference/Effect of Change:** The amendment introduces a standardized method for calculating gross tonnage. Before the amendment, the lack of a specific method could lead to inconsistencies in applying fire fighting appliance rules based on varying interpretations of "Gross Tonnage." The change ensures that vessel size, for the purpose of fire safety appliance rules, is determined using clearly defined methods based on vessel size.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The target audience includes:
* Owners and operators of inland vessels.
* Designers and builders of inland vessels.
* Authorities responsible for the inspection and certification of inland vessels.
* Manufacturers and suppliers of fire fighting appliances for inland vessels.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the responsible agency as the notification is issued under their authority.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The rules came into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, which is May 28, 2025.
* The implementation of this change requires the relevant authorities to adopt the specified calculation methods during vessel inspection and certification processes. Vessels will need to demonstrate compliance with fire safety requirements based on the gross tonnage calculated according to the new rules.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The intended outcome of these specific changes is to provide clarity and consistency in the application of the Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Rules, 2022. This will lead to:
* Improved compliance with fire safety regulations.
* Reduced ambiguity and disputes regarding the applicability of specific fire safety requirements.
* Enhanced safety of inland vessels and their crew.
**9. Conclusion:**
The Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Amendment Rules, 2025 are a significant update to the fire safety regulations for inland vessels. By clarifying the calculation method for gross tonnage, the amendment promotes consistent and effective implementation of the original rules, ultimately contributing to a safer operating environment for the inland water transport sector.
Key Entities Referenced
Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances First Amendment Rules, 2024: Draft rules published by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways subject to objections and suggestions.
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: Act cited as the legal basis for the rules and amendments; referenced by its year and act number (24 of 2021).
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The government ministry responsible for publishing the notification and the draft rules.
G.S.R. 672 E: Notification number of the draft rules, dated the 29th October, 2024.
29th October, 2024: Date of the notification publishing the draft rules in the Gazette of India.
Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection i: The official publication in which the notification and draft rules were published.
Central government: The governing body that considered objections and suggestions to the draft rules and ultimately enacted the amendment rules.
Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Rules, 2022: The rules being amended by the current notification.
Inland Vessels Fire Fighting Appliances Amendment Rules, 2025: The new rules amending the 2022 rules.
Official Gazette: The publication in which the amendment rules will be published to come into force.
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969: International convention used to calculate the Gross Tonnage of vessels of 24 meters or above.
Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987: Rules used to calculate the Gross Tonnage of vessels less than 24 meters.
P. K. ROY: Jt. Secy. IWT; likely the Joint Secretary who approved the notification
G.S.R. 426E: Notification number for the prinicipal rules, dated the 7th June, 2022.
7th June, 2022: Date of the notification publishing the prinicipal rules
New Delhi: Place of publication of the notification
28th May, 2025: Date of the notification
G.S.R. 350E: Notification number of the new rules.
IWT11011912021IWT8: F. No. reference number
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28052025-263442
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D8H0x5x2x0 25-263442
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 307] नई दिल्ली, बधु वार, मई 28, 2025/ज्य ेष्ि 7, 1947
No. 307] 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. 350(अ).— अंतििे ीय िलयान (अजि िमन उपकरण) (पहला संिोधन) जनयम, 2025 का प्रारूप,
अंतिेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (1) की अपेक्षानुसार, भारत के रािपत्र,
असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i), तारीख 29 अक्टूबर, 2024 म ेंभारत सरकार के पत् तन, पोत पररवहन और िलमाग ग
मंत्रालय की अजधसूचना स.ं सा.का.जन. 672(अ), तारीख 29 अक्टूबर, 2024 द्वारा उन सभी व् यजक्त यों स े जिनके उससे
प्रभाजवत होने की संभावना ह,ै ऐसी तारीख जिसको, उक्त अजधसूचना को अतं वर्लगत करने वाली रािपत्र की प्रजतया ं
िनसाधारण को उपलब् ध करवाई गई थीं, स े तीस दिन की अवजध की समाज त स े पूवग आक्षेप और सझु ाव आमंजत्रत करते हुए
प्रकाजित दकया गया था ;
उक्त रािपत्र अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां िनसाधारण को तारीख 29 अक्टूबर, 2024 को उपलब्ध करा िी गई थीं ;
और उक्त प्रारुप जनयमों के संबधं म ें केंद्रीय सरकार को िनसाधारण स े कोई आक्षेप और सझु ाव प्राप्त नहीं हुए थ े।
अत:, अब, केन्द द्रीय सरकार, अतं िेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 51 की उपधारा (1) और
धारा 98 की उपधारा (1) के खंड (ड.) के साथ परित धारा 106 की उपधारा (2) के खंड (यि) और खडं (ययक) द्वारा प्रित्त
3485 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
िजियों का प्रयोग करत ेहुए अतं िेिीय िलयान (अजि िमन उपकरण) जनयम, 2022 का संिोधन करने के जलए जनम्न जलजखत
जनयम बनाती ह,ै अथागत,् -
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजक्ष त नाम अंतिेिीय िलयान (अजि िमन उपकरण) संिोधन जनयम, 2025 ह ै।
(2) ये रािपत्र म ें इनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत् त होंगे ।
2. अंतिेिीय िलयान (अजि िमन उपकरण) जनयम, 2022 के जनयम 2 के उपजनयम (1) म ें खंड (घ) के पश्चात ् जनम्नजलजखत
स्ट्पष्टीकरण अन्दतःस्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथागत,-
“स्ट्पष्टीकरण- इस खडं के प्रयोिन के जलए, 24 मीटर स ेअजधक के िलयानों के सकल टन भार की गणना पोतों के टन भार माप
के संबंध म ें अंतराष्ट्रग ीय अजभसमय, 1969 के अनुसार की िाएगी, िबदक 24 मीटर स े कम के िलयानों के सकल टन भार की
गणना वाजणज्य नौवहन (पोतों के टन भार माप) जनयम, 1987 के जनयम 3 के अनुसार की िाएगी ।”
[फा.स.ं आईडबल्यूटी-11011/91/2021- आईडबल्यूटी(8)]
पी के रॉय, संयुक्त सचिव (आईडब्ल्यूटी-II)
रटपण :- मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) तारीख 7 िनू , 2022 म ेंअजधसूचना संखयाकं
सा.का.जन. 426(अ) तारीख 7 िून, 2022 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th May, 2025
G.S.R. 350(E).— Whereas draft of the Inland Vessels (Fire Fighting Appliances) (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 the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways vide number G.S.R. 672 (E), dated the 29th October, 2024,
in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i), dated the 29th October, 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 29th October, 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-section (1) of section 51 and clause (e) of sub-
section (1) of section 98 read with clauses (zl) 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 (Fire Fighting
Appliances) Rules, 2022, namely. –
1. (1) These rules may be called the Inland Vessels (Fire Fighting Appliances) Amendment Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Inland Vessels (Fire Fighting Appliances) Rules, 2022, in rule 2, in sub-rule (1), after clause (d), the following
explanation shall be inserted, namely. –[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
“Explanation.– For the purposes of this clause, Gross Tonnage of vessels of 24 meters or above shall be calculated
according to the 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.”.
[F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(8)]
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. 426(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.