Notification of Inland Vessels (Prevention and Containment of Pollution) Amendment Rules 2025

## Report on the Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution First Amendment Rules, 2025 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes the Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution First Amendment Rules, 2025, as published in the Gazette of India on May 28, 2025. The amendment modifies the original Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution Rules, 2022, focusing on clarifying gross tonnage calculation for vessels, correcting a minor error in referencing standards organizations, and specifically addressing sewage management requirements for inland vessels. The key findings highlight revised rules regarding tonnage measurement and updated mandates for sewage treatment, potentially impacting vessel operators and manufacturers involved in inland waterways. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative overview of the Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution First Amendment Rules, 2025, based solely on the official government notification provided. It aims to elucidate the amendments, their rationale (as inferred from the text), and their potential implications for relevant stakeholders. **3. Policy Overview:** * This document is an amendment to the Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution Rules, 2022, originally published on June 7, 2022 (G.S.R. 427E). * **Core Objective(s) (inferred):** Based on the amendment text, the core objectives appear to be to: * Clarify the method of calculating gross tonnage for inland vessels, especially concerning the applicability of different tonnage measurement standards based on vessel size. * Correct a minor error in the reference to the International Organisation for Standardisation. * Refine the requirements for sewage management on inland vessels, providing options for compliance and exemptions for short voyages. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment addresses specific aspects of the original 2022 rules. Based on the provided text, the rationale for the amendments appears to stem from a need to: * **Clarify Tonnage Measurement:** Ensure consistent and appropriate application of tonnage measurement standards by explicitly referencing both the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, and the Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987, depending on vessel size. This likely aims to reduce ambiguity and ensure accurate application of regulations that rely on gross tonnage. * **Correct Organizational Name:** Rectify a minor but important error in referencing the International Organisation for Standardisation to ensure regulatory accuracy and clarity. * **Refine Sewage Management Rules:** The amendment likely seeks to provide more practical and flexible options for managing sewage on inland vessels. The addition of biodigesters and holding tanks as alternatives to sewage treatment plants and the exemption for very short voyages suggests an attempt to balance environmental concerns with the operational realities of inland vessel operations. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** The following changes are introduced by the amendment: * **Rule 2 (Tonnage Measurement):** * **Original Rule:** Addresses definitions, clause (c) is amended. * **New Rule:** An *Explanation* is inserted into clause (c) of subrule 1 of rule 2. This explanation clarifies that for vessels 24 meters or above, gross tonnage should be calculated according to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969. For vessels less than 24 meters, it should be calculated according to rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987, as amended. * **Effect of Change:** This change provides explicit guidance on the applicable tonnage measurement standards based on vessel size, reducing potential ambiguity and promoting consistent application of regulations tied to tonnage. * **Rule 6 (Correction of Name):** * **Original Rule:** Used "International Organisation of Standards." * **New Rule:** Substitutes "International Organisation of Standards" with "International Organisation for Standardisation". * **Effect of Change:** Corrects a minor error, ensuring accuracy in referencing the standardization body. * **Rule 12 (Sewage Management):** * **Original Rule:** Addressed requirements for sewage management. * **New Rule:** Subrule 2 is substituted to require all inland vessels where sewage is generated to be provided with *either* an appropriate sewage treatment plant, a biodigester, *or* a holding tank of sufficient capacity. Subrule 3 is substituted to state that vessels engaged on voyages of less than 60 minutes duration may be exempted from the requirements contained in subrule 2. * **Effect of Change:** This change broadens the acceptable methods for sewage management, offering more flexibility to vessel operators. The exemption for very short voyages acknowledges that implementing sewage treatment on such vessels may be impractical. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the following are directly affected: * Owners and operators of inland vessels, particularly those involved in passenger or cargo transport. * Manufacturers and suppliers of sewage treatment plants, biodigesters, and holding tanks for inland vessels. * Classification societies and surveyors involved in tonnage measurement of inland vessels. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency:** The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the responsible agency, as indicated by the notification. * **Timelines:** The rules came into force upon publication in the Official Gazette (May 28, 2025). Vessel operators will need to comply with the amended rules regarding tonnage calculation and sewage management requirements from this date. * **Sewage Management Changes:** Specifically, vessel operators need to evaluate their existing sewage management systems and ensure compliance with the updated rules, potentially involving the installation of new equipment (biodigesters or holding tanks) or seeking exemption for eligible short-duration voyages. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of these changes are: * **Clearer Tonnage Measurement:** Reduced ambiguity in tonnage calculations, leading to more consistent application of regulations. * **Improved Sewage Management:** Increased compliance with sewage management requirements due to the greater flexibility in available technologies. Potential for reduced operational costs for vessel owners adopting biodigesters or holding tanks. * **Reduced Burden on Short Voyages:** Reduced regulatory burden on vessels operating very short voyages, allowing for more efficient operations. **9. Conclusion:** The Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution First Amendment Rules, 2025, introduces targeted changes to the original 2022 rules. These amendments aim to clarify tonnage measurement, correct minor errors, and provide more practical and flexible options for sewage management on inland vessels. These changes are significant for vessel operators, manufacturers, and other stakeholders involved in inland waterways transportation, and they are expected to result in improved compliance and more efficient operations.

Key Entities Referenced