## Report on the Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues First Amendment Rules, 2025
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes the "Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues First Amendment Rules, 2025," as published in the Gazette of India on May 28, 2025. This amendment modifies the "Inland Vessels Registration and other technical issues Rules, 2022," primarily focusing on clarifying the calculation of gross tonnage, substituting the words and figure Rule 7 of the said Rules, the words, brackets and figures subrule 1 of rule 5 of these rules, and modifying requirements for documentation and identification marks for inland vessels registration. The key findings indicate a move towards clearer definitions and standardized procedures, particularly concerning vessel documentation, identification marking, and tonnage calculations.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative overview of the "Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues First Amendment Rules, 2025," based on the official policy text. It aims to outline the changes introduced by this amendment and their potential implications for stakeholders in the inland vessel sector.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This amendment modifies the "Inland Vessels Registration and other technical issues Rules, 2022."
* The core objective of the original policy, inferred from the amendment text, appears to be the regulation of inland vessel registration and related technical matters to ensure safety and compliance.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The provided text suggests that the amendment is likely intended to address ambiguities or gaps in the original rules of 2022. Specifically, changes concerning gross tonnage calculation, documentation requirements, and identification mark specifications imply a need for clearer and more standardized procedures. The amendment likely aims to reduce inconsistencies and ensure smoother implementation of the original regulations by clarifying definitions and processes.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This section details the changes introduced by the amendment:
* **Rule 2:** Modifies rule 3 of the original rules by adding an explanation regarding gross tonnage calculation. For vessels of 24 meters or above, the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 will be used, while vessels less than 24 meters will use rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987. *Effect*: This change provides a clear, tiered framework for tonnage calculation, based on vessel size.
* **Rule 3:** Substitutes "Rule 7 of these Rules" with "subrule 1 of rule 5 of these rules". *Effect*: Clarifies cross-references within the rules, ensuring the correct provision is referenced.
* **Rule 4:** Modifies rule 5 of the original rules, substituting clause "e" and "f" with new definitions related to copy of the instrument of sale, selfattested by the owner or master and copy of certificate of survey, selfattested by the owner or master if issued by the designated authority or the provisional certificate of survey, issued by the Surveyor. *Effect*: These changes appear to mandate that copies of important documents be self-attested by the owner or master of the vessel.
* **Rule 5:** Modifies rule 6 of the original rules. *Effect*: These changes appear to mandate that the copies of certificate of survey shall be substituted and the words "self attested by the owner or master, and the declaration of ownership shall be substituted".
* **Rule 6:** Modifies rule 8 of the original rules, subrule 3 by changing the sizes of the vessel based on the length of the vessel. *Effect*: This changes provides a clear definitions about the identification mark which should be carved or marked or welded in light colour on a dark background or in a dark colour on a light background and its size.
* **Rule 7:** Modifies Form No. 2 of the original rules. *Effect*: This change appears to mandate that d copy of builders certificate for new vessels, selfattested by the owner or master and e copy of instrument of sale, selfattested by the owner or master for second hand vessels.
* **Rule 8:** Modifies Form No. 12 of the original rules. *Effect*: This change appears to mandate that d copy of builders certificate for new vessels, selfattested by the owner or master and e copy of instrument of sale, selfattested by the owner or master for second hand vessels.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the text, the target audience and stakeholders include:
* Owners and operators of inland vessels.
* Designated authorities and surveyors involved in vessel registration and certification.
* The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
* Individuals or entities involved in the sale or transfer of inland vessels.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the responsible agency.
* The amendment came into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (May 28, 2025).
* The amendments relating to documentation (self-attestation) are likely to require adjustments to existing registration procedures.
* Tonnage calculations will need to align with the clarified standards (International Convention for larger vessels, Merchant Shipping Rules for smaller vessels).
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of these amendments are:
* Increased clarity and consistency in the application of the Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues Rules, 2022.
* Reduced ambiguity and potential for misinterpretation regarding tonnage calculations.
* Improved efficiency in the vessel registration process due to clearer documentation requirements (self-attestation).
* Enhanced compliance with regulations due to clearer identification requirements.
**9. Conclusion:**
The "Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues First Amendment Rules, 2025" introduces several modifications to the original rules of 2022. These amendments primarily focus on clarifying tonnage calculation methods, specifying documentation requirements, and modifying identification mark specifications. The expected impact is greater clarity, consistency, and efficiency in the registration and regulation of inland vessels, ultimately contributing to safer and more compliant operations within the sector.
Key Entities Referenced
Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues First Amendment Rules, 2024: A set of rules being amended.
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: An act of legislation, cited as '24 of 2021'.
Government of India: The governing body issuing the notification.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The ministry under which the notification is issued.
G.S.R. 753 E: Notification number dated the 5th December, 2024.
Gazette of India: The official government gazette where the notification is published.
Central Government: The governing authority making the rules.
Inland Vessels Registration and other technical issues Rules,2022: The principal rules being amended.
Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues Amendment Rules, 2025: The title of the new rules.
Official Gazette: The gazette where the publication of the rules will take place.
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969: A convention used for calculating gross tonnage of vessels.
Merchant Shipping Tonnage Measurement of Ships Rules, 1987: Rules used for calculating gross tonnage of vessels.
Form No. 2: A form within the said rules.
Form No. 12: A form within the said rules.
P. K. ROY: Jt. Secy. IWTII, signatory of the notification.
G.S.R. 421E: Notification number, dated the 7th June, 2022, that published the principal rules.
New Delhi: Place of notification: the 28th May, 2025
Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi110064: Publisher.
Controller of Publications, Delhi110054: Publisher.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-29052025-263459
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D9H0x5x2x0 25-263459
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 304] नई दिल्ली, बधु वार, मई 28, 2025/ज्य ष्े ि 7, 1947
No. 304] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025/JYAISTHA 7, 1947
पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और िलमाग ग मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 28 मई, 2025
सा.का.जन. 347(अ).— अतं िेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (1) के
अधीन यथाअपेजित अंतिेिीय िलयान (पंिीकरण और अन्य तकनीकी मुद्दे)(प्रथम संिोधन) जनयम, 2024 का प्रारुप, भारत
के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग 2, खंड 3, उपखडं (i), तारीख 5 दिसंबर,2024 म,ें भारत सरकार के पत्तन, पोत पररवहन और
िलमाग ग मंत्रालय की अजधसूचना संखयांक सा.का.जन.753 (अ), तारीख 5 दिसंबर, 2024 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकया गया था,
जिसमें उन सभी व्यजियों से जिनकी इससे प्रभाजवत होने की सभं ावना ह,ै उस तारीख से जिसको उि अजधसूचना में अतं र्वगष्ट
होने वाली रािपत्र की प्रजतयां िनता को उपलब्ध करा िी गई थी, तीस दिन की अवजध की समाजि के पूवग आिेप और सुझाव
आमंजत्रत दकए गए थे;
और, उि अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां िनता को 5 दिसंबर, 2024 को उपलब्ध करा िी गई थी;
और केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा उि प्रारुप जनयमों की बाबत िनता से कोई आिपे और सुझाव प्राि नहीं दकए गए थे;
अत: अब, केंद्रीय सरकारर, अंतिेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (2)
के खंड (ढ) से खंड (भ) के साथ परित धारा 21 की उपधारा (1) और उपधारा (2), धारा 22, धारा 23 की उपधारा (1)
3482 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
और उपधारा (2), धारा 24 की उपधारा(2), धारा 27 की उपधारा (2) धारा 29 की उपधारा (2), धारा 32 की उपधारा
(1), धारा 33 की उपधारा (2) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए, अतं िेिीय िलयान (पंिीकरण और अन्य तकनीकी
मुद्दे) जनयम, 2022 का संिोधन करन े के जलए जनम्नजलजखत जनयम बनाती है, अथागत ् :-
1. (1) इन जनयमों का संजिि नाम अंतििे ीय िलयान (रजिस्ट्रीकरण और अन्य तकनीकी मुद्दे) संिोधन जनयम, 2025 ह ै।
(2) ये रािपत्र में उनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रवृत्त होंगे ।
2. अंतििे ीय िलयान (पंिीकरण और अन्य तकनीकी मुद्दे) संिोधन जनयम, 2022 (जिसे इसमें इसके पश्चात ् उि जनयम
कहा गया ह)ै के जनयम 3 म,ें उपजनयम (1) के खंड (ग) में जनम्नजलजखत स्ट्पष्टीकरण अतं :स्ट्थाजपत दकया िाएगा, अथागत् :-
“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 ेंअतं राष्ट्रग ी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 ।” ।
3. उि जनयमों के जनयम 4 में, “इन जनयमों के जनयम 7” िब्िों और अंक के स्ट्थान पर “इन जनयमों के जनयम 5 के उपजनयम
(1)” िब्ि, कोष्ठक और अंक रख ेिाएंगे ।
4. उि जनयमों के जनयम 5 में, उपजनयम (1) म,ें -
(क) खडं (ड.) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, अथागत् :-
“(ड.) स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत जवक्रय के जलखत की प्रजत, जिसके अधीन िलयान का हक आवेिक को
अंतररत दकया गया था, िो अपिे ा करता ह ैदक यह उसके नाम पर रजिस्ट्रीकृत हो (पूवगप्रयुि िलयान के जलए);”
(ख) खंड (च) के स्ट्थान पर जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, अथागत् :-
“(च) स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत, सवेिण के प्रमाणपत्र की प्रजत, यदि नामजनर्िगष्ट प्राजधकारी द्वारा िारी
दकया गया हो या सवेिक द्वारा िारी दकया गया सवेिण का अंनजतम प्रमाणपत्र;”।
(5) उि जनयमों के जनयम 6 म,ें उपजनयम (1) में, -
(क) “सवेिण प्रमाणपत्र”िब्िों के स्ट्थान पर, “सवेिण प्रमाणपत्र, सवेिण का अंनजतम प्रमाणपत्र, जनमागता प्रमाणपत्र,
जवक्रय की जलखत जिसके द्वारा िलयान बेचा गया था, की प्रजतयां” िब्ि रख ेिाएंग े ;
(ख) “और स्ट्वाजमत्व की उिघोषणा” िब्िों के स्ट्थान पर “ जिसमें स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत सवेिण
प्रमाणपत्र, सवेिण का अनंजतम प्रमाणपत्र, जनमागता प्रमाणपत्र, जवक्रय की जलखत जिसके द्वारा िलयान बेचा गया
था, की प्रजतयां और स्ट्वाजमत्व की उिघोषणा होगी”िब्ि रख ेिाएंगे ।
6. उि जनयमों के जनयम 8 म,ें उपजनयम (3) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत उपजनयम रखा िाएगा, अथातग ् :-
“(3) पहचान जचह्न को गहरे रंग की पृष्ठभूजम पर हल्के रंग में या हल्के रंग की पष्ठृ भूजम पर गहरे रंग में नक्कािीिार या जचजह्नत
या वेल्ड दकया िाएगा और इसका आकार जनम्नानुसार होगा, अथागत ् :-
(क) 20 मीटर स ेअजधक लंबाई वाले िलयानों के जलए जचह्न का आकार 200 जममी. X 150 जममी. (ऊंचाई Xचौडाई)
से कम नहीं होगा तथा प्रत्येक अिर 25 जममी. चौडा होगा;
(ख) 10 मीटर से 20 मीटर के बीच की लंबाई वाले िलयानों के जलए जचह्न का आकार 150 जममी. X 120 जममी.
(ऊंचाई Xचौडाई) से कम नहीं होगा तथा प्रत्येक अिर 25 जममी. चौडा होगा;[भाग II—खण्ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
(ग) 5 मीटर से 10 मीटर के बीच की लंबाई वाले िलयानों के जलए जचह्न का आकार 100 जममी. X 75 जममी. (ऊंचाई
Xचौडाई) से कम नहीं होगा तथा प्रत्येक अिर 20 जममी. चौडा होगा; और
(घ) 5 मीटर से कम की लंबाई वाले िलयानों के जलए जचह्न का आकार 50 जममी. X 40 जममी. (ऊंचाई Xचौडाई)
से कम नहीं होगा तथा प्रत्येक अिर 25 जममी. चौडा होगा;”
7. उि जनयमों की प्ररुप सं.2, क्रम सं. 9 में, -
(क) खडं (घ) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, - अथागत ् :-
“(घ) स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत, नए िलयानों के जलए जनमागता प्रमाणपत्र की प्रजत,”।
(ख) खडं (ड.) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, - अथागत ् :-
“(ड.) स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत, जवक्रय जलखत की प्रजत,( पूवगप्रयुि िलयानों के जलए);”।
(8) उि जनयमों की प्ररुप सं.12, म,ें क्रम स.ं 8 में, -
(क) खडं (घ) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, - अथागत ् :-
“(घ) स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत, नए िलयानों के जलए जनमागता प्रमाणपत्र की प्रजत,”।
(ख) खडं (ड.) के स्ट्थान पर, जनम्नजलजखत खडं रखा िाएगा, - अथागत ् :-
“(ड.) स्ट्वामी या मास्ट्टर द्वारा स्ट्वतःअनुप्रमाजणत, जवक्रय जलखत की प्रजत,(पूवगप्रयिु िलयानों के जलए);”।
[फा.स.ं आईडबल्यूटी-11011/91/2021- आईडबल्यूटी (3)]
पी के रॉय, संयुि सजचव (आईडब्ल्यूटी-II)
रटप्पण :- मलू जनयम भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग II, खंड 3, उपखंड (i) तारीख 7 िनू , 2022 म ेंअजधसूचना संखयाकं
सा.का.जन. 421(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. 347(E).—Whereas a draft of the Inland Vessels (Registration and other Technical Issues) (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. 753 (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 by sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 21, section 22, sub-
sections (1) and (2) of section 23, sub-section (2) of section 24, sub-section (2) of section 27, sub-section (2) of section
29, sub-section (1) of section 32, sub-section (2) of section 33 read with clauses (n) to (x) of sub-section (2) of section4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules to amend
the Inland Vessels (Registration and other technical issues) Rules,2022, namely:-
1. (1) These rules may be called as the Inland Vessels (Registration and other Technical Issues) Amendment Rules,
2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Inland Vessels (Registration and other technical issues) Rules, 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules),
in rule 3, in clause (c) of sub-rule (1), 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 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;”.
3. In rule 4 of the said rules, for the words and figure “Rule 7 of these Rules”, the words, brackets and figures “sub-rule
(1) of rule 5 of these rules” shall be substituted.
4. In rule 5 of the said rules, in sub-rule (1),–
(a) for clause (e), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–
“(e) copy of the instrument of sale, self-attested by the owner or master under which the title of the vessel was
transferred to the applicant who requires it to be registered in his name (for second hand vessel);”
(b) for clause (f), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: -
“(f) copy of certificate of survey, self-attested by the owner or master if issued by the designated authority or the
provisional certificate of survey, issued by the Surveyor;”.
5. In rule 6 of the said rules, in sub-rule (1), ––
(a) for the words “certificate of survey”, the words “copies of the certificate of survey” shall be substituted;
(b) for the words “and the declaration of ownership”, the words “self- attested by the owner or master, and
the declaration of ownership” shall be substituted.
6. In rule 8 of the said rules, for sub-rule (3), the following sub-rule shall be substituted, namely: -
“(3) The identification mark shall be carved or marked or welded in light colour on a dark background or in a dark
colour on a light background and its size shall be as follows, namely:–
(a) for vessels of length more than 20 meters, the size of the mark shall not be less than 200mm x 150mm
(height x breadth) with each letter measuring 25mm wide;
(b) for vessels of length between 10 metres and 20 meters, the size of the mark shall not be less than 150 X
120 mm (height x breadth) with each letter measuring 25mm wide;
(c) for vessels of length between 5 metres and 10 metres, the size of the mark shall not be less than 100mm
X 75 mm (height x breadth) with each letter measuring 20 mm wide; and
(d) for vessels of length less than 5 metres, the size of the mark shall not be less than 50m x 40 mm height x
breadth) with each letter measuring 15mm wide.”.
7. In Form No. 2 of the said rules, in serial no 9,–
(a) for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–
“(d) copy of builder’s certificate for new vessels, self-attested by the owner or master;”.
(b) for clause (e), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: -
“(e) copy of instrument of sale, self-attested by the owner or master (for second hand vessels);”.
8. In Form No. 12 of the said rules, in serial no 8,–
(a) for clause (d), the following clause shall be substituted, namely: -[भाग II—खण्ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
“(d) copy of builder’s certificate for new vessels, self-attested by the owner or master”.
(b) for clause (e), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:–
“(e) copy of instrument of sale, self-attested by the owner or master (for second hand vessels)”.
[F. No. IWT-11011/91/2021-IWT(3)]
P. K. ROY, Jt. Secy. (IWT-II)
Note: The principal 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. 421(E), dated the 7th June, 2022.
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