**Executive Summary:**
This notification from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways publishes the Inland Vessels Prior Approval for Alteration and Modification Rules, 2025. These rules, enacted under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, outline the process for obtaining prior approval for alterations and modifications to inland vessels. The rules come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Objections or suggestions to these draft rules may be sent within thirty days to the Director IWT.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **General Provisions:**
* The rules are called the Inland Vessels Prior Approval for Alteration and Modification Rules, 2025.
* The rules define "Act" as the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, and "alteration or modification" as changes affecting strength, stability, safety, certification, watertight integrity, type, or primary function of a mechanically propelled inland vessel.
* **Prior Approval Process:**
* Vessel owners/operators must submit Form 6 from the Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues Rules, 2022, to the Designated Authority for any proposed alteration or modification.
* The Designated Authority will assess the impact on vessel safety, strength, stability, and structural integrity.
* Alterations/modifications must comply with Inland Vessels Design and Construction Rules, 2024.
* The Designated Authority may order independent evaluations by a naval architect, marine engineer, surveyor, or classification society.
* A thorough safety assessment is required if the alteration/modification impacts vessel safety, the environment, or other stakeholders.
* Upon verification, the Designated Authority will grant a certificate of prior approval, which must be kept onboard the vessel.
* **Types of Alterations:**
* *Major Alterations*: Substantially alter dimensions or capacity, change vessel type or function, increase service life, affect subdivision, or affect watertight and weathertight integrity.
* *Minor Alterations*: Do not involve significant structural changes but may impact structural strength; these must be reported to the Surveyor or Designated Authority within a month.
* **Criteria for Approval:**
* Safety and Compliance: Alterations must ensure safety per Inland Vessels Design and Construction Rules, 2024.
* Structural Integrity: Designs must maintain or enhance structural integrity and stability.
* Stability Analysis: Required for modifications affecting stability, per Inland Vessels Design and Construction Rules, 2024.
* Environmental Impact: Modifications must minimize environmental impact, per Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution Rules, 2022.
* **Reporting and Compliance:**
* A revised certificate of survey and registration is required for alterations affecting strength, stability, or safety, per the Inland Vessels Act and Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues Rules, 2022.
* Failure to comply may result in regulatory noncompliance, endangerment of vessel and crew safety, and penalties as per the Inland Vessels Act.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Vessel Owners/Operators:**
* *Impact*: Subject to the new rules regarding prior approval for vessel alterations and modifications, potentially incurring costs for evaluations and compliance.
* *Action Required*: Understand and comply with the new rules, submit applications for prior approval, maintain certificates onboard, and ensure all alterations meet safety and structural integrity standards.
* **Designated Authority:**
* *Impact*: Responsible for reviewing applications, assessing the impact of alterations, ordering evaluations, and granting certificates of prior approval.
* *Action Required*: Establish procedures for reviewing applications, conducting evaluations, and issuing certificates.
* **Surveyors, Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, and Classification Societies:**
* *Impact*: May be required to conduct independent evaluations of proposed alterations and modifications.
* *Action Required*: Provide thorough and accurate assessments of the technical aspects of proposed alterations and modifications.
* **Central Government:**
* *Impact*: Responsible for considering suggestions/objections and ensuring the effective implementation of the rules.
* *Action Required*: Review any objections or suggestions received, and oversee the enforcement of the rules by the Designated Authority.
Key Entities Referenced
Inland Vessels Act, 2021: A central legislation governing inland vessels, referenced as the basis for the rules and regulations outlined in the document.
Inland Vessels Prior Approval for Alteration and Modification Rules, 2025: The primary subject of the document, these rules outline the process for obtaining prior approval for alterations and modifications to inland vessels.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The government ministry responsible for issuing the notification and overseeing inland vessel regulations.
New Delhi: The city in India where the notification was issued from.
Inland Vessels Registration and other Technical Issues Rules, 2022: A set of rules related to vessel registration and technical matters, which includes form 6 referenced for application submissions.
Inland Vessels Design and Construction Rules, 2024: A set of rules related to vessel design and construction standards, compliance to which is mandatory for any modifications.
Inland Vessels Prevention and Containment of Pollution Rules, 2022: A set of rules related to pollution prevention for vessels, compliance to which is mandatory for any modifications.
Transport Bhawan, New Delhi: The location of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping Waterways office where objections or suggestions to the draft rules can be sent.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
xxxGIDHxxx
सी.जी.-डी.एलxx.x-GअID.-E1x5x0x 72025-264667
CG-DL-E-15072025-264667
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 421] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, िुलाई 11, 2025/आषाढ़ 20, 1947
No. 421] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2025/ASHADHA 20, 1947
पत्तन, िलयान पररवहन और िलमाग ग मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 11 िलु ाई, 2025
सा.का.जन. 464(अ).— अंतििे ीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (2)
के खंड (च) के साथ परित धारा 8 की उपधारा (1) और (2) के तहत प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए, अंतिेिीय
िलयान (पररवतगन और आिोधन के जलए पूवग अनुमोिन) जनयम, 2025, जिसे केंद्र सरकार अंतिेिीय िलयान अजधजनयम,
2021 (2021 का 24) की धारा 106 की उपधारा (1) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए बनान े का प्रस्ट्ताव करती
ह,ै का मसौिा इससे प्रभाजवत होने की संभावना वाल े सभी व्यजियों की सूचना के जलए एतद्द्वारा प्रकाजित दकया िाता ह;ै
और एतद्द्वारा नोरिस दिया िाता ह ै दक उि मसौि े पर उस तारीख स े तीस दिन की अवजध की समाजि के बाि जवचार दकया
िाएगा, जिस दिन आजधकाररक रािपत्र म ेंयथा प्रकाजित इस अजधसूचना की प्रजतयां सवगसाधारण को उपलब्ध कराई िाती
ह;ैं
इन मसौिा जनयमों पर आपजत्तयां या सुझाव, यदि कोई हों, तो जनिेिक (आईडब्ल्यूिी), पत्तन, िलयान पररवहन और
िलमाग ग मंत्रालय, कमरा संख्या 545, पररवहन भवन, 1-संसि माग,ग नई दिल्ली-110001 को या ईमले द्वारा dircoord2-
psw@gov.in और psw-usiwt2@gov.in पर ऊपर जनर्िष्टग अवजध के भीतर भेि े िा सकते ह;ैं
उि मसौिा जनयमों के संबंध म ें दकसी भी व्यजि स े उि जवजनर्िगष्ट अवजध के भीतर प्राि आपजत्तयों या सुझावों पर केन्द्द्र
सरकार द्वारा जवचार दकया िाएगा।
4565 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
मसौिा जनयम
1. संजिि नाम प्रारंभ.- (1) इन जनयमों को अंतिेिीय िलयान (पररवतगन और आिोधन के जलए पूवग अनुमोिन)
जनयम, 2025 कहा िाएगा।
(2) य े आजधकाररक रािपत्र म ेंप्रकािन की तारीख स े प्रवृत्त होंगे।
2. पररभाषाए.ं - (1) इन जनयमों म,ें िब तक दक संिभग स ेअन्द्यथा अपेजित न हो:
(क) "अजधजनयम" स ेअंतििे ीय िलयान अजधजनयम, 2021 (2021 का 24) अजभप्रेत ह;ै
(ख) "पररवतगन या आिोधन" स े ऐसे पररवतगन या आिोधन अजभप्रेत ह ैं िो दकसी भी यांजत्रक रूप स े चाजलत दकसी भी
अंतिेिीय िलयान की िमता, जस्ट्थरता और सुरिा या प्रमाणन जस्ट्थजत या िलरोधी िमता
या उसके प्रकार या प्राथजमक काय ग म ें पररवतनग या केंद्र सरकार द्वारा यथा अजधसूजचत अन्द्य मानिंडों को प्रभाजवत करे।
(2) इन जनयमों म ें प्रयिु िब्िों और अजभव्यजियों, िो जनयमों म ें पररभाजषत नहीं ह ै परंत ु जिन्द्ह ें अजधजनयम म ें
पररभाजषत दकया गया ह,ै के क्रमि: वही अथ ग होंग े िो उन्द्ह ेंअजधजनयम म ें दिए गए ह।ैं
3. जनर्िष्टग प्राजधकारी का पवू ग अनमु ोिन। - (1) कोई भी पररवतनग या आिोधन करन े के इच्छुक िलयान माजलक या
संचालक, यथा संिोजधत अंतििे ीय िलयान (पंिीकरण और अन्द्य तकनीकी मुद्द)े जनयम, 2022 के प्ररूप 6 म ें जनर्िगष्ट
प्राजधकारी कोएक आवेिन प्रस्ट्ततु करेंगे, जिसम ें प्रस्ट्ताजवत पररवतगन या संिोधन कास्ट्वरूप और िायरा जनर्िगष्ट होगा।
(2) उि आवेिन प्राि होने पर, जनर्िगष्ट प्राजधकारी प्रस्ट्ताजवत पररवतगन या संिोधन की समीिा करेगा तादक िलयान
की सुरिा, िमता, जस्ट्थरता और संरचनात्मक सुिढ़ृ तापर उनके प्रभाव का आकलन दकया िा सके।
(3) सभी पररवतगन और आिोधनों को अंतिेिीय िलयान (पररकल्पना और संजनमागण) जनयम, 2024 म ें यथा
संिोजधत सुरिा मानकों और िलयान के जडिाइन या वगीकरण म ें उजल्लजखत दकसी भी जवजिष्ट आवश्यकताओं के अनुरूप
होना होगा।
(4) ऐस े मामलों म,ें यदि जनर्िगष्ट प्राजधकारी द्वारा आवश्यक समझा िाए, तो संिोजधत अतं िेिीय िलयान (पररकल्पना
और संजनमागण) जनयम, 2024 के अनुसार िलयान माजलक द्वारा प्रस्ट्ताजवत पररवतनग (ओं) या आिोधन(ओं) के तकनीकी
पहलुओं का आकलन करन े के जलए यथा लागू नौसेना वास्ट्तुकार या समुद्री इंिीजनयर या सवेिक या वगीकरण सोसायिी के
माध्यम स ेआंतररक रूप स े स्ट्वतत्रं मूल्यांकन का आििे दिया िा सकता ह।ै
(5) यदि कोई पररवतगन या आिोधन दकया िाता ह ै िो िलयान सुरिा, पयागवरण या दकसी अन्द्य जहतधारकों को
प्रभाजवत कर सकता ह,ै तो जनर्िगष्ट प्राजधकारी िलयान का पूरी तरह सुरिा मूल्यांकन करवाने का आिेि िगे ा। िैसा
आवश्यक पाया िाए, उपिमन उपायों को प्रस्ट्ताजवत और कायागजन्द्वत दकया िाएगा।
(6) िलयान माजलक या प्रचालक द्वारा प्रस्ट्ततु आवेिन के सत्यापन के बाि, जनर्िष्टग प्राजधकारी िलयान माजलक या
प्रचालक को पूव ग अनुमोिन का प्रमाण पत्र प्रिान करेगा। माजलक को िलयान पर हर समय पूवग अनुमोिन का प्रमाण पत्र
रखना होगा।
4. प्रमखु पररवतनग और आिोधन - मौिूिा िलयानों म ेंप्रमुख पररवतगन आम तौर पर ऐसे मामले मान े िाएंग े जिनस:े
(क) िलयान के पररमाप या िमता म ें काफी पररवतगन होता हो;
(ख) िलयान के प्रकार या प्राथजमक काय ग म ें पररवतगन होता हो;
(ग) िलयान के सेवा काल म ेंकाफी वृजि होती हो;
(घ) उप-जवभािन काफी प्रभाजवत होता हो; और
(ङ) िलरोधी और मौसमरोधी सुिढ़ृ ता काफी प्रभाजवत होतीहो।[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
5. छोिे-मोिे पररवतनग । - (1) छोिे- मोिे पररवतगनों की ऐस े पररवतगनों के रूप म ें पररभाजषत दकया गया ह ै जिनस े
जलयान की संरचना म ें महत्वपणू ग पररवतगन िाजमल नहीं होत े हो, लदे कन जिनस े सरं चनात्मक सुिढ़ृ ता पर प्रभाव पड़ सकता
ह।ै
(2) छोिे-मोिे पररवतगनों को, पररवतगन और आिोधन दकए िाने के एक महीन े के भीतर जलजखत रूप म ें सवेिक या नाजमत
प्राजधकारी के ध्यान म ेंलाया िाना चाजहए।
6. अनमु ोिन प्रिान करन े सबं धं ी मानिंड - िलयानों म ें सभी पररवतगनों या आिोधनों को जनम्नजलजखत का पालन
करना होगा:
(क) सुरिा और अनुपालन: कोई भी पररवतगन या आिोधन यथा संिोजधत अंतिेिीय जलयान (पररकल्पना और
संजनमागण) जनयम, 2024 के अनुसार िलयान, चालक िल, याजत्रयों और पयागवरण की सुरिा सुजनजित करेगा।
(ख) संरचनात्मक सुिढ़ृ ता: संरचनात्मक पररवतगनों को इस तरह स े जडिाइन और जनष्पादित दकया िाना होगा िो
जलयान की संरचनात्मक सुिढ़ृ ता और जस्ट्थरता को बनाए रखे या बढ़ाए। संरचनात्मक गणना और मल्ू यांकन, जडिाइनर
द्वारा दकए िाए ं और सत्यापन और अनुमोिन के जलए जनर्िगष्ट प्राजधकारी या वगीकरण सोसायिी (वगीकरण सोसायिी के
तहत िलयानों के जलए), यथा लाग ू को प्रस्ट्तुत दकए िाएं।
(ग) जस्ट्थरता जवश्लेषण: जलयान की जस्ट्थरता को प्रभाजवत करन े वाले आिोधनों के जलए, जनर्िगष्ट प्राजधकारी या
वगीकरण सोसायिी िैसा लाग ू हो,द्वारा सत्यापन के जलए, यथा संिोजधत अंतिेिीय जलयान (पररकल्पना और संजनमागण)
जनयम, 2024के अनुसार जस्ट्थरता जवश्लेषण दकया िाना होगा और जलयान को इसकी अनुमोदित जस्ट्थरता सीमाओं के भीतर
प्रचाजलत दकया िाना होगा।
(घ) पयागवरणीय प्रभाव: आिोधनों म ें जलयान के पयागवरणीय प्रभाव पर जवचार दकया िाएगा और उसे न्द्यूनतम दकया
िाएगा, जविेष रूप स े यथा सिं ोजधत अतं िेिीय जलयान (प्रिषू ण की रोकथाम और जनयंत्रण) जनयम, 2022 के अनुसार
उत्सिगन, अपजिष्ट जनपिान और प्रिषू ण की रोकथाम के संिभ गमें।
7. ररपोर्ििंग - यथा संिोजधत अतं िेिीय जलयान (पंिीकरण और अन्द्य तकनीकी मुद्दे) जनयम, 2022 के जनयम 9 के
साथ परित अजधजनयम की धारा 28 के तहत सुिढ़ृ ता या जस्ट्थरता या सुरिा को प्रभाजवत करने वाले दकसी भी पररवतगन या
आिोधन के जलए सवेिण और पंिीकरण का संिोजधत प्रमाण पत्र प्राि दकया िाएगा।
8. इन जनयमों का पालन न करना जवजनयामक अनुपालनन करना माना िा सकता ह,ै इससे जलयान और चालक िल
की सुरिा को खतरा हो सकता ह ै और इन मामलों म ें राज्य सरकार अजधजनयम की धारा 87 के उपबंधों के अनुसार माजलक
पर उजचत िण्ड लगा सकती ह।ै
[फा. स.ं आईडब्ल्यूिी-II-12011/4/2025-आईडब्ल्यूिी-II]
पी. के. रॉय, संयुि सजचव (आईडब्ल्यूिी-II)
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 11th July, 2025
G.S.R. 464(E).— In the exercise of powers conferred under sub-section (1) and (2) of section 8 read with
clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021, the draft of the Inland Vessels
(Prior Approval for Alteration and Modification) Rules, 2025, which the Central Government hereby proposes to
make, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 106 of the Inland Vessels Act of 2021 (24 of
2021), is hereby published for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby; and notice is hereby given
that the said draft shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of thirty days from the date on which
the copies of this notification as published in the Official Gazette are made available to the public;4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
Objections or suggestions, if any, to these draft rules may be sent to the Director (IWT), Ministry of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways, Room No. 545, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001, or by email at dircoord2-
psw@gov.in and psw-usiwt2@gov.in within the period specified above;
The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person in respect of the said draft rules, within the
period specified will be considered by the Central Government.
Draft Rules
1. Short Title Commencement. – (1) These rules may be called the Inland Vessels (Prior Approval for
Alteration and Modification) Rules, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions. – (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “Act" means the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 (24 of 2021);
(b) “alteration or modification” means alterations or modifications which would affect the strength, stability and
safety or certification status or watertight integrity or change in type or primary function of any mechanically
propelled inland vessel or other criteria as notified by the Central Government.
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in these rules but defined in the Act, shall have the meanings
respectively assigned to them in the Act.
3. Prior approval of the Designated Authority. – (1) Vessel owners or operators desirous of making any
alteration or modification shall submit an application in Form 6 of Inland Vessels (Registration and other Technical
Issues) Rules, 2022, as amended, specifying the nature and scope of the proposed alteration or modification to the
Designated Authority.
(2) Upon receiving the application, the Designated Authority shall review the proposed alteration or modification
to assess their impact on vessel safety, strength, stability and structural integrity.
(3) All alterations and modifications must comply with Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as
amended safety standards, and any specific requirements outlined in the vessel's design or classification.
(4) In cases, if deemed necessary by the Designated Authority, an independent evaluation may be ordered
internally through a naval architect or marine engineer or surveyor or through classification society as applicable to
assess the technical aspects of the proposed alteration(s) or modification(s) by the vessel owner as per Inland Vessels
(Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended.
(5) In case an alteration or modification that may impact vessel safety, the environment, or any other
stakeholders, the Designated Authority shall order the vessel to undergo a thorough safety assessment. Mitigation
measures shall be proposed and implemented as would be found necessary.
(6) Upon verification of application submitted by the vessel owner or operator, the Designated Authority shall
grant a certificate of prior approval to the vessel owner or operator. The owner shall maintain the certificate of prior
approval onboard the vessel at all times.
4. Major alterations and modification. – Major alterations of existing vessels shall be generally considered to
be instances which:
(a) substantially alter a vessel’s dimensions or capacity;
(a) change a vessel’s type or primary function;
(b) substantially increase a vessel’s service life;
(c) substantially affect the sub-division; or
(d) substantially affect the watertight and weathertight integrity.
5. Minor alterations. – (1) Minor alterations are defined as those which do not involve significant changes to
the structure of the vessel but which may have an impact on structural strength.
(2) Minor alterations should be brought to the attention of the Surveyor or the Designated Authority in writing
within a month of the alterations and modifications.
6. Criteria for Grant of Approval. – All alterations or modifications to vessels must adhere to the following:
(a) Safety and Compliance: any alteration or modification shall ensure the safety of the vessel, crew, passengers
and the environment as per Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended.
(b) Structural Integrity: structural alterations must be designed and executed in a way that maintains or enhances
the vessel's structural integrity and stability. Structural calculations and assessments may be carried out by the
designer and submitted to Designated Authority or Classification Society (for vessels under Classification Society), as
applicable, for verification and approval.[भाग II—खण् ड 3(i)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
(c) Stability Analysis: for modifications that affect the vessel's stability, a stability analysis must be conducted as
per Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended, for verification by Designated Authority or
Classification Society, as applicable, and the vessel must be operated within its approved stability limits.
(d) Environmental Impact: modifications shall consider and minimize the vessel's environmental impact,
especially in terms of emissions, waste disposal and pollution prevention as per Inland Vessels (Prevention and
Containment of Pollution) Rules, 2022, as amended.
7. Reporting. – Under section 28 of the Act read with rule 9 of Inland Vessels (Registration and other
Technical Issues) Rules, 2022, as amended, any alteration or modification affecting strength or stability or safety shall
obtain a revised certificate of survey and registration.
8. Failure to comply with these rules may result in regulatory non-compliance, endangerment of vessel and
crew safety and State Government in these cases may impose appropriate penalty to owner as per provisions of
section 87 of the Act.
[F. No. IWT-II-12011/4/2025-IWT-II]
P. K. ROY, Jt. Secy. (IWT-II)
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.