Advocate OS
Start free

In force

The Inland Vessels Act, 2021

114 sections · As amended up to 2026-08

Sections

  1. I — PRELIMINARY
  2. 1Short title, extent and commencement
  3. XVIII — MISCELLANEOUS
  4. 2The existing Inland Vessels Act, 1917, inter alia, empowered the State Governments to frame rules on
  5. 3The proposed new legislation intends to bring in uniformity in the provisions in respect of States,
  6. 4The proposed legislation is different from the lnland Vessels Act, 1917 in terms of its intent, content and implementation, and will
  7. 5The salient features of the proposed Inland Vessels Bill, 2021, inter alia, are
  8. III — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
  9. 6Competent authority
  10. XVIII — MISCELLANEOUS
  11. 7The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives
  12. IV — SURVEY OF INLAND VESSELS
  13. 8Construction, alteration or modification of mechanically propelled inland vessel
  14. 9Survey of vessels
  15. 10Appointment and qualifications of surveyors
  16. 11Powers of surveyors
  17. 12Grant of certificate of survey and procedures
  18. 13Provisional certificate of survey and its effect
  19. 14Mechanically propelled inland vessels not to proceed without certificate of survey, and requirement of Zone to be specified in such certificate
  20. 15Suspension and cancellation of certificate of survey
  21. 16Delivery of expired, suspended or cancelled certificate of survey
  22. V — REGISTRATION
  23. 17Registration
  24. 18Requirement of certificate of registration
  25. 19Owner or master to carry certificate of registration
  26. 20Appointment of ports or places of registry and Registrars of Inland Vessels
  27. 21Book of registry
  28. 22Central database of inland vessels
  29. 23Application and processes of registration of vessels
  30. 24Grant of certificate of registration and marking of vessel
  31. 25Effect of certificate of registration
  32. 26Duplicate certificate
  33. 27Provisional certificate of registration
  34. 28Registration of modifications or alterations
  35. 29Change of residence or place of business
  36. 30Prohibition against transfer of ownership of registered vessel
  37. 31Suspension of certificate of registration
  38. 32Cancellation of registration
  39. 33Mortgage of mechanically propelled inland vessel or share therein
  40. VI — MANNING, QUALIFICATION, TRAINING, EXAMINATION AND CERTIFICATION
  41. 34Training and minimum age for employment
  42. 35Minimum manning scale and manning requirements
  43. 36Appointment and duties of examiners
  44. 37Grant of certificate of competency
  45. 38Certificate of service
  46. 39Effect of certificate of competency or certificate of service
  47. 40Suspension and cancellation of certificate
  48. 41Registry of certificate holders and central registry
  49. VII — SPECIAL CATEGORY VESSELS
  50. 42Special category vessels
  51. 43Appointment or authorisation of officers to implement provisions, grant certificate of fitness, etc
  52. 44Safety of passengers or service users
  53. 45Inspection of vessel
  54. 46Suspension or cancellation of certificate of fitness
  55. VIII — NAVIGATION SAFETY AND SIGNALS
  56. 47Navigation safety, lights and signals
  57. 48Obligation to ensure safe navigation
  58. 49Distress signal
  59. 50Assistance to vessels in distress and persons in distress
  60. 51Life saving, fire safety and communication appliances
  61. IX — PREVENTION OF POLLUTION CAUSED BY INLAND VESSEL
  62. 52Chemicals, etc., to be designated as pollutants
  63. 53Certificate of prevention of pollution
  64. 54Reception facilities and containment of pollution
  65. 55Appointment of surveyor or officer to inspect
  66. 56Investigation into incidents of pollution
  67. X — WRECK AND SALVAGE
  68. 57Prohibition against intentionally causing wreck
  69. 58Receivers of wreck
  70. 59Powers of Central Government to make rules for Chapter X
  71. XI — LIABILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
  72. 60Liability under Act
  73. 61Apportionment of loss
  74. 62Liability for personal injury, loss of life or pollution to environment
  75. 63Detention of mechanically propelled inland vessel
  76. 64Limitation of liability
  77. 65Non-applicability of limitation
  78. XII — INSURANCE OF MECHANICALLY PROPELLED VESSELS PLYING IN INLAND WATERS
  79. 66Insurance to cover
  80. 67Contractual liability not to cover
  81. 68Issuance and terms of insurance policy
  82. 69Duty to indemnify and direct action against insurer
  83. 70Effect of death on certain causes of action
  84. 71Effect of certificate of insurance
  85. 72Transfer of certificate of insurance
  86. 73Powers of Central Government to make rules for Chapter XII
  87. XIII — INQUIRY INTO CASUALITY, ACCIDENT OR WRECK
  88. 74Reporting of casualty, accident, wreck, etc
  89. 75Preliminary enquiry by designated authority and inquiry by District Magistrate
  90. 76Assessors
  91. 77Report of District Magistrate to be notified by State Government
  92. 78Powers of District Magistrate subsequent to inquiry
  93. 79Power of State Government to suspend, cancel and confiscate certificate
  94. XIV — REGULATION OF TRADE PRACTICES
  95. 80Powers of Central Government to protect interests of service providers and service users
  96. 81Prohibited goods and dangerous goods
  97. 82Trade permission and endorsement of certificates of foreign vessels
  98. XV — PILOTAGE, VESSEL DETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT FUND
  99. 83Pilotage
  100. 84Certified master to be deemed pilot under Act 15 of 1908
  101. 85Vessel detention and forfeiture
  102. 86Constitution of Development Fund
  103. XVI — OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
  104. 87Offences and penalties
  105. 88Offences by company, limited liability partnership firm or any such arrangement
  106. 89Fees, additional fee, payment and collection
  107. 90Cognizance of offence
  108. XVII — NON-MECHANICALLY PROPELLED INLAND VESSEL
  109. 91Local self-governance
  110. 92Obligation to enroll
  111. 93Certificate of enrolment and marking of vessel
  112. 94Standards of construction and safety
  113. 95Power of State Government to make rules to regulate non-mechanically propelled inland vessels
  114. 96Constitution of welfare fund
  115. XVIII — MISCELLANEOUS
  116. 97Desertion and absence without leave
  117. 98General powers of Central Government to make rules
  118. 99Emergency preparedness
  119. 100Removal of lawful obstruction
  120. 101Validity of certificates issued under laws other than this Act
  121. 102Obstruction to officer appointed or authorised
  122. 103Place of trial
  123. 104Composition of offences
  124. 105Appeal
  125. 106Power of Central Government to make rules
  126. 107Power of State Government to make rules
  127. 108Power of Central Government to give directions
  128. 109Protection of action taken in good faith
  129. 110Power to remove difficulties
  130. 111Consistency with other laws
  131. 112Suspension or alteration of application and operation of Act
  132. 113Laying of rules and notifications
  133. 114Repeal and savings