Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) wants to enhance inland vessel safety throughout India to aid the country’s economic growth.
Based on new Inland Vessels Act 2021, IRS has drafted ten different rules in consultation with Ministries, State Governments, and various other stake holders.
The draft Rules and Regulations for Construction and Classification of Inland Waterways Ships are ship type specific to ensure safety of cargo, assets, environment.
The draft Rules cover requirements for Passenger vessels, including Ro-Ro & Ro-Pax, tankers, gas carriers and dry cargo vessels. The rules also cover aspects of insurance, wreck & salvage, limitation of liabilities and other administrative provisions.
Once the rules are presented in Parliament, they will become applicable throughout India and will bring uniformity in implementation.
This aims to ensure safety of navigation, protection of life and cargo, prevention of environmental pollution, healthier trade practices, transparency, and accountability of administrative mechanisms as well as the training and development of an efficient and skilled workforce.
IRS is now looking to build on this legislation as it looks to promote reliable and safe transportation for goods and people throughout India’s inland waterways.
These waterways will be utilized for moving cargoes and passengers, which is expected to increase manifold in future
The projected growth in traffic can add additional responsibilities on the regulators of various state governments.
IRS is committed to various State Governments for making trade seamless, safer and environment friendly by utilising our rich array of inland waterways
KK Dhawan, Vice President IRS said.
