Inland Vessels Bill 2021: Government passes bill in Lok Sabha

31 Jul 2021 CW Team

On Thursday, Lok Sabha's Ministry for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, passed the Inland Vessels Bill 2021, replacing the Inland Vessels Act 1917.

According to the ministry, the bill seeks to incorporate unified law for India instead of separate rules of the states. The registration certificate of the bill will be valid all over India, and individual state permissions are not required.

The bill provides a central database to record the details of all the vessels and their crew on the electronic portal. It will ensure that the vessels follow the rules and signals, including response to distress signals, to ensure safer navigation.

The bill wants the vessels to have an insurance policy for death, injury, or damage, including accidental pollution.

The bill will promote safer and cheaper navigation, ensure the protection of crew and cargo, and bring uniformity in the laws of inland waterways and navigation, Sonowal tweets. It would support operations for registered ships, boats, vessels, containers, sailing vessels, and ferries across the country.

To operate the inland waterways, the vessels will need a survey certificate issued by the respective states.

Besides, it will boost trade, commerce, and economy of the country, and it will fulfil the vision of achieving the goal of PM Narendra Modi for a robust legal regime in infrastructure and governance.

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