The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has notified the Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Amendment Rules, 2025, bringing key updates to the regulatory framework governing the survey, certification, and inspection standards of inland vessels across India.
Key Highlights of the Amendment Rules:
1. Tonnage Measurement Revised:
The rules now specify that the gross tonnage of vessels 24 meters and above shall be calculated in accordance with the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, while vessels below 24 meters will follow rule 3 of the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1987.
2. Survey and Inspection Protocols Updated:
Vessels must undergo at least two dry dock or slipway inspections during the five-year validity of the survey certificate.
An in-water inspection may substitute one of these inspections if:
(i) the vessel is less than 20 years old, or
(ii) it does not operate in saline water.
Surveys of vessel bottoms for existing vessels must be completed within 12 months preceding the issue of the new certificate.
3. Expanded Scope of Survey Items:
Rule 10 now includes radio and navigation equipment and pollution prevention devices among the items that must be inspected and verified during surveys.
4. Qualifications for Surveyors Expanded:
A newly substituted Rule 23 lists broad categories of professionals eligible for appointment as surveyors, including:
• Marine, Mechanical, Electrical Engineers or Naval Architects with specific certificates and sea or technical experience;
• Master Mariners with at least five years of relevant experience;
• Diploma holders in shipbuilding with 15 years of practical experience;
• Naval Architecture degree holders with extensive service across approved institutions or shipbuilding yards.
5. Form Revisions and Omissions:
Several procedural and technical forms used for vessel survey and certification have been updated or replaced to standardize application and inspection processes. These include updated formats for application submission, technical specifications, equipment details, fire safety apparatus, and crew and passenger details. Forms No. 1, 4, 5, 7, and 9 have been revised, while Forms No. 6 and 24 have been omitted.
6. Terminological Standardization:
Minor yet important changes have been made across the rules and forms to harmonize terminologies such as replacing “Inland Vessel Certificate of Survey” with “Certificate of Survey” and aligning tonnage labels from “registered” to “gross” or “net” tonnage, as appropriate.
The Inland Vessels (Survey and Certification) Amendment Rules, 2025 are now in force and apply prospectively from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.