Inland Vessels Bill, 2021 Passed In Parliament

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Inland Vessels Bill, 2021 to introduce a uniform regulatory framework for inland vessel navigation across the country. The Bill, which will repeal the Inland Vessels Act of 1917, was passed by the Lok Sabha last week.

As per Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, the 2021 Bill also promotes cheaper and safer navigation, and ensures protection of life and cargo.

The statement of objects annexed to the Bill states that the new proposed framework is different from the Act of 1917 in terms of its intent to— (i) promote economical, safe transportation and trade through inland waters; (ii) bring uniformity in application of law relating to inland waterways and navigation within the country; (iii) provide for prevention of pollution that may be caused by the use or navigation of inland vessels; etc.

Salient Features

The Bill:

(i) Empowers Central Government to provide uniformly the applicable standards for seamless and safe navigation of inland vessels by rules;

(ii) Empowers State Governments to declare by notification any inland water area into Zones depending on the maximum significant wave height criteria;

(iii) Empowers Central Government to provide the standards to classify and categorise mechanically propelled inland vessels, standards and processes involved in registration of vessels, standards for identification and categorisation of special category vessels, issuance of certificate of registry, training and minimum manning scales by rules;

(iv) Enables State Governments to implement the provisions in compliance with the standards and measures as may be provided by rules by the Central Government;

(v) Provides for a central data base, e-portal for registration and crew data base;

(vi) Provides for new requirements of life safety, fire safety, navigational aids and communication appliances by rules to be made by the Central Government;

(vii) Empowers Central Government to provide the permissible limits of discharge of certain pollutants, such as sewage and to provide for issue of prevention of pollution certificate as a compliance requirement by rules;

(viii) Provides for wreck and salvage and to empower the State Governments to appoint Receiver of Wreck;

(ix) Introduces provisions regarding principles of liability and limitation of liability, which improvises and expands the concept of insurance to ensure secure trade and trade practices;

(x) Introduces improvised provisions pertaining to casualties and investigation and also to provide for preliminary inquiry and formal investigation;

(xi) Provides for revised penalties and punishments so as to ensure deterrence of wrong doers and compliance with the provisions;

(xii) Introduces a new Chapter to make provisions for regulation and governance of the unregulated sector of non-mechanically propelled inland vessels, and to empower the State Governments to provide for the minimum regulations on such non-mechanically propelled inland vessels;

(xiii) Provides for composition of offences punishable with fine only.

The Bill was discussed and passed in less than 10 minutes in the Lok Sabha, due to disturbance of house proceedings amid Opposition protests. In Rajya Sabha, a short discussion took place (hardly audible due to Opposition protests).

BJD MP (Odisha) Prasanna Acharya stated that the current legislation on the subject matter is a century old and hence, the Bill brings much needed reforms and regulations in the sector. AIADMK MP Thambidurai, while supporting the intention of the Bill, expressed reservation over dilution of powers vested in State Governments for regulation of an inland vessel.

The Bill will now be presented before the President for his assent.

Update: Notified on 12th August 2021

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