The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPS&W) on March 05, 2026, issued the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication & Signals) (First Amendment) Rules, 2026, further to amend the Inland Vessels (Safe Navigation, Communication and Signals) Rules, 2022.
This shall come into effect from March 05, 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The amendments introduce a clarification regarding the calculation of gross tonnage, providing that vessels of 24 meters and above will follow the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, while vessels below 24 meters will follow the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement of Ships) Rules, 1987.
• The rules also restructure provisions relating to navigation by inserting a chapter on the conduct of inland vessels in restricted visibility and revising the chapter on lights and shapes used for navigation signals.
• Further, Rule 23 has been amended to specify that two all-round red lights or two shapes used as signals shall be placed approximately one metre vertically above each other. The amendment also replaces Rule 33 to prescribe mandatory radio and navigation equipment for vessels operating in different zones, including a magnetic compass, VHF radio, AIS system, GPS navigator, binoculars, search lights, and rudder angle indicators, with specific requirements for vessels operating in Zones 1, 2 and 3.
[Notification no. - G.S.R. 155(E)
