Section 51
Life saving, fire safety and communication appliances.
About this Act
An Act to promote economical and safe transportation and trade through inland waters, to bring uniformity in application of law relating to inland waterways and navigation within the country, to provide for safety of navigation, protection of life and cargo, and prevention of pollution that may be caused by the use or navigation of inland vessels, to ensure transparency and accountability of administration of inland water transportation, to strengthen procedures governing the inland vessels, their construction, survey, registration, manning, navigation and such other matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(1) The Central Government shall, by
rules made in this behalf, specify the class or category of mechanically propelled inland vessels to be
equipped with navigation aids, life saving appliances, fire detection and extinguishing appliances and
communication appliances.
(2) The owner, operator or master of all mechanically propelled inland vessels shall comply with the requirements of navigation aids, life saving appliances, fire detection and extinguishing appliances and communication appliances as specified in sub-section (1).
(3) The State Government may appoint or authorise such officers as surveyors to inspect and ensure that the mechanically propelled inland vessels comply with the applicable requirements specified in subsection (1).
(4) If the surveyor, on inspection, finds that the mechanically propelled inland vessel is not so provided with life saving and fire appliances in conformity with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, he shall issue a notice to the master or owner or operator in writing pointing out the deficiency, and unless the master or owner or operator complies with the said notice and report such compliance to the surveyor, the said vessel shall not proceed to conduct any voyage.
(2) The owner, operator or master of all mechanically propelled inland vessels shall comply with the requirements of navigation aids, life saving appliances, fire detection and extinguishing appliances and communication appliances as specified in sub-section (1).
(3) The State Government may appoint or authorise such officers as surveyors to inspect and ensure that the mechanically propelled inland vessels comply with the applicable requirements specified in subsection (1).
(4) If the surveyor, on inspection, finds that the mechanically propelled inland vessel is not so provided with life saving and fire appliances in conformity with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, he shall issue a notice to the master or owner or operator in writing pointing out the deficiency, and unless the master or owner or operator complies with the said notice and report such compliance to the surveyor, the said vessel shall not proceed to conduct any voyage.