With plans to improve water transport connectivity by operating passenger ferry services across India, Ministry of Shipping has come up with draft guidelines on construction, certification and operation of bigger passenger vessels.
There are four types of vessel categories, namely, Type 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each of the categories has a different set of rules and operational guidelines. For example, Type 1 passenger vessels can be operated in river-sea for shore operations, but up to a maximum distance of 12 nautical miles and only during good weather. Whereas, Type 4 vessels can be engaged for operations during all weather conditions.
"There aren't any guidelines in India for passenger vessels for Type 3 and 4. Guidelines that exist for type 3 and 4 vessels are only for cargo, but not passenger ones," director general of shipping Malini Shankar told DNA Money.
The existing passenger vessels, popularly known as ferry boats, fall under type 1 and type 2, and have a restriction on the total number of passengers they can carry, which should not exceed 100 individuals.
Having passenger boats for all weather conditions will be of great help, especially in the regions of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
Once the finer details are notified, which is expected in a couple of months, bigger passenger vessels will be able to ferry people. This is also going to help in the implementation of larger Sagarmala plan of the union government and in the exploitation of inland water transport as an alternative mode of travel.
The draft notification states that the capacity of these passengers will not be more than 400 individuals. "For all river-sea passenger vessels above 200 gross tonnage, the passenger accommodation spaces shall be air-conditioned in accordance with MS (Seafarer Accommodation) Rules, 2016," reads the draft note.
In case if a voyage is over 24 hours, there will have to be proper sleeping berths and cabins inside the vessel. Additionally, there cannot be more than eight berths in each cabin and two tiers of berths on each side.
TYPE OF VESSELS
- Type III: Operating between ports in fair weather conditions where voyage is 48 hours
- Type IV: Engaged in operations between Indian ports in all-weather conditions
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