The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued the draft Inland Vessels (Special Category Vessels: Autonomous and Semi-Autonomous) Rules, 2025, inviting public comments and suggestions within 30 days of publication in the Official Gazette – October 14th 2025.
The new draft aims to regulate, certify, and standardize the design, construction, operation, and safety of autonomous and semi-autonomous inland vessels, paving the way for AI-driven navigation systems and automated water transport in India’s inland waterways.
⚓ Scope and Application
The draft defines special category vessels as:
- Fully autonomous inland vessels – remotely monitored or controlled.
- Semi-autonomous inland vessels – with centralized control and onboard crew.
These rules will apply to all such vessels operating under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
🛠️ Design and Construction Standards
- Vessels must comply with the Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024, as amended.
- Components not covered under those rules must follow standards of:
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
- Recognized Classification Societies, or
- International Standards Organisation (ISO)
- Owners must submit a declaration of compliance (Form 1) to the designated authority.
👩✈️ Manning Requirements
- Manning will be risk-based, depending on automation level, operation type, duration, and safety systems.
- Semi-autonomous vessels must have at least one Master, one Engine Driver, and one GP Rating onboard.
- Autonomous vessels may operate without onboard crew, but must have shore-based remote monitoring systems.
- Crew training and certification must meet Inland Vessels (Manning) Rules, 2022, along with any additional competency standards prescribed.
🔍 Survey and Certification
- All special category vessels must be surveyed by a classification society.
- Existing vessels must comply with key safety and stability norms within two years.
- No vessel will receive a Certificate of Survey unless it fully meets design, automation, and safety standards.
📜 Certification and Statutory Requirements
- Vessels must obtain a Certificate of Fitness (Form 3) after fulfilling all safety, structural, and operational requirements.
- State Governments will appoint authorized officers to inspect, certify, suspend, or cancel certificates.
- A single certificate may be issued for vessels covered under multiple special category rules to ensure uniformity.
🌐 Inter-State Operations
- Certificates issued by the home State will be valid across all States, enabling seamless movement of vessels.
- Data verification and inter-State validation will be done through ‘Jalyan’ and ‘NavIC’ — the central digital databases under the Inland Vessels framework.
⚠️ Inspection and Enforcement
- Authorized surveyors may inspect any special category vessel at reasonable times.
- Non-compliance will attract rectification notices, and continued violations may lead to suspension or cancellation of the Certificate of Fitness.
- Owners can appeal against such decisions to a State-appointed appellate authority within 30 days.
🚢 Owner’s Obligations and Penalties
Vessel owners must:
- Operate in accordance with safety conditions stated in their fitness certificate.
- Maintain valid documents including:
- Certificate of Registration
- Certificate of Survey
- Insurance Policy
- Certificate of Fitness
- Certificate of Pollution Prevention
Failure to comply may result in penalties under Section 87 of the Inland Vessels Act, 2021.
🧭 Objective of the Draft Rules
The draft framework seeks to:
- Encourage innovation in inland navigation technology.
- Ensure safety and accountability in the operation of autonomous vessels.
- Facilitate inter-state harmonization and uniform certification.
- Create standards for AI-powered and remotely operated watercraft, aligning with India’s vision for smart maritime infrastructure.
📩 Public Consultation
The Ministry has invited objections or suggestions from stakeholders, industry experts, and the public within 30 days.
Submissions can be sent to:
Director (IWT-II), Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Room No. 545, Transport Bhawan, 1-Parliament Street, New Delhi – 110001,
or via email at:
📧 dircoord2-psw@gov.in, naveen.deswal@nic.in
🗣️ Conclusion
With these draft rules, India moves closer to establishing a regulatory framework for autonomous inland navigation, combining technological advancement with maritime safety. Once finalized, the rules will mark a significant leap toward next-generation inland waterway management and smart vessel operations.