Notification No.: G.S.R. 715(E) dated August 5, 2026
Applicable Act: Merchant Shipping Act, 2025
Effective Date: August 7, 2026
The Rules establish updated requirements for safe navigation of ships and supersede the Merchant Shipping (Navigational Safety) Rules, 1997.
Cover navigation, communication, manning, bridge equipment, voyage planning, watchkeeping and operational safety.
Prescribe carriage and performance requirements for radar, gyro/magnetic compasses, AIS, ECDIS, LRIT, VDR and other navigational equipment based on ship type, construction date and gross tonnage.
Include requirements for navigational warnings, weather information, routeing systems, ship reporting, VTS, aids to navigation and search & rescue.
Strengthen bridge procedures, including steering gear testing, bridge visibility, pilot transfer, nautical charts/publications and voyage planning.
Provide requirements for safe manning, inspections, certification, compliance and penalties.
Applicability: Generally applies to Indian-registered ships on sea voyages and foreign ships in Indian coastal waters, subject to specified exemptions.
Action Required: Shipowners, managers and Masters should review navigational equipment, safe manning, bridge procedures, voyage planning and certification for compliance with the new Rules.
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