OFFENCES AND 1[PUNISHMENTS]
2[87. Offences and Punishments.---(1) Whoever, contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, shall be liable to punishment or penalty as specified in the Table under sub-sections (2) and (3).
(2) The offences mentioned in column (3) of the Table below, shall be punishable to the extent mentioned in column (4) of the said Table :—
| Sl. No | Section | Offence | Punishment |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 1. | 14(1) | Owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled inland vessel, using such vessel, without a valid certificate of survey has acted in contravention of sub-section (1) of section 14. | Fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees for the first offence and twenty-five thousand rupees for subsequent offences. |
| 2. | 18(1) | Owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled inland vessel proceeding on any voyage or use a mechanically propelled inland vessel required to be registered, for any service, without a valid certificate of registration and in contravention of sub-section (1) of section 18. | Fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees for the first offence and fifty thousand rupees for subsequent offences. |
| 3. | 30 | Owner of any mechanically propelled inland vessel, has acted in contravention of section 30. | Fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees per day or imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with both. |
| 4. | 34(2) | Owner or operator on whose vessel, persons under the age of eighteen years are employed, has acted in contravention of sub-section (2) of section 34. | Fine which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day of non-compliance or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or with both. |
| 5. | 44 | Owner or operator or any person responsible for the operation of special category vessel, which does not comply with the provisions of Chapter VII. | Fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees for every day of non-compliance or imprisonment extending up to six months, or with both. |
| 6. | 49 and 50(1) | Owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled vessel plying in inland waters abstaining from proceeding to render assistance after answering to the distress signal. | Fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees. |
| 7. | 51(2) | The owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled inland vessel proceeding to conduct any voyage without complying with the requirements of navigation aids, lifesaving appliances, fire detection and extinguishing appliances and communication appliances as specified under sub-section (2) of section 51. | Fine which may extend up to fifty thousand rupees. |
| 8. | 52(2) and (3) | The owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled vessel causing pollution by discharging or dumping of pollutants in inland waters. | Fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. |
| 9. | 53(4) | The owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled vessel, who are required under this Act to possess a valid prevention of pollution certificate, plying or using the vessel without the said valid certificate. | Fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees. |
| 10. | 57 | Any owner, operator or any person who intentionally cause wreck within inland waters. | Fine amounting to fifty thousand rupees and imprisonment which may extend to three years. |
| 11. | 82 | Master or operator of any foreign vessels acting in contravention of sub-section (1) of section 82. | Fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with both. |
| 12. | 83 | Owner, operator or master of mechanically propelled inland vessel, who does not comply with the requirement of pilotage in contravention of section 83. | Fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with both. |
(3) The contravention specified in column (3) of the Table below shall be liable to penalties specified in column (4) of the said Table:—
Table
| Sl. No. | Section to which contravention is referred | Contravention | Penalty |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 1. | 8 | Any owner, operator or construction yard, found guilty of construction, alteration or modification of mechanically propelled inland vessel in contravention of section 8. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for every non-compliance found. |
| 2. | 19(1) | Owner or master who does not carry a valid certificate of registration or not making the same available for inspection, has acted in contravention of sub-section (1) of section 19. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for every noncompliance found. |
| 3. | 24(3) | Owner not displaying the official number on the conspicuous part of a vessel has acted in contravention of sub-section (3) of section 24. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees. |
| 4. | 27 | Owner, operator or any person responsible for the operation of the vessel, has acted in contravention of section 27. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for the first contravention and twenty-five thousand rupees for subsequent contraventions. |
| 5. | 28(2) | Owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled inland vessel not registering the details of alterations that are mandated to be registered as specified in subsection (2) of section 28. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for the first contravention and twenty-five thousand rupees for subsequent contraventions. |
| 6. | 29 | Owner or operator of any mechanically propelled inland vessel, who does not comply with the requirements or has acted in contravention of section 29. | Penalty which may extend to five hundred rupees for every day of noncompliance. |
| 7. | 32(1) | Owner of any mechanically propelled inland vessel, has acted in contravention of sub-section (1) of section 32. | Penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees for every day of noncompliance. |
| 8. | 35 | Owner or operator of any mechanically propelled inland vessel without complying with the specified minimum manning scale has acted in contravention to section 35. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for the first contravention and twenty-five thousand rupees for subsequent contraventions. |
| 9. | 40(1) and (4) | The holders of certificate of competency, has acted in contravention to the provisions of this Act or not surrendered the suspended, cancelled or varied certificate issued under non-submission of suspended or cancelled certificates. | Penalty which may extend to five thousand rupees per day. |
| 10. | 47 | Owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled vessel registered, recognised or identified under this Act, for not equipping the vessels or exhibiting the lights and signals specified under Chapter VIII. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for the first contravention and twenty-five thousand rupees for subsequent contraventions. |
| 11. | 48 | Owner, operator or master not ensuring safe navigation or causing damage due to non observance of regulations. | Penalty which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees. |
| 12. | 54(2) and (5) | The owner or operator of any reception facility who does not comply with the standards and obligations stipulated. | Penalty which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. |
| 13. | 55(4) | The owner or operator of the terminal who operates without complying with the notice issued under sub-section (4) of section 55. | Penalty which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. |
| 14. | 58(2) | Any person who is guilty of offence committed by contravention of sub-section (2) of section 58. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees. |
| 15. | 66 | Any owner or master plying any mechanically propelled inland vessel without a valid insurance as provided under section 66. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees and detention of the vessel till certificate of insurance is procured. |
| 16. | 74(2) | The owner, operator or master of any mechanically propelled inland vessel not complying with sub-section (2) of section 74. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees. |
| 17. | 79(2) | Any person who holds a certificate issued under Chapter VI and fails to surrender suspended or cancelled certificates. | Penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees for every day of non-submission. |
| 18. | 80 | Any person, in the capacity of a service provider or a service user, who acts in contravention of section 80. | Penalty which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. |
| 19 | 97 | Any person employed on inland vessel for neglect or refusal to join or desertion of vessel in violation of his obligation as provided under section 97. | Forfeiture of a sum not exceeding two days’ pay, and in addition for every twenty-four hours of absence, either a sum not exceeding six days’ pay or any expenses properly incurred in hiring a substitute, from his wages. |
| 20. | 102 | Any person found guilty of causing obstruction or has acted in contravention of section 102. | Penalty which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. |
(4) Where the owner or master of any mechanically propelled inland vessel is convicted of an offence under this Act or any rule made thereunder, committed on board, or in relation to that mechanically propelled vessel, and is sentenced to pay a fine, the Magistrate who passes the sentence may
direct the amount of the fine to be levied by distress and sale of the mechanically propelled vessel, or its appurtenance so much thereof as is necessary.
(5) Where an inland vessel has been used in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, the details of the offence or contravention, the offender or person liable and the vessel shall be recorded in such form and manner, as may be specified by the Central Government by notification.
(6) The State Government shall appoint courts not inferior to that of a Magistrate of the first class, for the purpose of conducting trial of any person who is charged of any offence as provided under this Act or the rules made thereunder.]
Source footnotes
1. Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch., for “PENALTIES” (w.e.f. 30.06.2026).
2. Subs. by s. 2 and Sch., ibid., for s. 87 (w.e.f. 30.06.2026)
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More sections of this act
Section 1 · Short title, extent and commencement.Section 2 · Application and scope.Section 3 · Definitions.Section 4 · Declaration of inland water area into Zones.Section 5 · Administrative role of Central Government and State Governments.Section 6 · Competent authority.Section 7 · Power to classify and categorise for purpose of survey.Section 8 · Construction, alteration or modification of mechanically propelled inland vessel.India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 24 Oct 2026. Source metadata reports last modification: 2025-11-07. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.