Draft of “Aids to Navigation Bill 2020” issued by Shipping Ministry for public discussion

Draft of “Aids to Navigation Bill 2020” issued by Shipping Ministry for public discussion

The draft of ‘Aids to Navigation Bill, 2020’ has been released by the Ministry of Shipping for receiving recommendations from the masses and stakeholders and will further the participation of people and enhance transparency in the governance of the country.

Key Points:

• The proposed draft bill will replace the almost 90-year-old lighthouse Act, 1927 in the field of Aids to Marine Navigation and incorporate technological developments, India’s International obligations and best practices.
• The initiative taken by the Ministry of Shipping is a part of the proactive approach of the ministry which will remove old colonial laws and replace it with contemporary and modern necessities of the maritime industry.
• The objective of the bill is the regulation of state-of-the-art technologies in marine navigation that used to get twisted in the statutory provisions of Lighthouse Act, 1927.
• The draft bill provides additional functions and powers like training and certification, Wreck flagging, Vessel Traffic Service, and implementation of other obligations under International Conventions, where India is a signatory to the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).
• A new schedule consisting of offences, in addition to the commensurate penalties for damaging and obstructing the aids to navigation, and non-compliance of directives have also been included under the bill.