Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 March 2025
In a significant step toward streamlining inland vessel operations, a virtual workshop was conducted on Wednesday to familiarize vessel owners and crew members with the mandatory registration process on the Central Database Application Portal developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
With the introduction of the Inland Vessel Rules, 2022, all inland vessel owners and crew members are required to register on the centralized platform. The Port Management Board (PMB), as per the directive of the Chief Secretary of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, was tasked with coordinating this initiative and organizing a sensitization program for stakeholders.
The workshop, held in the presence of Secretary (Shipping). Cdr. Sanjay Verma, Senior Consultant (M), IWAI, and his team, featured a detailed presentation on the functionalities of the online registration system. Participants were guided through the platform’s features, ensuring a smooth transition to the new digital system.
Officials from PMB, the Directorate of Shipping Services, and representatives of inland vessel owners from Sri Vijaya Puram, Diglipur, Mayabunder, Swaraj Dweep, and Shaheed Dweep attended the program. Stakeholders were also given access to a demo staging portal to practice the registration process firsthand.
The PMB assured vessel operators of its full support in implementing the new system, emphasizing that this initiative would facilitate the sustainable development of inland waterways and boost the tourism sector in the region. (Story Based on PR)