Draft safety rules for boats

The State government has published the draft of Kerala Inland Vessels Rules, which, among other specifications to ensure safety of boats and other vessels, stipulates the carrying of life-saving appliances on board all vessels operating in the inland water bodies in the State. For the purpose of the rule relating to life-saving appliances to be carried on board each vessel, the draft notification classifies ‘vessels’ into four categories.Class I constitutes passenger vessels, ferry launches and boats. Such vessels should carry on board life rafts or buoyant apparatus that could support at least 50 per cent of the passengers and crew. They should also carry with them life jackets that could cater to the need of the remaining 50 per cent of the passengers and crew.