Boat owners asked to get licences by September

Rajamahendravarm: Director of Ports K Praveen has advised the motor boat and launch owners to register their names under Inland Vessels Act-2018 before Septemberthis year to get licences mandatorily.

Participating in boat safety meeting held at sub-collector's office here on Wednesday, he said licences will be issued to boats and launches after fulfilling necessaryparameters and completion of docking. “Now onwards the ports department will issue licences as per the directions of the government.Temporary licences issuedto boats by the irrigation department will continue till that period,” he said.

Under the Inland Vessels Act, the boat owners are eligible to get bank loans for boat repairs and to purchase new boats and launches, he said and added insurance to each passenger ismust and a sum of Rs 10 lakh will be given to kin of family members who dies in any mishap.

It is the responsibility ofboat owners to make insurance to all passengers who board boats and launches, he pointed out. Praveen said a meeting will be conducted in Kakinada with bankers and insurance companies to discuss about loans and insurance coverage.

As the ports department did not have enforcement wing,he said revenue, police and tourism departments were asked to check the boats moving in the river.Stating permission was given to 60 boats, he said permits were rejected to 17 boats for not following norms.

Port office at Kakinada is responsible to boats moving in river Godavari and another office located at Machilipatnam takes care of boats moving in river Krishna, he added. Sub-collector CM Saikanth Varma and port officer Dharma Sasta and officials of irrigation, revenue, police and tourism were present.