PANJIM: Captain of Ports Octavio A Rodrigues on Wednesday said that the department was granting fitness to operate certificates to vessels as per the Inland Vessels Act, 2021 and rules framed thereunder.
“I have to go as per statute and as per the Central Act including Indian Ports Act,” Rodrigues told O Heraldo, while reacting to the circular issued by the Director of Tourism, asking all concerned departments not to issue NOCs for tourism trade-related activities without they registering with the Department of Tourism.
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The Captain of Ports is the registering and surveying authority and conservator of minor ports including the rivers and any activity within the minor ports and rivers is totally in its jurisdiction.
According to Rodrigues, any citizen of India desiring to construct a boat/vessel has to strictly follow the Indian Vessel Act and rules. A vessel may be used for passengers services or cargo carriage and the Captain of Ports Department will ensure its stability and accordingly if the vessel is fit for plying.
If the vessel owner decides to use it for tourism trade related activity then he has to apply to the Department of Tourism, for trade licence.
The Captain of Ports cannot deny permission to construct a boat/vessel because of the circular issued by the Department of Tourism. “I cannot direct any individual applying under Indian Vessels Act, to approach Department of Tourism for NOC,” Rodrigues clarified.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that ‘MV Nerul Paradise’ vessel that stranded off Dona Paula on Sunday, had run out of fuel and was in distress. The open-deck vessel has set out with 24 tourists and two crew from Sinquerim, with inadequate diesel when it had 25 litres tank. The vessel operator must ensure that the tank is full and carry additional fuel.
The vessel was not overloaded as it had 40-seater capacity. The stranded boat was later rescued by the Indian Coast Guard ship.
