Goa's Captain of Ports, Octavio Rodrigues, on Friday notified three operational zones for inland waters, which decides how inland vessels can navigate them.
The notification, based on the maximum significant wave heights of waves recorded, was made under the Inland Vessels Act, 2021. Zone 1 has been defined as a zone in which the maximum significant wave height does not exceed 2m. For Zone 2, the limit is 1.2m, while for Zone 3, the limit is 0.6m.
While significant wave height is the average height out of the tallest 1/3rd of the waves in a given area at a given time, maximum significant wave height is the highest peak that those average big waves reach.
Yet, it must be noted that individual waves can be taller than these figures at times.
The Captain of Ports notification then explained that Category A vessels were the only ones permitted to sail into Zone 1.
Categories A and B have been allowed to sail into Zone 2, while Zone 3 is open to categories A, B, and C.
These categories of vessels have been specified under the Inland Vessels (Design and Construction) Rules, 2024.
In case vessels wish to operate out of their prescribed zones—within inland vessel limits—then their owners/managers are required to obtain permission from the Captain of Ports. Permission will be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Special category vessels, in addition to inland vessels on special operations will also need specific permission from the Captain of Ports.
This will depend on many factors, such as the area of operation, duration of voyages, type of cargo, number of passengers, the make of the vessel and equipment provided, manning, weather conditions, traffic density, terminal facilities, and draft availability, among others.
Also, during fair weather from Oct 1 to May 21, Zones 1 and 2 will extend eastwards from the five-nautical-mile corridor, which includes the Panaji and Mormugao port limits. During the foul-weather period from May 22 to Sep 30, Zone 3 is confined to the sheltered inland waters of Goa, the update added.
Though this new classification will not affect river cruise vessels, inland ferries, or river barges, it is important, because it comes after the Goa High Court suspended inland water sports after the government admitted that operational zones had not been mandated yet under its monsoon water sports policy.
