In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "authorised insurer " means any insurance company carrying on any class of marine insurance business, which is registered or recognised by the Central Government under any law for the time being in force in India;

(b) "bareboat charter " means an arrangement for the hiring of a vessel without crew, where the charterer is responsible for appointing the crew and making other arrangements;

(c) "bareboat charter-cum-demise " is a bareboat charter where the ownership of the vessel is intended to be transferred after a specified period to the company to which it has been chartered;

(d) "cargo terminal " means a place designated for the loading, or unloading, or any other allied processes of such loading or unloading of cargo in a port, jetty, wharf or such other places developed within inland waters for the purpose of loading and unloading of cargo;

(e) "casualty " includes any vessel which-

(f) "central database " means the centralised record maintained for recording the data and details of-

(g) "certificate of insurance " means a certificate issued by an authorised insurer in pursuance of the insurance premium paid by the insured, and includes a cover note complying with such requirements as may be prescribed by the Central Government;

(h) "competent authority " means the authority referred to in section 6;

(i) "court " means any civil court, revenue court or High Court having jurisdiction over the matters of liabilities and offences as provided in this Act including investigation and inquiry into claims arising out of causalities and accidents within its jurisdiction;

(j) "cover note " includes any note of undertaking issued by the insurer who promises to cover the liability and to indemnify the losses incurred by the insured as provided in the contract of insurance;

(k) "crew " means personnel employed for operation or serving on an inland vessel other than master or passengers as a part of performing the functions of manning;

(l) "dangerous cargo " means any cargo, which, due to its nature, form or content as a whole or in part, are declared as dangerous or potentially dangerous while carried in on any class or category of inland vessels in inland waters under this Act or any other law for the time being in force;

(m) "dangerous goods " means any goods, which, due to its nature, form or content as a whole or in part, are declared as dangerous or potentially dangerous while carried in on any class or category of inland vessels in inland waters under this Act or any other law for the time being in force;

(n) "designated authority " means the authorities appointed by State Government under sub-section (3) of section 5;

(o) "fishing vessel " means a vessel fitted with mechanical mode of propulsion, which is exclusively engaged in fishing for profit, within inland waters;

(p) "hazardous chemical " means any chemical, which has been designated as pollutants under this Act or any other law for the time being in force in India;

(q) "inland vessel " includes any mechanically propelled inland vessel or non-mechanically propelled inland vessel which is registered and plying in inland waters, but does not include-

(r) "inland waters ", for the purpose of inland navigation, includes any-

(s) "lien " is a legal right or interest that a creditor has in the inland vessel or any property thereof, retained until a debt or duty is secured, or the performance of some other obligation is satisfied;

(t) "limitation of liability " means the rate or extent of liability within which the owner or such other persons entitled under this Act, may limit the liability or be permitted to limit or cap the liability arising out of claims, in accordance with the procedure laid down and the rates, as may be specified in this Act or as may be prescribed by the Central Government;

(u) "load line " means a water line which is marked on an inland vessel to denote the safe carrying or loading capacity of such vessel;

(v) "master " includes any person including serang or such other person, who is in command or in charge of any inland vessel, and does not include a pilot or harbour master;

(w) "material fact " means a fact of such a nature, which determines the judgment of a prudent insurer, in assessing the extent of his liability, premium to be charged, conditions to be specified and such other terms to be entered and incorporated in a policy of insurance governing the relationship with the insured;

(x) "material particular " means any particular of such a nature, which determines the judgment of a prudent insurer, in assessing the extent of his liability, premium to be charged, conditions to be specified and such other terms to be entered and incorporated in a policy of insurance governing the relationship with the insured;

(y) "mechanically propelled inland vessel " means-

(z) "minimum manning requirement " means the standard and number of persons required for safe manning and navigation of vessels, as may be prescribed by the Central Government;