New Delhi: The Indian government has delayed implementation of new port rules for vessels following stiff opposition from ship owners, according the the Shipping Digest. The Entry of Vessels into Port Rules 2005, originally scheduled to go into effect this month, stipulate that a vessel entering into any Indian major port would have to carry insurance to cover the costs of wreck removal or cleanup from oil spills. Only insurance obtained through a protection and indemnity club that is a member of an international group of P&I clubs, or a club approved by the government of India, would be accepted. The rules included the major ports of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mumbai, and directed that any vessels failing to carry the insurance would not be permitted to enter the port. Government sources said the idea behind regulating entry of vessels was to check pollution damage caused by spillage of oil or any hazardous substances. [04/09/06]
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