Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, tabled the “Ship (Operation and Management) Bill, 2081” in the National Assembly on Thursday, February 6.  

Citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, which guarantees equal rights of landlocked countries to access the seas, Dahal highlighted the need for the bill. 

Despite the existence of the Ship Registration Act, 1971, Nepal has been unable to register a national flag-carrier ship as the Act lacks provisions aligned with international conventions implemented since its enactment, he said.  

Dahal further noted that small cruise ships are currently operating on several rivers in Nepal. The bill aims to promote inland water transport by establishing regulations for the registration and management of such vessels.  

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