18Requirement of certificate of registration.

(1) A mechanically propelled inland vessel required to be registered under this Chapter, shall not proceed on any voyage or be used for any service, unless it has a valid certificate of registration granted under this Act in respect thereof.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the authority appointed or authorised under this Chapter may—
(a) permit any mechanically propelled inland vessel, built at any place other than a port or place of registry, to make her first voyage through the inland waters to any such port or place for the purpose of registration; or
(b) permit the vessel registered under any law for the time being in force in India for which provisions have been made under this Act to conduct voyage within the inland waters; or
(c) permit any mechanically propelled vessel registered under such laws of countries other than India, which shall only be permitted to ply within the inland waters subject to compliance of such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.