Section 24 in Model Rules, 2011 under Bengal Ferries Act, 1885
24. Mode of assessment of number of passengers.
(1)(a)To ascertain the number of passengers that a passenger boat may carry, multiply the superficial area in square metres of the floor space available for passengers by 1.8 and the result is the number of passengers that the boat may be licensed to carry; or(b)Where benches or thwarts are provided the number of passenger to be carried may be calculated at the rate of 2 Persons for every running meters of seating accommodation; or(c)When the boat is fully loaded with passenger and cargo up to load line, 2/3 rd of the maximum number of allowed passenger to be shifted to one side, while keeping 1/3rd on the other side, the submersed portion in the water should not be more than 50% of freeboard; in case it exceeds, then the maximum number of passenger shall be reduced accordingly;(d)Under no circumstances any boat can ply with submerged load line or can carry passenger exceeding maximum number specified by the surveyor;(e)Maximum number of passenger to be carried shall be marked at a prominent place on the Boat;(2)To ascertain the number of persons in addition to the crew that may be carried, two children below the age of 12 years shall be counted as one person and every 65 Kg weight of luggage shall be counted as equivalent to one person.
