According to the World Bank report 2019 on Ease of Doing Business, India has jumped 23 ranks from 100 in 2017-18 to 77 in 2018-19. This indicates that the country is continuing its shift towards global standards. The report mentions that this improvement is mainly because of India’s reform agenda.
The Indian Wind Turbine Certification Scheme is combining relevant National and International Standards, Technical Regulations and requirements issued by Central Electricity Authority, guidelines issued by MNRE and other international guidelines. It also attempts to incorporate various best practices from other countries.
Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, announced he is set to receive India’s first container cargo being transported on inland waterways. The newly constructed Multi-Modal Terminal is the first of the three Multi-Modal Terminals and two Inter-Modal Terminals being constructed on River Ganga at Varanasi, as part of the government’s aspiration to stretch the transportation of Ganga between Varanasi to Haldi.
The Afghan Ministry of Transportation is considering to form the shipping sector, in order for ships to be able to conduct commercial activities flying the Afghanistan’s flag in free waters. The shipping line which will be shared with neighboring countries such as Iran and India, along with other countries of the region as well.
On the 13th East Asia Summit at Singapore in mid-November, the Quad countries, namely India, US, Japan and Australia, are expected to revitalise the conversation concerning the maritime security and disaster relief initiatives as well as economic development projects in the critical Indo-Pacific region.
India and Myanmar signed an MoU to appoint a private operator of the Sittwe Port. This aims to enhance connectivity and create job opportunities, while the two counties discussed issues of common interest, such as the development of the Rakhine state.
In its quarterly update, NGO Shipbreaking Platform reported that a total of 113 ships were broken in the Q3 of 2018, and 79 of these ships were sold to the beaches of South Asia. Meanwhile, between July and September, three workers have lost their lives in shipbreaking in Alang, India.
In its weekly report for 9-15 October, ReCAAP ISC informed of three incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia. Two of the reported incidents occurred within the wider area of Kandla Port, India, and one in Tarahan Jetty, Indonesia.
According to the Indian Intelligence Bureau, over the course of three months it stated that Lashkar-e-Tayiba is training terrorists to commence sea borne attacks in India. According to local media, Lashkar-e-Tayiba is allegedly active in the past two months, while information suggests that many terrorists are being trained in deep sea diving.
CMA CGM’s containership, CMA CGM Mumbai, crashed into a dock at JNPT in India. The incident took place on Saturday, October 13, while the ship was trying to berth at the port. According to international sources, a problem in the steering system led to the collision. The ship and the dock sustained minor damages.
