Tag: India

India has finally got their own internationally recognized and fully established salvage company India has finally got their own internationally recognized and fully established salvage company which can now operate beyond the country's borders and bid for major contracts all over the world that are open only to members of International Salvage Union. Great Offshore Salvage Services Limited (GOSSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Offshore Limited has qualified as one of the primary Indian professional salvors to become full member of the International Salvage Union (ISU), a feat achieved within first year of its inception.While the need for having a national salvage company has long been felt by the country and expressed by various administrators and policy makers, the country so far had been relying on importing salvage equipment and resources from overseas, at high cost and time delay. Now the causality response readiness can be significantly enhanced by having resources within the country and improved inter-agency coordination.Soli Engineer, Director of GOSSL averred that for a salvage company to qualify as a full member of ISU, there are very stringent qualification criteria including experience and expertise to demonstrate competence as "Professional Salvors". "In addition to marine salvage and wreck ...

allegations that bureaucratic vested interests are working against the growth of major ports The All India Port and Dock Workers Federation has demanded a high level enquiry into the allegation that bureaucratic vested interests are working against the growth of major ports.Expressing serious concern over the issue, the Federation has in a letter urged Union Shipping Minister Mr G K Vasan to take urgent remedial measures to save major ports from collapse and save the labour force working in these ports.Mr P.M.Mohammed Haneef, General Secretary of the Federation pointed out that the cargo throughput of major ports which was 344.80 million tonnes in 2003-04 rose only marginal to touch 560.2 tonnes in 2011-12 registering a growth of only 62.47 per cent over a period of eight years.However, the throughput of the non major ports in the private sector grown from 118.86 million tones in 2003-04 to 370 million tonnes in 2011-12 registering a growth of about 211.29 per cent.The major ports and non major ports in the private sector are competing in a scenario where there is no level playing field, the letter pointes out.He said that major ports do not have freedom to fix the tariff of port services ...

Steps to provide security at major ports of India Government is taking a number of measures to bolster security at all the major ports by installing different types of surveillance equipment and Radio Active Detectors, said G.K Vasan, Shipping Minister in a written reply to the Lok Sabha."Department of Revenue has issued sanction for installation of 3 mobile Gamma Ray Scanners at ports of Chennai, Tuticorin & Kandla and 4 fixed X-ray scanners for installation at the ports of Mumbai, Chennai, Tutocorin and Kandla," added Vasan.The Minister further stated that an Automatic Identification System (AIS) station has been installed by the Director General of Lighthouses & Lightships (DGLL) at Korlai fort, south of Mumbai on an experimental basis.Other steps to provide security at major ports include issuance of biometric I-cards, acquisition of Speed Boats & Patrolling Boats, installation of CCTVs and installation of Vessel Traffic Management Systems.Source: Economic Times

Traffic to be handled by Major Ports is estimated at 943.06 million tonnes As per the Working Group Report for 12th Plan for the Port Sector, Traffic to be handled by Major Ports is estimated at 943.06 million tonnes and at 815.20 million tonnes by Non-Major Ports as against present level of 560.15 million tonnes handled by Major Ports and about 370.00 million tonnes handled by Non-Major Ports.To meet the above projected demand, both major ports and non-major ports have conceptualized various capacity augmentation schemes with an estimated investment of Rs.180626.63 crores during 12th Plan. The estimated capacity by end of 12th Plan will be 2686.66 million tonnes.The Government has requested all Coastal States in the Country to explore the possibility of setting up of a new Major Port or new Ship Building yard or as a composite Port-cum-Ship building yard in their States and submit a comprehensive proposal.Proposals have been received from State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Gujarat.Technical Committees have been constituted to identify a suitable location for development of Major Ports proposed by State Governments of Andhra Prasdesh, Kerala and Karnataka. The Technical Committee has submitted its report in respect of Andhra Prasdesh.The above information ...

Three Joint Venture Companies for construction and operation of LNG The Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) along with 3 Japanese Shipping lines Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited (MOL), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Limited (K-Line) formed a consortium for establishing three Joint Venture Companies at Malta for the construction, ownership and operation of Liquefied Natural Gas tankers each.For operating container services in the East Coast sector, SCI has necessary tie-up with various reputed foreign shipping lines including K-line of Japan.The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan during his visit to New Delhi, met the Minister of Shipping on 12 January, 2012 and held preliminary discussions on infrastructure development, i.e., construction of new berths, terminals and creation of other facilities in Chennai and Ennore Ports.The above information was given by the Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha todaySource: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

During the last three years, 93 merchant ships met with accidents and 23 have died During the last three years, 93 merchant ships registered in India met with accidents.During the last three years, 23 lives have been reported to be lost in these accidents. Damages to Marine species/habitat or public property due to accidents on Indian Merchant Ships have not been reported.As per the accidents reported to the Directorate General of Shipping, 19 Ships of the Shipping Corporation of India were involved in these accidents.All accidents falling within the meaning of casualty are investigated under the provisions of section 359 of MS Act, 1958, as amended. Subsequently, DG Shipping issues Marine Casualty Circulars, highlighting the causes of accidents and lessons learnt. Also stringent Flag State Inspections (FSI) are being undertaken to ensure compliance of all International & National Safety and environment protection requirements. An Emergency Towage Vessel manned by specialized crew has been positioned from last year on the West Coast of India for tackling Marine Emergencies during the monsoons.All efforts are made to facilitate recovery of charges, consequent to incidents of casualty from the ship owners or their insurance companies.The above information was given by the Union Minister of ...

A Protocol on Shipping has been already signed between two countries The Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question that the a hotline communication link between Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) was set up in November, 2006.Further, in the last Home Secretary level talks in March 2011 both sides agreed to task the ICG and PMSA to work on setting up a mechanism for release of inadvertent crossers (fishermen) and their boats on the same lines as the inadvertent crossers on land.The Minister further stated that a Protocol on Shipping services was also signed in December, 2006 between India and Pakistan, in which it has been, inter-alia, agreed that if a vessel of either country be involved in maritime peril or encounters any other danger off the coast or in the ports of the other country, the vessel, the cargo, the crew and the passengers shall receive the same assistance which is accorded to a national vessel, its cargo, crew and passengers. This will be subject to the respective laws and international obligations of the two countries.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

The ship, now known as the Oriental Nicety, would not be allowed in until it had been decontaminated India's Supreme Court has barred the giant tanker Exxon Valdez, which was involved in one of the world's worst oil spills, from entering the country.The ship, now known as the "Oriental Nicety", entered Indian waters last week, headed for the shipbreaking yards in the western state of Gujarat.The court said it would not be allowed in until it had been decontaminated.The Exxon Valdez caused devastation when it ran aground in Alaska in 1989, spilling 11m gallons of crude oil.US officials say about 1,300 miles (2,080km) of ecologically sensitive coastline in Prince William Sound were contaminated in the disaster. Tens of thousands of seabirds, otters and seals were killed.The Exxon Valdez was bought recently by the Hong Kong-based subsidiary of an Indian shipbreaking firm and was to be dismantled at Alang, the hub of India's shipbreaking industry."We will abide with the Supreme Court order. We are studying the order, and will appeal," said Harshadbhai Padia, a partner in the company, Associated Press reports.Source: BBC News

New measures to make the shipping industry more attractive and competitive The Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan has informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question that in order to make the shipping industry more attractive and competitive, the Government has initiated several facilitative measures for the Indian shipping sector.These measures include:(i) Acquisition of all type of ships, through import has been brought under the Open General Licence (OGL).(ii) To attract investment for the growth of this sector, the Government has allowed 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the shipping sector.(iii) With a view to provide a level playing field to the Indian shipping sector, the Government has introduced tonnage tax system during 2004-2005 which has effectively brought down the tax liability of the shipping companies to a level comparable to the international level from the previous levels of the corporate tax regime.(iv) Indian Shipping industry has been provided cargo support in the form of right of first refusal and policy of Free On Board (FOB) import is being followed for Government owned/controlled cargoes.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

Director-General Indian Shipping talks to Videotel Tv