Major Ports directed to use only India built tug boats
07 Sep 2020
The ministry of shipping has directed all major ports to procure or charter tug boats which are only made in India. All procurements being done by major ports would now need to be carried out as per the revised ‘Make in India’ order.
This is part of the ministry of shipping’s decision to promote Indian shipbuilding industry and also have discussion with some leading shipbuilding companies for `Make in India’ shipbuilding.
This decision of the government will be a big move towards realizing `Make in India’ in shipbuilding.
Union minister of state for shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said the government is taking 360 degree actions to revive old shipyards and promote shipbuilding in India. It is a step towards bolstering the revival of Indian Shipbuilding and a big move towards `AatmaNirbhar Shipping’ in AatmaNirbhar Bharat. He said the government will try to create an ecosystem for shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling and flagging in India.
Procurement/chartering of port crafts would need to be aligned with the revised Make in India order to promote shipbuilding in India. It is proposed to set up a Standing Specifications Committee under managing director, Indian Ports Association and comprising representatives from Cochin Ship Yard Limited (CSL), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Director General of Shipping.
Standing Specifications Committee would shortlist around five variants/types of tugs and prepare a ‘Approved Standardized Tug Design and Specifications.’ (ASTDS). This ASTDS would outline specifications, general arrangements, basic calculations, basic structural drawings, key system drawings and other construction standards, etc. These standards would be vetted by the Standing Specifications Committee and, thereafter, certified ‘in-principle’ by IRS and published by the Indian Ports Association on its website.
The ministry will also provide some window to Major Ports so that construction time would be availed.
Recently, state-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited has been successful in securing orders for two automated vessels from Norwegian government. These will be the first of its kind unmanned vessels. Various decisions taken by the ministry of shipping will turn around shipbuilding sector in the near future.