The Ministry of Shipping has directed all major ports, which includes the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) 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, states a report in the PIB.
The Ministry of Shipping is aiming to promote Indian shipbuilding industry and also have discussion with some leading countries for ‘Make in India’ shipbuilding.
Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya said the government is taking 360-degree action to revive old shipyards and promote shipbuilding in India.
The minister said it is a step towards bolstering the revival of Indian Ship building and a big move towards Aatma Nirbhar Shipping in Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
The government will try to create an ecosystem for shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling and flagging in India.
Procurement/chartering of port craft would need to be aligned with the revised ‘Make in India’ in 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 an ‘Approved Standardised 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, the government-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited has been successful in grabbing the order for two automated vessels from the Norwegian government. These will be the first of its kind unmanned vessels. Various decisions taken by the Ministry of Shipping will turn around Ship Building sector in the near future.
