New Delhi (NVI): To revive the Indian shipbuilding industry, the Ministry of Shipping today 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.
Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya termed it as a step towards ”Aatmanirbhar Shipping” under the ”Aatmanirbhar Bharat” drive.
He added, “The government is taking 360 degree actions to revive old shipyards and promote shipbuilding in India. It will try to create an ecosystem for shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling and flagging in India. AatmaNirbhar Shipping is going to be the order in the coming times.”
A tug boat is a boat which helps in mooring or berthing operation of a ship by either towing or pushing a vessel towards the port.
The Shipping Ministry is aiming to promote Indian shipbuilding industry and also have discussion with some leading countries for Make in India shipbuilding, a statement said.
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 in this regard, it added.
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, it added.
The ministry will also provide some window to major ports so that construction time would be availed.
Recently, Government owned Cochin Shipyard Limited has been successful in grabbing the order 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 Ship Building sector in the near future.
-CHK
