By Amresh Srivastava
New Delhi, Sep 4 (UNI) To promote Indian shipbuilding industry and 'Aatmanirbhar Shipping' under 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday directed major Indian ports to procure or charter tug boats manufactured locally.
Talking to UNI, the Minister said that the procurement being done by major ports would now need to be carried out as per the revised ‘Make in India’ Order.
“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 Ship building and a big move towards Aatmanirbhar Shipping in Aatma Nirbhar Bharat”, Mr Mandavia said.
He also said that there has been a requirement of 400- 500 tug boats in all various ports of the country and from 20 to 25 such boats are being supplied every year to various ports.
Tug boats are smaller but powerful vessels which help ships’ maneuvering from sea to ports and vice versa.
The Government 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, the Minister informed.
Procurement or chartering of port crafts would need to be aligned with the revised ‘Make in India Order’ to promote shipbuilding in India. It has also proposed to set up a Standing Specifications Committee under the Managing Director of 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, Mr Mandavia further said.
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.
The Shipping Ministry will also provide some window to Major Ports so that construction time would be availed by them to construct or charter these tug boats.
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