Tamil Nadu News

Konecranes and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) have signed a licensing agreement for the manufacturing and distribution of Konecranes port cranes in India. The first products have been sold under this agreement: two shipyard jib cranes will be delivered to the Cochin Shipyard in Cochin, Kerala province.The agreement between Konecranes and L&T’s Minerals & Metals business unit covers manually operated Ship-to-Shore cranes, Rubber-Tired Gantry cranes and Rail-Mounted Gantry cranes across Konecranes’ brand portfolio. Konecranes shipyard cranes are also included.

Classification society the Indian Register of Shipping said it has opened a new office in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The premises were recently inaugurated and has been operational since February 1, 2022.Coimbatore is one of the most industrialized cities in Tamil Nadu with a diversified manufacturing sector including more than 25,000 small, medium and large-scale industries. IRS has serviced this region through its Cochin office in the past, however with increase in business opportunities…

India's army and navy deployed ships and aircraft as they searched for 26 people still missing more than three days after a powerful cyclone sank a barge off the country's west coast, killing 49 people on board.Cyclone Tauktae, the most powerful storm to barrel into the west coast in two decades, has killed at least 46 others after wreaking havoc in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala."Ships and aircraft continue to search for the remaining crew," Navy…

India's Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has launched two Ro Pax vessels designed and built for Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).The vessels launched at present are the third and fourth vessels in the series of 10 vessels order from IWAI, said the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India.Cochin Shipyard is building a total of 8 Nos. Ro Pax vessels and 2 Nos Ro-Ro vessels for Inland Waterways Authority of India.IWAI nominated CSL for the construction of these vessels, which will be operated in strategic locations in National Waterways 1&2. These vessels can accommodate around 200 passengers and will have 8 crews and can carry 2 trucks and 4 cars.

India’s largest private multi-port operator Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) will set up its first container terminal outside India in Myanmar at an estimated cost of US$ 290 million.Adani Group said that all requisite permissions have been received in the form of Myanmar Investment Commission permit, to build and run a container terminal along the Yangon river for 50-years.APSEZ would be the first Indian company to set up a container terminal outside India, CEO Karan Adani said.Construction for phase one of the project will commence next month and will be completed by June 2021. It is a two-phase project. "Total project cost for both phases would be USD 275-290 million.

South Asia's APM Terminals Inland Services, operator of port and integrated inland service networks, is helping set up solar power plants in deep pockets of India.The global terminal network company is providing tailor-made logistics solutions to help overcome transport, technical and procedural challenges.The company is now offering a new end-to-end solution for major solar projects, which includes receiving cargo at the sea-port, facilitating customs inspection and clearance, multi-modal transportation to reach these isolated areas and destuffing at the site.“Back in 2015, solar power was just beginning to catch everybody's attention and imports from China were picking up at a tremendous pace.

India's largest port developer Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has agreed to pick up 97% stake in Marine Infrastructure Developer (MIDPL) from Larsen & Toubro at an enterprise value of Rs 1,950 crore ($284 million). According to a press release from the company, Kattupalli Port is one of the most modern ports in India emerging as Chennai’s New Gateway for EXIM trade in Chennai/Bangalore region and provides a whole new dimension of services with speed and sophistication. Amongst the many advantages of Kattupalli port is its unique location – it is located 30 kilometers towards north of Chennai and has connectivity with  hinterland of North Tamilnadu, Chennai,  Bangalore region and South Andhra Pradesh – locations which are highly industrialized.

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, is today showcasing the final reports in a study which demonstrates the commercial and technical feasibility of the offshore wind market In India. Co-funded by the European Union (EU), GPCL and ReNew Power the Facilitating Offshore Wind in India (FOWIND) project will enable organisations to make future investments in the region. India has made strong commitments under the UN Paris Climate Agreement and announced ambitious renewable energy goals in 2015, targeting 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, including 60 GW from wind energy. To date…

For promoting port-led industrialization, 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) covering all the Maritime States and Union Territories have been identified as part of the National Perspective Plan under the Sagarmala Programme. The Perspective Plans for all 14 CEZs have been prepared in consultation with relevant State Governments and Central Ministries. The idea behind developing the zones is to promote 'development of port-proximate industrial clusters'. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and West Bengal are the other states where potential for coastal economic zones has been identified. Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said that port-led industrialization would provide impetus to the "Make in India" initiative and aid job creation.

India government-owned V O Chidambaranar Port Trust (VOCPT) in Chennai created a new record for single day handling of cargo yesterday, when it handled 36,526 Metric Tonnes of thermal coal at the berth NCB-I from the vessel MV. Asian Champion. The previous single day record was 35,656 Metric Tonnes of thermal coal at the same berth from the vessel MV. Tentenc on 30.10.2016. Shri I. Jeyakumar, Chairman of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust said that this Port is continuously striving to achieve improvement in performance and productivity in order to attract more volume of traffic. VOCPT is in the process of channel-deepening and breakwater construction project to help larger ships to call at the port located in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.

The Ministry of Shipping in India has taken up projects worth Rs 2,302 crore (USD 356million) for financial assistance under the Coastal Berth Scheme of the flagship Sagarmala Programme. The Ministry, after due appraisal in consultation with NITI Aayog and Department of Expenditure, has extended the period of the scheme for three years, upto 31st March, 2020 and expanded its scope to cover capital dredging at Major Ports and preparation of DPR for coastal berth project, in Oct 2017. The projects under Coastal Berth Scheme of the flagship Sagarmala Programme are distributed over eight states with the highest number of projects in Maharashtra (12 projects)…

The Indian shipping industry is registering a positive growth amid a downward trend globally, Union Minister of State for Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan said. “While the shipping sector is seeing a downward trend worldwide, India is registering a positive growth, and the credit for this should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said. The Sagarmala programme launched by the Prime minister last year aims to increase the capacity of Major and Non-Major Ports to 3000 MTPA from the present 1054 MTPA, he said. Major ports have been consistently increasing their capacity and making profits over the last few years. He was speaking at a function organised by V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust.

The Indian Union Minister of Shipping Nitin Gadkari has said that an investment of INR  2500bn (USD 39bn) is being made in Tamil Nadu under Sagarmala program. Of this Rs.39,000 crore will be for port modernization, Rs.55,000 crore for port connectivity and Rs.1,50,000 crore for port led industrialization. The minister said this at Kamarajar Port in Chennai, where he inaugurated several new projects. The projects include a New Container Terminal worth Rs.1270 crore, a new multi cargo terminal worth Rs.151 crores, Railway line to Container and Multi cargo terminal worth Rs. 60 crore, and RFID system worth Rs.11.82 crore. Shri Gadkari said the work being done under Sagarmala is estimated to create about 2 lakh direct jobs in the state in the next two years.

India's V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port is all set for a four-fold increase in the capacity of two of its Coal Jetties – Jetty I and II from 6.25 million metric tonnes per annum to 24 MTPA. The state-run power utility Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco)  has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with VOC, Tuticorin for the construction of new Coal Jetty I and provision of shore unloaders and conveyor systems. The Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise, Government of Tamil Nadu P. Thangamani were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Gadkari said that the project would benefit both Tangedco and the VOCPT.

INS Chennai, a P 15A Guided Missile Destroyer of Indian Navy, was dedicated to the city of Chennai in the presence of Edappadi K Palaniswami, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr D Karthikeyan IAS, Commissioner of Chennai and Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Navel Command at an impressive ceremony held onboard the ship at Chennai Port Trust on 17 April 2017. The event was characterised by closely coordinated sequence of drills and events leading to formal unveiling of the plaque by the Chief Minister. On completion of the dedication ceremony, the Chief Minister presented a memento to the ship which will not only find a suitable place but also remind of the association the ship has with the city of Chennai.

Under India's prestigious Sagarmala Programme,  415 projects, at an estimated investment of approximately  INR 8 Lac Crore (USD 120 Bln) , have been identified across port modernization & new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialization and coastal community development for phase wise implementation over the period 2015 to 2035. As per the approved implementation plan of Sagarmala Programme, these projects are to be taken up by the relevant Central Ministries/Agencies and State Governments preferably through private or public-private partnership (PPP) mode. As part of the Sagarmala Programme, 6 new port locations have been identified, namely - Vadhavan, Enayam, Sagar Island, Paradip Outer Harbour, Sirkazhi and Belekeri.

Days after the unexpected cargo ships collision outside the Kamarajar Port in Chennai (Tamil Nadu State, India), the Directorate General (DG) of Shipping has instituted an inquiry regarding the same. Two vessels namely, M.T. BW Maple carrying LPG and M.T. Dawn Kanchipuram carrying Petrol and lube oil, collided while crossing each other at 03.45AM on January 28 outside the Kamrajar harbour. The Shipping Minister Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan in Chennai today to take stock of Clean Up Operations, says a statement from the Press Information Bureau, Government of India. The Oil Tanker, Dawn Kanchipuram, which was carrying 32813 Tonnes of POL, suffered a rupture which led to engine oil spill (and not the POL being carried as cargo). There was no casualty or injury to the crew members.

DP World Group Chairman and CEO, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem met with the Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi at the 8th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit held in Ahmedabad, India. Discussions highlighted the immense potential of India’s growing economy and the nation’s maritime and inland trade. New opportunities resulting from the Prime Minister’s programmes such as Invest India, Digital India, Skill India and Made in India were also on the agenda, evidence of the new economic direction of the country. Mr. Bin Sulayem also joined a Global CEOs' meeting at the Summit chaired by the Prime Minister. He outlined the importance of the innovation and opportunities for investors in trade, logistics and the maritime sector.

GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd has appointed Mukesh Chakraborty as the Branch Manager, Logistics Services for its Bangalore office. Mukesh brings 13 years of experience in freight forwarding, customs clearance, transportation and warehousing and distribution to his new role. GAC is tapping into growing logistics business potential in Bangalore, India’s fastest growing major metropolis. The city is also a major hub for Business Process Outsourcing and specialised services like information technology and aeronautics. Mark Delaney, GAC Shipping India’s Managing Director, says that with Mukesh at the helm, the company’s Bangalore office is ready to take on the opportunities.

Sagarmala Programme, an ambitious port-led infrastructure development programme of the government to harness India’s 7,500-km, is now moving from the conceptualization and planning to the implementation stage. The National Perspective Plan (NPP), for the comprehensive development of India’s coastline and maritime sector, has been prepared and was released at the maiden Maritime India Summit 2016, on 14th April, 2016, by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. As part of Sagarmala, more than 400 projects, at an estimated infrastructure investment of more than Rs. 7 lack crore, have been identified across the areas of port modernization & new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialization and coastal community development.

Two Maritime Clusters have been identified in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, as part of the National Perspective Plan of Sagarmala Programme. Based on the study conducted under Sagarmala Programme, these proposed Maritime Clusters will comprise of shipyards, ancillary units for shipbuilding, service providers for shipping industries, marine tourism and marine products such as fisheries and aqua culture. The proposed Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) are aimed at promoting development of port-proximate industrial clusters, encourage port-led development, reduction of logistics cost and time for movement of EXIM and domestic cargo and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian manufacturing sector.

The Government has identified fourteen Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ) along the coastline of the country under National Perspective Plan (NPP) of Sagarmala Programme. The CEZ are  spatial economic regions spread over multiple coastal districts with strong port linkage. Within each CEZ, there could be multiple industrial clusters that could contain industrial units with requisite support infrastructure. In the state of Gujarat there will be three CEZs - (1) Kandla-Mundra, (2) Pipavav-Sikka and (3)Dahej-Hazira. JNPT, Mumbai (Maharashtra), Dighi- Jaigarh-Mormugao (Goa), New Mangalore (Karnataka) and Cochin (Kerala) will be other CEZs. Tamil…

Based on the present traffic and cargo scenario of Major Ports, a Master Plan has been prepared for expansion of port capacity, which includes a number of new ports. Sagar Island (West Bengal):  Public Investment Board (PIB) has appraised the project subject to the condition that state Government shall ensure possession of the land is available to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)  or any other Agency providing road connectivity and to railways/agency providing rail connectivity. Projected Traffic is to be around 3.5 MTPA in 2020 increasing to around 27 MTPA in 2035. Enayam near Colachel, (Tamilnadu): Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under preparation. The Port is proposed to be developed under the Landlord model. Projected traffic is around 127.05 MTPA by 2030.