Mumbai Harbour Channel and JN Port Channel to Expand
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, India chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Wednesday approved fresh estimates of the project Deepening and Widening of Mumbai Harbour Channel and JN Port Channel (Phase-II). The cost of the project will be Rs 2029 crore excluding the Service Tax. The entire project cost will be funded through internal resources of JN Port Trust (JNPT) with market borrowing, if necessary. The project includes the existing channel to be widened from presently 370 m to 450 m for straight reach, channel to be extended from existing 33.5 Kms to 35.5 Kms. The draft of the channel will be increased from existing 14 m draft to 15 m draft. The estimated quantity to be dredged to the tune of 35.03 million cu.mtr. including 1.73 million cu.mtr. rock dredging.
Cochin Shipyard Limited Developing New Dry-dock
A new large dry dock is considered essential for future growth of Cochin Shipyard (CSL), says the ministry of shipping, India. This dry dock will enable CSL to construct LNG ships, Large Naval vessels like the proposed second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, Merchant vessels, like Cape size vessels, etc. The dry dock will also cater to repairs and upgradation of jack-up rigs, semi submersibles, etc. The estimated cost of the proposed new High Density dry dock is Rs. 1799 Crores ($265 million). The proposal has been approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 20th July, 2016. Ministry of Environment & Forest has given environment clearance to the project on 9th November, 2016 with a major pre condition of NBWL Clearance.
Cochin Port Gets a Little 'Breathing Space'
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of India, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for waiver of penal interest on Government of India (GOI) loans availed of by Cochin Port Trust (CPT) to the tune of Rs 897.23 crore (USD 134 million), providing some financial breathing space for the port. The Cochin Port Trust availed loans for various developmental activities from Govt. of India amounting between1936-37 to 1994-95. Non-repayment of these loans has attracted penal interest to the tune of Rs. 914.80 crore. The Port could not repay the loans since the projected revenue from the capital investment done was not sufficient to cover the interest component. The move comes in the backdrop of a series of steps taken by Cochin Port.
India's Paradip Port Mechanization Project Approved
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), Government of India, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the project of Mechanisation of East Quay (EQ) Berths-1, 2 and 3 at Paradip Port on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode' for handling thermal coal exports. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.1437.76 crore of which Rs. 1412.76 crore will be spent by the concessionaire. The remaining Rs.25 crore will be spent by the Paradip Port Trust on dredging. The project envisages mechanization of EQ 1, 2 and 3 Berths to increase their capacity from the existing 7.85 million tonnes to 30 million tonnes. The project is scheduled to be completed within three years from the date of award of concession.
India to Decentrale Chartering Arrangements
India's state-owned companies can now make their own shipping arrangements of both dry and liquid bulk cargo without having to route their requirements through the Shipping Ministry. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has allowed government departments and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to make their own shipping arrangements with regard to oceanic transportation of cargo by decentralising existing chartering arrangements. This step of enabling direct chartering arrangements will not only give flexibility to government departments/PSUs to make tailor made solutions for cargo operations in a dynamic shipping market but also promote Indian tonnage. The scrapping of the provision to route their requirement through the Ministry ofShipping would save time.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Aims High
India’s largest container port, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), said it aims to grow as one of the top 10 global container ports in the next five years. After announcing his 'Make in India' vision plan, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first port of call was JNPT, the biggest port for handling container traffic in the country. The foundation stone for the first leg of the $800 million multi-product Special Economic Zone SEZ project was laid on August 16. The project will develop free trade warehousing zones for engineering goods sector, textile and other sectors. The JNPT SEZ will come up over 277 hectares of land near the port as a self-sustainable integrated development project with a potential to generate around 150,000 jobs.
SCI plans to acquire 64 ships
The State-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) plans to acquire 64 ships under the national maritime development program, according to a report on Manorama Online. The national shipping major said it will acquire 32 vessels by March, 2007, and as many during the next five years of the 11th Plan period of 2007-2012. The company has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange that it expects delivery of these vessels by March, 2015. Commenting on a media report that SCI is to acquire a total of 76 vessels by 2025, the corporation said it can achieve the target of acquiring additional 12 vessels in 13 years beyond the 11th Plan period if asked to do so.
