Government Of India News

The outlook for India's ship-breaking industry has turned negative amid volatile scrap prices and a falling rupee, says ICRA.The country's ship-breaking activity, while tepid during CY2019 due to subdued demand and depressed scrap prices, gathered momentum at the start of CY2020 following the implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulphur cap regulations from January 2020. But weakness in the international shipping markets further aggravated by the coronavirus has since dampened sentiments.

The Recycling of Ships Bill 2019 for safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships in India has become an Act after receiving the assent of President of India.The government of India decided to bring this Act to provide for the regulation of recycling of ships by setting certain international standards and laying down the statutory mechanism for enforcement of such standards.The Government has also decided to accede to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009. Accordingly, India has acceded to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships…

Government of India has approved New Shipbuilding Financial Assistance policy for Indian shipyards for shipbuilding contracts up to 2026  to promote shipbuilding in Indian shipyards.Financial assistance is being granted to Indian Shipyards equal to 20% of the lower of “Contract Price” or the “Fair Price” or actual payments received of each vessel built by them for a period of at least 10 years commencing 2016-17. This rate of 20% will be reduced by 3% every three years.Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya informed that only those vessels, which are constructed and delivered within a period of three years from the date of Contract…

Royal Belgian Shipowners' Association (RBSA) welcome the accession by the Government of India to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, also known as the HKC.Yesterday (November 28), India became the 15th Party State to the HKC, fulfilling at once one of the three criteria for the Convention’s entry into force.It is another significant step towards achieving more safe and environmentally sound ship recycling globally, as India is a major ship-recycling centre that can provide the international shipping industry with sufficient recycling capacity.In 2018, India received more than 250 vessels, counting for 4.7 five million gross tonnes, according to IHS Global Ldt, World Casualty Statistics.

India, one of the world's five major ship recycling countries, has acceded to the IMO Hong Kong Convention, the treaty that will set global standards for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling.India's accession brings this important convention a significant step closer to entering into force, with the required 15 States now party to it and with India's ship recycling volume considerably contributing to the required recycling capacity.The Hong Kong Convention1 covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships to ensure they can be recycled safely and in an environment-friendly way at the end of their lives. It also deals with how ships should be prepared for their final voyage to a recycling facility…

The Union Cabinet of India approved the proposal for enacting Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 and accession to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009.According to a governmental release, the proposed bill will restrict and prohibit the use or installation of hazardous material, which applies irrespective of whether a ship is meant for recycling or not.For new ships, such restriction or prohibition on use of hazardous material will be immediate, that is, from the date the legislation comes into force, while existing ships shall have a period of five years for compliance.Restriction or prohibition on use of hazardous material would not be applied to warships and non-commercial ships operated by Government.

The government of India will put in place a comprehensive plan to develop 204 minor ports in the country in the next six months to boost coastal shipping and inland waterways, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. These minor ports will be developed so that it can support 12 major ports in India. Small cargo will reach to major port from minor ports and boost EXIM cargo, the minister said.All these ports have been centers of maritime activity in the past, and if revived, they can once again become important centers of sea trade. Mandaviya said that the Government is looking at developing synergy between the Major and Minor ports so…

The Government of India opened its second multi-modal terminal (MMT) yesterday, September 12, 2019. Located on the River Ganges at Sahibganj in Jharkhand State, the new terminal is now ready for business following the completion of a two-year construction project managed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the $40.32 million project in April 2017.Phase one of the terminal was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi via a two-way digital communication system during an event held in Ranchi…

Essar Bulk Terminal Ltd (EBTL), that operates the 50 million tonne per annum (MTPA) bulk terminal in Hazira, Gujarat, India said a 22 per cent growth in its third-party business during the first quarter ended 30 June 2019, on a year- on-year basis.The Company achieved an overall cargo throughput of 7 MT (million tonnes) in Q1 FY2019-20, of which 1.1 MT was third-party cargo. The share of third-party cargo in overall cargo volumes also rose to 15.7%.According to the port operator, there is a significant upswing in the region’s economic activity and the Hazira terminal is well placed to capitalize on the opportunity. The focus on operational…

To explore the opportunities in Coastal Tourism, the Shipping and Tourism Ministry may soon set up a committee that will think of strategies to promote cruises and sea sports, the government of India said.The Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya and  Minister of State for Tourism & Culture, Prahlad Singh Patel discussed  the immense potential for  maritime tourism in the country.In a  meeting between the two Ministers held in New Delhi yesterday, the two  ministers  emphasised  the need to promote the important tourist destinations in the coastal areas of the country through coastal tourism, said government press release."It…

The government of India has taken various preventive steps taken by the Government of India to check marine pollution, said the Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya.The Minister informed that India is a signatory to MARPOL (International Convention on Prevention of Marine Pollution). In addition,  Prevention of Marine Pollution is also dealt with by Merchant Shipping Rules, 2009 framed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.The Minister also said  that periodic surveys of Indian flag vessels are carried out in order  to ensure compliance to the above rules. Additionally, Indian vessels are also inspected for compliance to…

The government of India has informed that 111 waterways are being developed in phased manner as National Waterways (NWs) in the country for the purpose of shipping and navigation.The Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya that various initiatives have been taken by the Government to increase the use of Inland Waterways and Coastal Shipping for greater cargo shipment.These include providing assured depth of water in the channels, navigation aids like GPS and River Information System, terminals at regular intervals, facilities for mechanized handling of cargo handling etc.The Minister also informed that cargo transportation on waterways rose to 72.31 Million Tonnes in the year 2018-19…

The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has announced the launch of a groundbreaking Port Integrity Campaign in India, with the support of the Government of India.The global business network of over 110 companies working together to tackle corruption in the maritime industry said that the campaign, which aims to reduce and (in the long term) eliminate integrity issues and bottlenecks to trade during operations in Indian ports, is a collective action of MACN, the Government of India, international organizations, and local industry stakeholders.The pilot of the campaign will take place in Mumbai ports (MbPT and JNPT) and will run until October this year.

Mansukh Lal Mandaviya took charge of the Shipping Ministry Friday as Minister of State (Independent charge).A Rajya Sabha (or Council of States is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India) member of the ruling political party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the state of Gujarat, Mandaviya has become Union minister for the second time at the age of 47.With 12 major ports, projects like Sagarmala Program, an initiative by the government of India to enhance the performance of the country's logistics sector, and 7,500 km of coastline, Mandaviya has huge task ahead that also includes converting over 100 rivers across the country as waterways.The young parliamentarian prefers to ride bicycle for going to Parliament. He travelled to the President's abode on a bicycle to take oath.

The Union government of India (GoI) has concluded the strategic sale of Dredging Corporation of India (DCIL) to a consortium of four ports Vishakapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust & Deendayal Port Trust.The share purchase agreement was executed between GOI and the four ports on March 08. The government held 73.47 per cent equity stake in the company.Of 73.47 per cent, the Vishakapatnam Port Trust bought 19.47 per cent, Paradeep Port Trust 18 per cent, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust 18 per cent and Deendayal Port Trust 18 per cent.Further, the Securities and Exchange Board of India granted exemption to the consortium of ports from making an open offer…

The government of India has revised guidelines for chartering of ships by providing the right-of-first-refusal (RoFR) to ships built within the country, a move to promote the Make in India initiative and incentivise shipbuilding activity.Henceforth, whenever a tendering process is undertaken to charter a vessel, a bidder offering a ship built in India will be given the first priority to match the L1 quote. It is expected that this priority given to ships built in India will raise the demand for such vessels, providing them with additional market access and business support.Prior to the revision of the guidelines, the RoFR was reserved for Indian flag vessels as per the relevant provisions of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

American petroleum and natural gas exploration and production company Anadarko, on behalf of the Mozambique Area 1 partners, signed a deal with Bharat Gas Resources (BGR) for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) volumes from the Mozambique LNG development.The sale and purchase agreement (SPA) is for 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) for a term of 15 years. BGR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Government of India controlled  oil and gas giant Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL)."In addition to BPCL being an upstream equity co-venturer in the Mozambique LNG project, we are also pleased to have them as one of our foundation customers…

The government of India has allocated a budgetary support of USD 266mln to shipping sector in the interim budget presented by Interim Finance Minister Piyush Goyal.The government has pitched for development of India’s Blue Economy with the Finance Ministry proposing an impressive USD 77mln under Sagarmala. This allocation was up from USD 53 mln (revised estimates) allocated during 2018-19.Underlining importance of developing India’s 7,500 km long coastline and converting them into industrial hubs, India launched its flagship programme for port development and modernisation, Sagarmala, in 2015.Sagarmala aims at promoting “port-led direct and indirect development” and augmenting infrastructure facilities to “transport goods to and from ports quickly…

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE)  has won a new order in India from ReNew Power, India's large largest renewable energy independent power producer (IPP), for the supply of 270 SG 2.1-122 wind turbines with a total capacity of 567 MW.The agreement is one of the largest announced in India and will see Siemens Gamesa provide the infrastructure needed to install and operate two wind power facilities, 127 SG 2.1-122 wind turbines for the project in Bhuj, Gujarat and 143 SG 2.1-122 wind turbines for the project in Davanagree, Karnataka, respectively.Both projects are expected to be commissioned by the first quarter of 2020. SGRE has over 1 GW of contracted capacity of wind projects for ReNew Power.With over 1 GW of contracted capacity of wind projects for ReNew power…

Commercial operations began at ndia Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), at Chabahar with the arrival of a vessel after Government of India took over the operations.A Cyprus registered bulk carrier had arrived at Chabahar with 72458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV MACHERAS berthed at the terminal at 0130 hrs on 30th December 2018. Thus IPGCFZ carried out its first cargo operation by discharging the imported cargo(ex Brazil) using pneumatic un-loaders.India has written a history with its engagement in Chabahar, claimed a governement release. The physical take-over of the terminal area, cargo handling equipment and Office building was completed by 29th December 2018. The country is now leading the regional cooperation and joint efforts to support land locked Afghanistan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the 50 Mega Watt liquefied natural gas (LNG) based power project in south Andaman. The will take around 18 months to be operational.NTPC Limited’s wholly-owned subsidiary NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) will build the plant which is expected to improve the quality of life of the residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and boost the economic development.The plant shall be operational through Dual Fuel — LNG or HSD to be sourced from Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) and High Speed Diesel (HSD) to be sourced from Indian Oil Corporations (IOCL) existing depot at Andaman and Nicobar as per requirement…

India has formally taken over operations at Iran’s strategic Chabahar Port. According to the government of India, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ) a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Indian Ports Global (IPGL) in Iran has taken over interim operation of the Chabahar Port with effect from December 24.Representatives from India, Iran, and Afghanistan met in Tehran to formally hand over control to IPGL.Accoding to IRNA news agency, IPGL had been granted the lease for “a temporary period of 18 months and a ten-year period afterwards.” IPGL’s management would include “loading and unloading, supplying equipment and marketing.”The U.S.

Sagarmala Programme, an initiative of Government of India to enhance the performance of logistics sector in India, saw the completion of 89 projects, while 443 projects worth USD 5.9 bln are under various stages of implementation and development.SagarmalaProgrammeaims  to promote port-led development with a view to reducing logistics cost for EXIM and domestic trade.Ministry of Shipping, along with the State Governments are striving to increase the overall port capacity to 3500+ million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to cater to the projected traffic of 2500 MMTPA by 2025.Towards this end, 249 port modernization projects have been identified.