Inland Waterways Authority Of India News

New regulations aim to improve inland vessel safety throughout India, according to the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).The Inland Vessels Act 2021 will help integrated vessel movement throughout waterways and establish uniformity in law and standardized provisions. The IV Act 2021 addresses safety and pollution control norms and makes provisions for the use of new and special category vessels. It also specifies retrieval of wreck and salvage norms.Based on the IV Act 2021, IRS has drafted rules in consultation with Ministry, State Governments and various other stakeholders.

The first ever containerized cargo movement via Indo-Bangladesh protocol route and Brahmaputra (National Waterway -2) river will start from West Bengal's Haldia Today."In line with Government’s focus on improving connectivity to the North Eastern Region (NER), a landmark container cargo consignment will sail on inland waterways from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) terminal at Pandu in Guwahati on 4 November, 2019," said a government release.Gopal Krishna, Secretary (Shipping) will flag off the inland vessel MV Maheshwari carrying 53 TEUs (containers) of petrochemicals, edible oil and beverage etc.

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…

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.

Indian shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the government is keen to start the navigation in inland waterways and passenger transportation in the rivers in the North Eastern states of the country.The public sector company Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited (WAPCOS) is preparing a model Detailed Project Report (DPR) for running low-cost ferry services in the inland waterways in these states.The Shipping Ministry, in a release, said the model DPR can be adopted for quick implementation by the Inland Waterways Authority of India in consultation with the different state governments in the region.Mandaviya also said that inland waterways transport can be a game changer for the North Eastern states as land routes here are often long…

The Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge), India, Mansukh Mandaviya will flag off an inland waterways vessel containing cargo from Bhutan to Bangladesh via Brahmaputra river and the Indo-Bangla Protocol Route today (July 12)."This is a first of its kind movement where an Indian inland waterway is being used for connecting two countries - landlocked Bhutan and Bangladesh,"said a press note from the shipping ministry of India.1000 Metric Ton of crushed stone aggregates will sail on Inland Waterways Authority of India’s (IWAI) vessel MV AAI from Dhubri port in Assam  to Narayanganj in Bangladesh through India’s NW2   and Indo…

New Delhi might soon get a new transport system as an alternative to reduce traffic congestion in the city. If things go as planned, water taxis in Delhi will turn into a reality in the near future.Shipping Minister Mansukh Lal Mandaviya checked the proposed Sonia Vihar site of the proposed Yamuna Water Taxi Project of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in New Delhi, from where the project can be implemented.Speaking at the project site Shri Mandaviya said that the Yamuna Water Taxi Project will be a new means of urban transportation. It will not only give a boost to tourism but will also help reduce traffic congestion in the…

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on fuel needs for national waterways and to develop infrastructure for fuels for Waterways.The MoU will provide for an understanding over general modalities of mutual co-operation leading to addressing futuristic demand of any form of energy for Inland Waterways and associated services.A press release said that both will jointly develop infrastructure for meeting fuel, lubricating oil, LPG and natural gas requirements of national waterways.The MoU also covers development of infrastructure for receipt, storage…

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been working hard towards facilitating safe passenger movements for Kumbh-Mela, crowned by UNESCO as an 'intangible cultural heritage of humanity', the biggest congregation on earth.Kumbh-Mela is scheduled to be held at Sangam, Prayagraj (Allahabad) from 15.01.2019 to 15.03.2019. IWAI has set up four floating terminals, one each at, Kilaghat, Sarasvati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat.Further, two vessels namely C.L. Kasturba and S.L.Kamla will be deployed for pilgrim movement.Fairway with navigational aids will be maintained between Prayagraj (Allahabad) and Varanasi with targeted least available depth (LAD) of 1.0 m.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has planned to retrofit its work boats with green fuel and also placed orders with Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) for procuring six new vessels, based on methanol mix.CSL will get the work done by Hooghly Dock and Port Engineers Ltd (HDPEL) in Howrah, with which it has formed a joint venture, said sources.The PTI reported that IWAI has also planned to retrofit its work boats with green fuel.The shipyard has a tie-up with Sweden based company which is a leading entity in the use of methanol for marine fuel, he said, adding that the Cochin Shipyard would retrofit boats at its facility in Kolkata.The nodal agency for inland waterways will use the clean-burning fuel for the barges sailing up National Waterway 1…

Patna, capital of Indian state of Bihar, will witness a new landmark in the country’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector with 16 TEUs of container cargo (equivalent to 16 truckloads), belonging to food majors PepsiCo India and Emami Agrotech will reach the city's Gaighat IWT Terminal from Kolkata on river Ganga next week.Inland Waterways Authority of India’s (IWAI) vessel MV RN Tagore sailed from Kolkata’s Garden Reach Jetty on December 6th. It will reach the IWT terminal at Patna in 6-7 days after an 815 kms long voyage on river Ganga (National Waterway-1).The cargo will be unloaded at IWAI’s inter-modal terminal at Gaighat in  Patna from where onward cargo will be loaded.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the first multi-modal terminal built on the river Ganga in Varanasi (Kashi). He also received India's first container vessel that sailed from Kolkata on the newly-developed inland waterway.The event marked India’s first inland voyage by a container ship since it gained independence from Britain 70 years ago. The first consignment contained cargo belonged to food and beverage giant PepsiCo India.The 1,390km (863 miles) Ganga watercourse is one of the 111 waterways spanning 20,276km that India is reviving or planning to build. The World Bank-assisted Ganga waterways project—costing  USD…

India and Bangladesh discussed various issues pertaining to the protocol arrangements and improvement of inland water transportation between the two countries in the 19th Standing Committee meeting under ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade’ (PIWTT)held at  New Delhi.The meeting was attended by high level delegations that included representatives of Ministries of  Shipping, External Affairs, Home, Finance, DONER and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and officials from Bangladesh belonging toMinistry of Shipping, Board of Revenue, DG (Shipping)  and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).The two sides agreed to consider inclusion of Rupnarayan river (National Waterway-86) from Geonkhali to Kolaghatin West Bengal in the protocol route.

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) made public 13 standardised state-of-the-art ship designs suitable for large barge haulage on river Ganga (National Waterway-1).This marks attaining of a critical milestone in the growth of the country’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector as it will help overcome the unique navigation challenges river Ganga throws due to its complex river morphology, hydraulics, acute bends, shifting channels, meanders and current.It will serve as an enabler for domestic shipbuilding industry working on inland vessels and open huge possibilities for cargo and passenger movement on National Waterway-1.The Government…

Even as the work on the development of Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) on River Ganga is going on in full steam, a team of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) held a two day long intensive advocacy and communications outreach at Sahibganj and Rajmahal in Jharkhand. JMVP is India's prestigious development of waterways.The public meetings are being held as part of a month-long dialogue initiative on the entire stretch of JMVP (Varanasi to Haldia) that began in July.The IWAI is constructing a INR 280. 90 crore (USD 41 mln) multi modal terminal at Sahibganj in Jharkhand besides a proposed ship repair facility and a freight village.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) yesterday launched a dedicated portal to connect cargo owners and shippers with real time data on availability of vessels.The Government of India is developing National Waterways as a key transport intervention, as part of an integrated transport network strategy, which will help correct the transport modal mix that imposes huge logistics costs on the Indian economy. At present the cost of logistics in India, at 15 per cent of GDP, is about twice those in the United States.The landmark e-connect measure will enable direct interaction among the vessel operators, shippers and cargo owners as currently…

In order to develop waterways from Kakinada to Chenna,  detailed hydrographic survey has been completed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in respect of Kakinada to Ennore stretch of National Waterway-4.Development of National Waterway-4 is planned in three phases. Development of Phase-I works between Vijayawada to Muktyala stretch of Krishna River has been taken up at a cost of   USD 14 mln out of which USD 2.62 mln has been utilized so far. Vijayawada to Kakinada and Rajamundry to Polavaram portion of NW-4 is planned for development in Phase-II. Tendering process has been undertaken by the IWAI for a comprehensive hydrographic and navigation study for this stretch.On completion of Phase I and II…

The USD 25 mln Multi Modal Terminal (MMT) being built at Varanasi by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under Jal Marg Vikas project is set to be completed by November this year. This would be a major landmark for the project.The construction of the USD 41 mln MMT at Sahibganj is to be completed by May, 2019, and the one at Haldia, being constructed at a cost of USD 75 mln, is scheduled to  be completed by December 2019. In addition to this the work on the USD 52 mln state-of-the-art navigational lock at Farakka is to  be completed By June, 2019. Contract for maintenance dredging in the Farakka-Kahalgaon stretch of the river  was awarded in April, 2018,  and work on this has started.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)  has set out on a massive public outreach initiative along river Ganga on National Waterway-1 to help push rural economy to connect with waterways.As part of a month long dialogue series extending from Varanasi to Haldia , a team of IWAI on 17 -18 July, 2018 held two day long outreach with villagers- farmers and traders, from Zamania, Kataria, Puraina, Sarai Mohammadpur, Chochakpur, Jallapur, Dungerpur in Ghazipur district.The officials disseminated information on the Rs 5369 crore  Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga. Residents who participated in hundreds of numbers shared their enthusiasm and expectations from the project.The community outreach was attended by people from diverse backgrounds – NGOs…

Cochin Shipyard Limited and Inland Waterways Authority of India has signed a contract for roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels.   The contract, which entails design, construction and supply of Ten Ro-PAX and Ro-Ro Vessels, is worth INR 1.02 billion (USD 15 mln) plus taxes.   These vessels which are capable of carrying Trucks, vehicles etc. and with sitting passengers will be deployed in various strategic locations in National Water Ways 1, 2 and 3.   The vessels are conceptualized and fully designed by CSL. They are built to standards under the rules of Indian Register of Shipping. All the ten vessels will be delivered within a contractual period of 18 months.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will involve banks for ensuring availability of financing options for the private players engaged in Inland Water Transport (IWT) sector. Financing and funding for Operation and Maintenance of IWT assets is a challenge for shippers, vessel operators and asset management firms as the banking sector is not yet ready with any customized financing option for the sector. Addressing the day-long Stakeholders Conference on Emerging Business opportunities in Inland Water Transport Sectorwas organized by IWAI at New Delhi,the IWAI chairperson Mrs NutanGuha Biswas said that the banking finance is needed for the emerging business opportunities that private players are inclined to be involved with. Mrs.

The Government  of India proposes to augment capacity to develop eco-friendly and economic mode of transportation along inland waterways and coastal shipping routes under the Sagarmala Programme. Sagarmala is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development in the country by harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways. It aims to reduce the logistics costs by doubling the share of domestic waterways in the modal mix from current 6 per cent. The Coastal Berth Scheme being implemented since March 2015 to promote the development of infrastructure for movement of passengers and cargo at major and non-major ports has been merged with the Sagarmala Programme and extended up to March 2020.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India  (IWAI) proposes to develop a“freight village” in Varanasi, informs the government of India. The objective of the project is to support economic development in the hinterland of the multimodal terminal at Varanasi and reduce logistics cost in the Eastern Transport Corridor and its influence zone. It envisages establishment of multimodal logistics hub in Varanasi to promote the use of waterway transport on river Ganga (NW-1) between Haldia and Varanasi and of rail transport on Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in the North bound direction which facilitates movement of freight from road to water and rail.