India to Enact Recycling of Ships Bill
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.
India Okays 'Major Port Trust Authorities Bill, 2016'
The Union Cabinet of India, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has approved the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016, a move aimed at bringing greater efficiency and professionalism in governance of ports through full autonomy in decision making and by modernizing the Institutional structure of Major Ports. It will replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. The Union Cabinet "has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Shipping to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 by the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2016," an official statement said. The new Major Ports Authority Bill, 2016 would help to impart faster and transparent decision making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability.
Indian Cabinet Okays Shipping Pact with Jordan
The Union Cabinet of India has given its approval for signing of a shipping agreement between India and Jordan. The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An official press release said the government had decided to sign the agreement with a view to strengthening cooperation and to provide sustained mutual assistance and advice on merchant shipping and other related maritime matters. "Signing of the agreement will help both countries in encouraging and facilitating development of their maritime relationship and cooperation in the task of enhancing and stimulating steady growth of maritime traffic," says the statement. It recognizes the significant mutual benefit that can be derived from cooperation in the area of shipping between the two countries, the release said.
