Centre urges major ports to procure or charter tug boats ‘Made in India’

Team Herald

VASCO: The Ministry of Shipping has directed all major ports to procure or charter tug boats which are only “Made in India”.  

All procurements being done by major ports would now need to be carried out as per the revised “Make in India” order. 

In a press release issued by the Ministry of Shipping, it has mentioned that the ministry is aiming to promote Indian shipbuilding industry and also had discussion with some of the leading countries for “Make in India” shipbuilding.  In the meantime, this decision of the government will be a big move towards realising “Make in India” in shipbuilding.

Further, the Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C), Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government is taking 360 degree actions to revive old shipyards and promote shipbuilding in India. It is a step towards bolstering the revival of Indian ship building and a big move towards Aatma-Nirbhar Shipping in Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat. The government will try to create an ecosystem for shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling and flagging in India.  Aatma-Nirbhar Shipping is going to be the order in the coming times.

Also, the procurement/chartering of port crafts would need to be aligned with the revised “Make in India” order to promote shipbuilding in India.  It is proposed to set up a Standing Specifications Committee under Managing Director, Indian Ports Association and comprising representatives from Cochin Ship Yard Limited (CSL), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Director General of Shipping. 

Furthermore, the Standing Specifications Committee would shortlist around five variants/types of tugs and prepare an “Approved StandardizedTug Design and Specifications” (ASTDS).  This ASTDS would outline specifications, general arrangements, basic calculations, basic structural drawings, key system drawings and other construction standards, etc. These standards would be vetted by the Standing Specifications Committee and, thereafter, certified ‘in-principle’ by IRS and published by the Indian Ports Association on its website.

The ministry will also provide some window to major ports so that construction time would be availed.