PANJIM, JUNE 1
The Deputy Captain of Ports James Braganza has taken over as the Captain of Ports. He replaces Captain of Ports A P Mascarenhas who retired on May 31 after thirty years in service.
Before joining the department in 2004, Capt Braganza worked as a marine pilot for MPT for two years. He also has vast years of experience in merchant navy where he served for twenty years on various ocean going ships, mostly tankers carrying crude oil, products and chemicals of various sizes.
Capt Braganza has some ambitious plans for his department but his strategic priorities include development of the inland waterways, to provide more berthing facilities for inland vessels ranging from barges to cruise vessels.
It is expected that with his valuable experience, Capt Braganza will redress various problems which have been long pending. He is acutely aware that there is a need for more repair facilities to service the 350 odd barges in the State as also other types of Inland vessels including ferries.
During the repair season between June to September, repair centres are overcrowded and vessels are left unrepaired or unmaintained causing loss to the industry. Goa being one of the prime exporters of mining ore, there is urgent need to build dry docks and slipways.
Speaking to Herald, he said the ferries plying the seventeen routes of the State need to be either replaced or repaired. “The RND slipway needs a total refurbishing as repairs of departmental ferries can be repaired at a faster rate,” he says.
Capt Braganza who believes in introducing innovative ways in the functioning of Captain of Ports is presently pursuing MBA through Goa Institute of Management.
