Team Herald
VASCO: Resolving the long pending demand for a club facility for Goan seafarers, Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Chairman I Jeyakumar announced that the Trust has planned to construct an ultra modern club for Goan seafarers, this year.
The club would be built using funds that would be sought from Director General (DG) Shipping.
He was speaking during at the 54th National Maritime Day celebration at Ravindra Bhavan in Baina, Vasco, on Wednesday.
“I understand that there has been long pending demand for a seafarers club in Mormugao Port premises for mariners. I am happy to announce that this year we have decided to fulfill this demand by providing an ultra modern facility for which we would seek funding from DG shipping and by year end this facility is likely to be made available,” Jeyakumar said.
On the challenges facing maritime industry, he said, “There is a challenging carrier in maritime trade. International trade depends upon the maritime sector where nearly about 90 percent of the cargo is being transported through sea route.”
“India has more than 7500 km long coastline, realizing the potential of such vast coastline, the Central government has introduced Sagarmala under which one lakh crore rupees would be spend across country’s coastline. Integrating all aspects including port-led developments, port connectivity and skill development which means community development and all this would be implemented under the newly formed Sagarmala development company. MPT too has got some projects sanctioned under Sagarmala,” he said.
Commissioner of Customs, Central Excise and Service Tax, Goa, K Anpazhakan said that the Customs is the second line of defence which works in coordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
“There is constant security threat to India from its neighbouring countries and due to which there is a need for maintaining safety and security of our country,” Anpazhakan said.
On the occasion, three persons who contributed in promoting the maritime industry were felicitated. They are: Capt Rajesh Saigal, Raghuvir Balakrishna Shenvi Kundaikar and Bimalesh Ganguli. A bravery award to the master and crew of launch M L Sonshi was delivered to Srikant Gaonkar (master), Santosh Adharkar (driver), Dipin Morzo (assistant driver), Roldao Dias and Sandesh Sawant (sailors) who have rescued the lives of the passengers onboard a vessel.
