shipping ministry updates

12th Meeting of Maritime States Development Council to be Held in Chennai


The 12 meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) is being held on 30-31 August, 2010 in Chennai. The meeting will be chaired by the Minister for Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan. The Minister of State for Shipping, Shri Mukul Roy will also be present.

The meeting is supposed to discuss a number of issues including:

· Capacity Augmentation of Non-Major Ports

· Constitution of Maritime State Boards

· Prevention Severe Environmental Hazards close to the Port

· Safety aspects of Passenger Boats/barges running in the coastal areas of Maritime States

· Establishment of VTMS in all Non-Major Ports

· Port Security

· Security at Ports of Lakshadweep Island

· Exemption from payment of Income Tax Liabilities imposed on the State Minor Ports for the Port Development

· Priority Berthing for Navy and Coast Guard Ships

· Preparation of Oil Spill Local Contingency Plan by Coastal States

· Providing necessary berthing facility for the vessels of Fishery Survey of India (FSI)

· Condition applicable to fishing vessel and freezer vessels

· Delay in Delivery of Survey Vessels

· Fixing of Inland Vessels (IV) Limit

· Insurance Coverage of vessels

· Policy on Coastal Shipping

· Implementation of EDC/PCS in the Ports

· Shipbuilding subsidy

The meeting is expected to give a number of recommendations on the above issues.

Shipping Ministry Invites Feedback and Suggestions on New Land Policy for Major Ports

The Ministry of Shipping proposes to issue a revised ‘Land Policy for major Ports’. Accordingly a draft ‘Land Policy for major Ports, 2010’ has been hosted on the website of the Ministry for feedback from stakeholders/general public. The Policy will be finalized after 30 days after taking into consideration the inputs received within this period.

Around 95% of India’s foreign trade by volume and 70% by value are transported through sea. Major Ports account for 75% of the total cargo by volume handled at Indian Ports. This underlines the importance of sustaining the growth and development of the Major Ports for their contribution to the Indian economy. With this objective in mind and also the adverse impact of economic down turn and rapid growth of minor ports on the traffic at the Major Ports it was felt that there was need to review the extant policies and suggest mid-term corrections, wherever necessary, in various policies governing the Major Ports, to sustain and improve the efficiency of the Major Ports. It was observed that Land Policy is one of the most significant policy frameworks guiding the overall functioning of the Port Sector. In all major ports the world over, land has been leveraged for optimizing the throughput and increasing revenue of ports. It is an established practice globally for ports to allot land for carrying out economic activity including establishing industry to ensure captive cargo to the port, thereby enhancing the sustainability of that port. Port lands have also been used to set up Special Economic Zones (SEZ) aimed at encouraging industrial development in and around the port. Other than the above, ports are generally expected to utilize their land, with port related activities being given the first priority and activities incidental to the port being treated as secondary in nature. Hence, optimum utilization of land is a matter of continuing importance to all ports.

This Policy sets out the terms to be followed by the Port Trusts for allotment of port land. It is applicable for all Major Port Trusts except for land relating to Gandhidham Township of Kandla Port Trust. This policy for land allotment would be applicable to all BOT projects also.

According to the Land Allotment Policy every Major Port shall have a Land use plan covering the entire land owned and/or managed by the Port. Land can be allotted either on licence or lease basis as per land use plan/zoning. The Policy details the procedure to be followed in case of Fresh Allotments, Licences, Leases, and Renewals etc of land, both within and outside the Customs Zone.

Atulya Misra Appointed as Chairman, Chennai Port Trust

The Government has appointed Shri Atulya Misra, IAS (TN:88) as Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, for a period of five years w.e.f. the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Shri Misra is presently posted as Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Tamilnadu.

The above appointment will be subject to the final outcome of the Court case W.P. No.12259/09 in the Delhi High Court.