India’s Ministry of Shipping has directed all major ports in the country to procure or charter tug boats which are made in India
All procurement carried out by ports in India will now need to comply with the new Indian government rule to procure or charter Indian-built tugs. The country’s Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said the government is taking action to revive old shipyards and promote shipbuilding in the country. He said the government plans to create an ecosystem to build, repair, recycle and flag vessels in India.
The Shipping Ministry has also proposed setting up a standing specifications committee under the managing director of Indian Ports Association comprised of representatives from Cochin Ship Yard Limited, Shipping Corporation of India, Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Director General of Shipping.
The specifications committee will shortlist five tug variants and prepare approved standardised tug design and specifications (ASTDS). The ASTDS will define specifications, general arrangements, basic calculations, basic structural drawings, key system drawings and other construction standards.
The standards will be vetted by the committee and, thereafter, certified in principle by IRS and published by the Indian Ports Association on its website. The Shipping Ministry will also grant an opening to major ports to make construction time available.
The move is part of the country’s ’Made in India’ initiative, and the Shipping Ministry said it is aiming to promote the Indian shipbuilding industry and initiate discussions with other countries around shipbuilding in India.
In July, state-owned Cochin Shipyard secured an order for two autonomous electric ferries for Norwegian firm ASKO Maritime, a subsidiary of Norwegian firm NorgesGruppen.
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