Coastal shipping policy to boost PPP: Vasan

The government today said it would soon frame a coastal shipping policy to promote public-private participation in the domestic shipping industry. It added it was working out modalities of this.

“We are trying to bring more public-private participation in the shipping industry,” Shipping Minister G K Vasan told reporters here at a summit organised by industry body CII.

“We are receiving suggestions from the Indian National Shipowners Association and are getting suggestions from other stakeholders also. The coastal shipping policy would be to encourage the Indian shipping fraternity,” he said.

The policy is expected to address general issues like special berths at major ports for coastal vessels, reduced port charges, tax incentives, reduced duties on vessel spare parts, manpower training, monetary incentives for crew and setting up a coastal development fund, among others.

The policy, likely to be implemented in phases, will be an action plan with a time frame for implementation by the Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping and other ministries.

India has a coastline of 5,560 kms, having access to the sea on three sides, with 12 major and 168 minor or intermediate ports.