"We are working with Inland Waterway Transportation Authority (IWTA) on a number of projects which include Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuelled vessels and fuelling stations within the National Waterway 1 project on Ganga," said Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman of Indian Register of Shipping (IR Class) at the Sea Asia 2017, a premier maritime conference yesterday.
For India, it has drafted guidelines for operation of LNG vessels and is working out a number of programmes to support development of port-related facilities.
"This puts IR Class in new businesses relating to LNG," said Sharma, highlighting the mega developments being planned along the waterways and main coastal areas.
India has planned out 12 major ports and 400 minor ports, where IR Class services will be required in certifying facilities such as oil terminals, bunkering, cargo transfers and cranes operations among others.
IR Class is also working with the Shipping Ministry to set up a Centre of Excellence which will develop skill for the marine industry, shipbuilding, ship designs and other related services.
These yards are certified in their practices to meet European standards and account for 75 per cent of the world's ship breaking industry, said Sharma.
IR Class is also doing monitoring, reporting and verification of Carbon dioxide emission from vessels based on standards required in European Union.
Sharma said, IR Class has expanded its global footprint with 48 offices, 24 of which are outside India.
It has just opened an office in Kuala Lumpur, and will set up offices in Indonesia and the Philippines in due course.
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