Board mulls steps to improve coastal shipping

The National Shipping Board is putting more efforts to improve coastal shipping.

Speaking to the media, chairman of the board PVK Mohan said of the total cargo movement, only 6 per cent was through coastal shipping. “We want to shift at least 5 per cent of the country’s rail and road cargo to coastal shipping. If this happens, the country would save about Rs 2,000 crore every year,” he said after the 116th governing body meeting of NSB here.

The board has suggested several measures to increase coastal shipping like introduction of carbon credit incentive scheme, reduction of port charges, and hassle-free documentation and customs proceedings. The Centre has decided to come out with maritime bonds to mobilise Rs 15,000 crore, of which about Rs 10,000 crore would be spent for improvement of coastal shipping, he added.

 

Recently, the government introduce Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) on the west coast and soon another ETV would come up on the east coast to remove damage vessels without any delay. The government is taking steps to strength the causality investigation bureau for the marine sector that will work under the Director General of Shipping, he said.

It is also planning to enhance the gross tonnage of shipping to 15-17 million tonnes by 2020 in the country, said Deepak Shetty, joint director general of shipping. The country’s gross shipping tonnage is around 10.8 million tonnes.