Lok Sabha Question No. 3837 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Utilisation of Shipping Sector
Ministry: SHIPPING
Asked by: MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SHIPPING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3837

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 th DECEMBER, 2016 UTILISATION OF SHIPPING SECTOR

## †3837. SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that Government is not making optimum utilisation of shipping sector and coastal resources in the development of the country;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor along with the remedial steps proposed by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is aware of shortage of experts in the field of shipping in the DirectorateGeneral of Shipping;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to appoint full time experts in the field of shipping in order to make optimum utilisation of shipping sector/ coastal resources in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a)&(b):The  Ministry  of  Shipping  has  prepared  Vision  Document  for  'Coastal  Shipping,  Tourism  and Regional development' for  optimum utilization of shipping sector and coastal resources which envisages increasing the share of Coastal/Inland water transportation, development of coastal shipping as part of an end to end logistics supply chain, integration of Inland waterways with the coastal routes and development of  regional  centers  to  generate  cargo  for  coastal  traffic.      Further,  a  National  Perspective  Plan  for comprehensive  development  of  India's  coastline  and  maritime  sector  has  also  been  prepared  under  the Sagarmalaprogramme.  The development of National Waterways will also take place in a phased manner.

As part of Sagarmalaprogramme, projects have been identified in the areas of port modernization and new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialization and coastal community development.  Fourteen Coastal Economic Zones (14) have been identified across all Maritime States and their Perspective Plans have been prepared.  Twenty nine (29) potential port-linked industrial clusters have been  identified  across  Energy,  Materials,  Discrete  Manufacturing  and  Maritime  sectors.    Draft  Master Plans  have  been  prepared  for  the  Maritime  Clusters  proposed  in  Gujarat  and  Tamil  Nadu.    Smart  Port Industrial Cities are proposed to be developed in Kandla&Paradip.

Government has taken number of initiatives in this direction to develop coastal shipping namely; advising major ports to introduce green channel for coastal cargo and priority berthing for coastal vessels; exempting customs and Central Excise duty on bunker fuels used by coastal vessels carrying EXIM cargo or  empty containers or domestic cargo between two ports in India; bringing abatement of service tax at 70% for  coastal  shipping  at  par  with  road  and  rail;      financial  assistance  upto  75%  for  construction  of exclusive berths for coastal vessels; cabotage has been relaxed for  Roll-on-Roll-off vessels, Hybrid RollOn-Roll-Off, RO-RO-cum-Passenger etc.

(c)to(e):The  post  of  experts  vacant  in  three  Technical  Wing  viz  Nautical  Wing,  Engineering  Wing  and Naval Architecture Wing of  the Directorate General of Shipping are as follows:   Deputy Chief Surveyor 08, Engineer & Ship Surveyor- 03,  Ship Surveyor - 01,  Junior Ship Surveyor- 01, Nautical Advisor - 01, Principal Officer (Nautical) -01,  Nautical Surveyor  - 12 and Radio Officer - 02.  Steps are underway to fill up the vacant posts which are at various stages of the selection process.  The delay in filling up of posts has been mainly due to non availability of officers in the feeder grade; time taken in consultation with various bodies in Government and amendment of Recruitment Rules as may be required.

*****