Shipping ministry unveils 100-day agenda

More public-private partnership (PPP) projects for building ports, revised guidelines for port operations, and speedier acquisition of ships and equipment are some of the targets set by the shipping ministry in its 100-day agenda unveiled Wednesday.

Five more PPP projects are likely to be awarded, including coal terminals at Paradip and Mormugao ports and container terminals at Ennore and Tuticorin, according to the agenda released by Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan.

Besides, an agreement was signed with a consortium here Wednesday for the construction of a deep draught iron ore terminal at Paradip port. The Rs.506-crore project will add 10 million tonnes per annum of capacity to the port.

The total estimated cost of the six projects is about Rs.3,320 crore.

The ministry is also seeking to declare the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadeep as major ports once the cabinet gives its approval.

Acquisition of ships by the Shipping Corporation of India is on the anvil, and the ministry will sign and necessary contracts with Cochin Shipyard, a statement said.

Some of the other key targets for the ministry are:

- Dredging Corp of India to acquire three trailer suction hopper dredgers at an estimated cost of Rs.1,570 crore.

- Implementing the second phase of dredging on the Kollam-Kottapuram canal at a cost of Rs.89.74 crore.

- Part-commissioning of small ship division of Cochin Shipyard Ltd at a cost of Rs.98.63 crore.

- Acquisition of two passenger ships for the Lakshwadweep and Andaman and Nicobar administrations.

- Examine financial restructuring of Hindustan Shipyards and transfer of assets to defence ministry.

Last updated on Jul 1^st, 2009 at 16:11 pm IST--IANS