- The Ministry of Shipping has directed all major ports to procure or charter tug boats which are only made in India.
- All procurements being done by major ports would now need to be carried out as per the revised ‘Make in India’ Order.
- The Ministry of Shipping is aiming to promote Indian shipbuilding industry and also have discussion with some leading countries for Make in India shipbuilding.
- In the meantime, this decision of the Government will be a big move towards realizing Make in India in shipbuilding.
- It is a step towards bolstering the revival of Indian Ship building and a big move towards AatmaNirbhar Shipping in AatmaNirbhar Bharat.
- Procurement/chartering of port crafts would need to be aligned with the revised Make in India Order to promote shipbuilding in India.
- It is proposed to set up a Standing Specifications Committee under Managing Director, Indian Ports Association and comprising representatives from Cochin Ship Yard Limited (CSL), Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and Director General of Shipping.
- Standing Specifications Committee would shortlist around five variants/types of tugs and prepare a ‘Approved StandardizedTug Design and Specifications.’ (ASTDS).
- This ASTDS would outline specifications, general arrangements, basic calculations, basic structural drawings, key system drawings and other construction standards, etc.
- These standards would be vetted by the Standing Specifications Committee and, thereafter, certified ‘in-principle’ by IRS and published by the Indian Ports Association on its website.
