Admn. aggressively pursuing ship acquisition On track for concluding ship building contracts for 14 new vessels within current FY

Port Blair, Nov 22: Under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Shipping, GoI, procedures for procurement of new vessels for the UT Administration has been put on fast track. A lot of progress has been made towards ordering new ships for the Islands. The tendering action for 14 new vessels has been either completed or in final stages of completion for which the ship building contracts are likely to be concluded within the current Financial Year 2015-16. These ships include 2 x 1200 passenger Mainland Island Ships, 2 x 500 passenger Inter Island Ships and 10 Harbour Crafts (6 x 250 passenger and 4 x 150 passenger). The bigger 1200pax and 500pax vessels would be built at the Cochin Shipyard Limited on nomination basis and the smaller harbour crafts are being tendered out through competitive process to suitable Indian Shipyards. All new acquisitions will be constructed within the country under the “Make in India” Initiative of the Government of India.
On conclusion of the contract the smaller harbour crafts should be delivered within the next 1-1 ½ years and the bigger Inter Island and Mainland vessels should be delivered within the next 3-4 years. Once inducted into service these vessels would provide great relief across all sectors of operations. The Central Government has agreed in principle to provide the additional funding immediately required during the current FY for taking the ship acquisition plan forward.
The A&N Administration, to provide immediate relief especially in the Inter Island sector is also progressing chartering of a 350 – 450 passenger-cum-100ton cargo vessel (as replacement of MVF Samsun) and transfer of a 388 passenger-cum 100ton cargo ship namely MV Bharat Seema from the Lakshadweep Government (these would provide augmentation in shipping services till new acquisitions are inducted into service). These two ships are also likely to join service within the next 3-4 months, said Captain Rajinder Kumar, Director of Shipping Services in a official release.