Sri Vijaya Puram, July 31: Mr. R. Sachithanantham, CPI (M) MP (Lok Sabha) from Tamil Nadu along with D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) Andaman and Nicobar State Organising Committee met Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal at his office at Parliament House, New Delhi today (31.07.2025) afternoon and submitted a letter forwarding a memorandum from the CPI (M) Andaman & Nicobar State Organising Committee. CPI (M) MP has urged the Shipping Minister to proceed with the construction work of two 1200-passengers ships (with a cargo capacity of 1000 MT), orders for which were placed with the Cochin Shipyard by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration a few years back, considering the difficulties being faced by the mainland-bound passengers. CPI (M) A & N Islands State Organising Committee in the Memorandum stated that while half construction was completed, the Govt. of India directed the Cochin Shipyard not to proceed with further construction of the above two ships as the A&N Islands do not require these ships. The Hon’ble Minister was kind enough to agree to look into this request made by the CPI (M) MP. CPI (M) memorandum stated that getting two more large size ships will ensure more cargo movement from mainland to islands which will reduce the prices of various items to a great extent as the private cargo ships charge more for freight charges which in turn passed on to the consumers in the islands. CPI (M) leaders told the Shipping Minister that this will create 200 to 300 jobs for the unemployed seamen in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
CPI (M) memorandum further stated that there is a long pending demand of the Nicobarese tribes for more m.v. Sentinel type vessels for the southern group of islands like Car Nicobar, Katchal, etc where large size vessels cannot be berthed due to rough sea condition. CPI (M) MP R. Sachithanantham and D. Ayyappan, A & N State Secretary urged the Shipping Minister to procure three more m.v. Sentinel-type vessels for service in the southern group of islands. CPI (M) further urged the Minister of Shipping to procure more inter-island ships of 450/500 capacity to meet the growing demands of the islanders.
CPI (M) Memorandum stated that at present, no cargo ship owned by the government is plying between Port Blair and mainland ports. Similarly, only one small size cargo ship owned by the A & N Administration is available for movement of cargo from Port Blair to various outstations. Entire cargo is transported from mainland to islands through private cargo ships. Due to technical reasons, the validity of these private cargo ships will be over in the next one or two years, if not further extended. CPI (M) Memorandum said that this will lead to a difficult situation and the islanders will face acute shortage of essential items. CPI (M) leaders urged the Minister of Shipping to procure more cargo ships for service between the islands and mainland and also for the inter-island sectors.
CPI (M) State Secretary in the Memorandum stated that due to shortage of regular roaster crew members, seamen are recruited on contract basis in the ships run by the A & N Administration for ther inter-island and foreshore sectors. Number of permanent roaster crew is decreasing every year due to retirement while new engagement of crew on permanent roaster does not take place. CPI (M) urged the Minister of Shipping to recruit seamen on permanent basis in the ships run by the A & N Administration considering the large number of unemployed seamen in the islands.
Shipping Minister assured the CPI (M) MP that the issues raised in the Memorandum and letter will be looked into favourably.
