The Shipping Wing formulates policies and programs for shipping, marine development, Ship Building, Ship Repair, and Ship Breaking Industry. Indian Shipping Industry has over the years played a crucial role in the transport sector of India’s economy, providing an essential means of transport for crude oil, petroleum products, and other Cargo. Approximately 95% of the country’s trade by volume and 68% by value is moved through Maritime Transport.
The Shipping Wing comprises the following Sections:-
- Ship Building, Ship Repair, and Ship Breaking
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The nodal responsibility of the entire Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry vests with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. There are 28 Shipyards in the country, 6 under Central Public Sector, 2 under State Governments, and 20 under Private Sector Undertakings.
- Marine Administration
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Directorate General of Shipping: The Directorate General of Shipping is an attached office of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India and deals with all executive matters, relating to merchant shipping. In 1947, the Government of India announced the National Policy on Shipping, aiming at the total development of the industry. In order to accelerate the developmental efforts, the necessity for a centralized Administrative organization was felt, and accordingly, it was in September 1949, the Directorate General of Shipping with its Headquarters in Bombay was established.
- Marine General
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Coastal Shipping: Coastal Shipping is a fuel-efficient, economical and environment-friendly mode of transport. Its ability to move large volumes in a short period of time at an economical cost can take loads off-road and rail. Waterways transportation costs only Rs. 0.2-0.3 per ton-km by rail and Rs. 2.0-3.0 per ton-km by road. This gives coastal shipping a distinct comparative advantage over other modes of transport and more.
Cruise Shipping: Cruise Shipping is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing components of leisure worldwide. A cruise ship is like a moving township studded with state-of-the-art facilities and a variety of recreational activities. Cruise tourism leads to significant regional development and the development of allied services in the vicinity. A huge amount of foreign exchange can be earned and employment generated both directly and indirectly in the tourism sector. The vision of the Government is to put India on the global cruise market both in the ocean and river cruises.
- Marine Training
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Indian Maritime University: The Indian Maritime University came into being through an Act of Parliament (Act 22) on 14th November 2008 as a Central University and is poised to play a key role in the development of a trained human resource for the maritime sector. 14th November is celebrated as ‘IMU Day’ every day.
- Marine Development
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Maritime Sector: The shipping industry is one of the most globalized industries operating in a highly competitive business environment that is far more liberalized than most of the other industries and is, thus, intricately linked to the world economy and trade. Shipping plays an important role in the transport sector of India’s economy, especially in EXIM trade. Approximately 95% of the country’s trade in terms of volume and 68% in terms of value is moved by sea.
India’s shipping tonnage was only 1.92 lakh Gross Tonnage (GT) on the eve of independence. Now India has one of the largest merchant shipping fleets among the developing countries and ranks 17th amongst the countries with the largest cargo-carrying fleet of 1411 vessels of 12.79 million G.T. as on April 30, 2019, and an average age of the fleet is 18.03 years. Indian maritime sector facilitates not only the transportation of national and international cargoes but also provides a variety of other services such as cargo handling services, shipbuilding, ship repairing, freight forwarding, lighthouse facilities, and training of marine personnel, etc.
The salient features of India’s shipping policy are the promotion of national shipping to increase self-reliance in the carriage of the country’s overseas trade and the protection of stakeholders’ interest in EXIM trade. India’s national flagship provides an essential means of transport for crude oil and petroleum product imports. National shipping makes a significant contribution to the foreign exchange earnings of the country.Keeping in view the Government’s policy of strengthening and promoting the Indian maritime sector in a competitive framework, the Ministry of Shipping has initiated a number of reforms towards the minimum government, and maximum governance to give a fillip to the Sector.
- Light Houses
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Light House: The history of lighthouses refers to the development of the use of towers, buildings, or other types of structures, as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. The modern era of lighthouses began at the turn of the 18th century. Advances in structural engineering and new and efficient lighting equipment allowed for the creation of larger and more powerful lighthouses, including ones exposed to the sea. The function of lighthouses shifted toward the provision of a visible warning against shipping hazards, such as rocks or reefs.
- Public Sector Undertaking
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Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) was incorporated on 02.10.1961 with its headquarters in Mumbai. It is a listed company since 1992 (BSE & NSE).SCI was awarded the prestigious "Navratna" status on 01.08.2008. The authorized share capital of SCI is Rs. 1000 crores, paid-up share capital is Rs. 465 crores and GoI holding is 63.75% shares. SCI owns 61 vessels, a total of 5.61 million dead weight tonnage (DWT), constituting 30% of Indian tonnage. It also manages another 51 vessels of various Govt. & Private organizations. It is the most diversified Indian shipping company. SCI carries almost 100% of crude oil on the coast for PSU refineries and it also carries 50% of crude imports by the Indian fleet. It is the only Indian company providing International Liner services catering to the Indian EXIM trade.
Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) was incorporated in the year 1972 as a fully owned Government of India Company. After the completion of the IPO in FY 2018 and the Buyback in FY 2019, the Government of India holds 75.21% of equity share capital in the Company. In the last four decades, the Company has emerged as a forerunner in the Indian shipbuilding & ship repair industry and also a well-known player on the global shipbuilding front. CSL has exported 45 ships to various commercial clients outside India such as the National Petroleum Construction Company (Abu Dhabi), the Clipper Group (Bahamas), Vroon Offshore (Netherlands), and SIGBA AS (Norway). The yard is presently building the prestigious Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy. India is only the fifth nation in the world to build an aircraft carrier of this size.