Centre ready to support developing shipping cluster at Dugarajapatnam: Sonowal

Union Minister for Shipping, Ports & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday declared that the Centre will extend wholehearted support to development of a shipping cluster at Dugarajapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

He said this during a chat with the media on-board Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) Shivalik. Earlier, Shivalik's maiden journey carrying 82,000 cubic metres of LPG from Qatar, the first bearing an Indian flag owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), was flagged off by Sonowal here. The ship will deliver the cargo at Visakhapatnam and Haldia Ports.

Shivalik has been recently acquired and inducted under the Indian flag by SCI, marking a significant milestone in India’s maritime growth story. The momentous occasion signified the strengthening of India’s gas logistics capabilities and supports the

vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the energy and shipping sectors. "

In response to a question, Sonowal said the DPR for Dugarajapatnam shipping cluster is almost ready.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu sometime ago had submitted a formal proposal for developing a state-of-the-art ship breaking and recycling facility at an estimated cost of Rs.3,000 crore. The feasibility study for the project was conducted by VPA. Sonowal had discussed about the project with Naidu on a couple of occasions.

The State Government has proposed the cluster in 2,000 acres envisaging a total investment of Rs.26,000 crore with 5,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs. This will be part of Naidu's call for port in every 50 km plan to propel port-led development.

Sonowal said SCI recently at Bhavnagar signed an MoU with IOCL, BPCL and HPCL to encourage owning of 112 ships under Atmanirbhar Bharat mission piloted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve energy security and save a lot of forex being spent on foreign ships for transportation of petroleum products.

SCI will extend its technical expertise while the three oil companies will offer cargo commitment. It is expected to boost Indian built and owned crude oil careers by 2047.

"Our plan is to save a big part of Rs.6 lakh crore which we spend towards forex every year," Sonowal stated.

He said the tenders for the first made-in-India LPG tanker will be floated in next 10 to 15 days.

Declaring that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has drawn up an action plan to strengthen the ecosystem in shipping sector, he said India will emerge among top 10 maritime nations in the world by 2030 and among top five by 2047.

"The flagging off of Shivalik with Indian flag is a big leap forward towards achieving Amritkaal and Vikasit Bharat," VPA Chairman Dr. M. Angamuthu remarked.

SCI CMD Capt. BK Tyagi said the joint venture agreement signed with three oil companies will be shot in the arm towards Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission in the shipping of petroleum products. He said Korea-made Shivalik is the beginning of the journey to improve their fleet in a sector totally dependent on foreign vessels.

Vizag MP M. Sri Bharat, Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav and Capt. Bhaskar Tandon, Master Mariner of Shivalik, were present.