The 20th Meeting of the Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) from 12 to 13 September 2024 in Benaulim, Goa, addressing several key maritime initiatives critical to India’s maritime future.
- The two day meeting concluded with resolutions of over 80 critical issues between the Central Government, States, and Union Territories (UTs), covering areas like port infrastructure modernisation, connectivity, maritime tourism, port security, etc.
- The 19th Meeting of the MSDC was held in Kevadia, Gujarat on 18th-19th August 2023.
Note: The MSDC, an apex advisory body for the development of the Maritime sector, was constituted in May 1997. It aims to ensure integrated development of Major Ports and Non-Major Ports (NMPs).
Key People:
The meeting was attended by Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State (MoS), MoPSW; Aleixo Sequeira, Minister of Captain of Ports, Government of Goa; Devendra Kumar Joshi, Lieutenant Governor (LG) of the UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI); Mankala S Vaidya, Minister of Fisheries, Ports, and Inland Water Transport, Government of Karnataka; E.V. Velu, Minister of Public Works Department (PWD) in Tamil Nadu; TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW and various other dignitaries.
About 20th meeting of MSDC:
A major focus of the Council was addressing emerging challenges including the following:
i.Establishment of Places of Refuge (PoR) for ships in distress;
ii.Development of Radioactive Detection Equipment (RDE) infrastructure at ports to improve security;
iii.Recognition of seafarers as key essential workers;
iv.Implementation of a State Ranking Framework and Port Ranking System to foster healthy competition and drive performance improvements across India’s maritime sector.
Key Initiatives Launched:
National Safety in Ports Committee (NSPC):
i.The MSDC launched the National Safety in Ports Committee (NSPC) application on the National Single Window System (NSWS) digital platform for streamlined regulatory processes.
- The application will improve efficiency and reduce costs for stakeholders.
ii.The platform allows for Real-time Performance Monitoring (RPM), which will significantly enhance the operational efficiency of various departments through well-coordinated information sharing.
Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC):
i.The Council launched the Indian International Maritime Dispute Resolution Centre (IIMDRC), a specialised platform offering merit-based and industry-governed solutions to resolve maritime disputes efficiently.
ii.It will address the multi-modal, multi-contract, multi-jurisdictional, and multi-national nature of maritime transactions.
Indian Maritime Centre (IMC):
i.The Council also launched the Indian Maritime Centre (IMC), a Policy Think Tank designed to bring together maritime stakeholders currently operating in silos.
ii.IMC will foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning, driving growth and development across India’s maritime sector.
Highlights :
i.The meeting witnessed the keel-laying ceremony of India’s largest dredger, a 12,000 Cubic Meter (Cu. M.) Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD), at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, Kerala, built in collaboration with IHC Holland.
- This is the first time a dredger of such magnitude is being constructed in India.
ii.The Council discussed plans for a Mega Shipbuilding Park, spanning multiple states, to consolidate shipbuilding capabilities across regions, fostering efficiency and innovation.
iii.The MSDC showcased innovations from various maritime boards including:
- Kerala Maritime Board’s (KMB) monetization techniques for dredging;
- Gujarat Maritime Board’s (GMB) port-driven urban development projects;
- Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board’s (APMB) maritime development masterplan; and
- The Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) successful Maersk Frankfurt fire rescue operation.
iv.The Council also planned on improving road and rail connectivity to ports, facilitating smoother movement of goods and passengers.
v.The MSDC meeting also reviewed the Sagarmala Program, which was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2015.
- Currently, there are 839 projects worth an investment of around Rs 5.79 lakh crore for implementation under the Sagarmala Program by 2035.
- Out of 839 planned projects, 262 projects (Rs 1.40 lakh crore) have been completed, and 217 (Rs 1.65 lakh crore) are under implementation.
vi.The meeting discussed the implementation of a State Ranking Framework and a Port Ranking System to foster healthy competition and drive performance improvements across India’s maritime sector.
Key Points:
i.The MSDC’s efforts over the past 2 decades have facilitated the growth of over 50 NMPs, now handling over 50% of India’s annual cargo.
- As major ports approach saturation, these NMPs will be increasingly important in the future of India’s maritime sector.
ii.The MoPSW is developing the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) project at Lothal, Gujarat, a world-class complex to showcase India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage.
- The project will feature collaborations with 25 countries, with the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) already signed with Portugal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Vietnam, and additional agreements underway with France, Norway, Iran, and Myanmar.
Recent Development:
i.In August 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of India’s 13th Major Port worth Rs 76,220 crores at Vadhavan in Maharashtra.
ii.The Government of India (GoI) has also designated Galathea Bay in the ANI as a ‘Major Port’. This project worth Rs 44,000 crore will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and aims to capture transshipped cargo currently handled outside India.
Recent related News:
On 22nd August 2024, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) launched major sustainable initiatives after he inaugurated 3 newly rejuvenated freshwater lakes at Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP) in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW):
Union Minister– Sarbananda Sonowal (Constituency: Dibrugarh, Assam)
Minister of State (MoS)- Shantanu Thakur (Constituency: Bangaon, West Bengal, WB)
