India reaches 22nd rank in International Shipment category as against 44th rank in 2014

The National Logistics Portal (Marine) inaugurated as a one-stop platform connecting all stakeholders in the logistics community through IT aimed at improving efficiency and transparency while reducing costs and time delays

'Sagar Manthan', a digital platform launched containing comprehensive data related to the Ministry and all its organizations

SAGAR-SETU a mobile app launched to improve the Ease of Doing Business

Costa Serena the first international cruise liner in India launched from Mumbai

World's longest 51-day river cruise MV Ganga Vilas from Varanasi to Dibrugarh covered over 3,200 km across five Indian states and Bangladesh with visits to 50 tourist spots

1. General

1. World Bank's Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report — 2023 released in April 2023

• India has reached 22nd rank in International Shipment category as against 44th rank in 2014.

• The average Container Dwell Time has reached a level of 3 days only as compared to 4 days for countries like UAE and South Africa, 7 days for USA and 10 days for Germany.

• Indian Ports "Turn Around Time" has reached 0.9 days which is better than USA (1.5 days), Australia (1.7 days), Singapore (1.0 days) etc.

2. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047

India's maritime sector is set to transform with a comprehensive roadmap launched during the Global Maritime India Summit, involving an investment of Rs. 80,000 lakh crores.

The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, builds on the Maritime India Vision 2030 and aims to develop world-class ports and promote inland water transport, coastal shipping, and a sustainable maritime sector. It encompasses aspirations in Logistics, Infrastructure, and Shipping, supporting India's 'Blue Economy'. The vision, shaped through over 150 consultations with various stakeholders and the analysis of 50 international benchmarks, outlines more than 300 actionable initiatives for enhancing ports, shipping, and waterways by 2047

3. Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023

GMIS 2023, organized by MoPSW, was the largest summit ever conducted in Mumbai. The Honorable Prime Minister inaugurated the summit and launched the 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047'. Ministers from 10 foreign countries, official delegations, business delegates, and exhibitors from 42 countries participated. The event witnessed the signing of 360 MoUs worth ₹8.35 lakh crore, and additional investible projects worth ₹1.68 lakh crore were announced. The summit facilitated 2,460 B2B meetings and more than 500 G2B/G2G meetings. The Honorable Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for eleven projects, totaling ₹14,440 crore, and eleven projects valued at ₹8,924 crore were dedicated to the Nation.

4. Inauguration of National Logistics Portal (Marine)

The National Logistics Portal (Marine) was inaugurated on January 27, 2023, by the Honorable Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The NLP is a one-stop platform connecting all stakeholders in the logistics community through IT, aimed at improving efficiency and transparency while reducing costs and time delays. The NLP covers all modes of transport, including waterways, roadways, and airways, and provides a seamless end-to-end logistics service coverage.

5. Sagarmanthan – Comprehensive Monitoring Dashboard

On March 23rd, 2023, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched 'Sagar Manthan', a digital platform containing comprehensive data related to the Ministry and all its organizations. The Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard facilitates the monitoring of projects, KPIs, Maritime India Vision 2030, and financial and operational parameters.

6. ‘Sagar-Setu’ Mobile App – National Logistics Portal (Marine)

SAGAR-SETU, a mobile app launched by the national Logistics Portal (Marine) on March 31, 2023, aims to improve the Ease of Doing Business further. It facilitates real-time port operations and monitoring and provides handled services to the port fraternity for accessing vessel, cargo, container, finance, and regulatory authority data and services, thereby improving the customer experience.

7. 19th Maritime State Development Council

A meeting was held on August 18th and 19th, 2023 in Kevadia, Gujarat, chaired by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. Attendees included MoS for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, State Government Ministers, and various senior officials. The Minister announced a comprehensive plan to achieve a 10,000 MTPA port capacity by 2047, the establishment of a Bureau of Port Security, Major Ports to establish hydrogen hubs, and for all maritime states to participate in the Global Maritime India Summit 2023. Topics discussed included the Sagarmala Programme, Urban Water Transportation, Inland Waterways, National Maritime Heritage Complex, and Port Connectivity.

2. Ports

1. Ports Performance

Major Ports have significantly improved key operational performance parameters during the current financial year. Main achievements during the period April to November 2023, vis-à-vis same period last year, are listed below

2. Launch of ‘Harit Sagar’- the Green Port Guidelines 2023

To meet the larger vision of achieving Zero Carbon Emission Goal, launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines on 10.05.2023. Four major ports, namely, Deendayal Port, Visakhapatnam Port, New Mangalore Port and VOC Port are already generating renewable energy more than their demand.

3. Green Hydrogen hub in Kolkata

On September 27, 2023, Green Hydrogen NGEL signed an agreement with SMP, Kolkata to develop a Green Hydrogen hub in Kolkata. SMP, Kolkata and Saif Powertec Ltd, Bangladesh signed an MoU on September 25, 2023, to establish a new multimodal transport route for container movement between India and Bangladesh. This will foster trade and shipment between the two countries through Mongla and Chattogram Sea Ports, as well as Pangoan River Port.

4. Sanctioned projects under PPP in February, 2023:

• Upgradation of JNPA Hospital to 100-bedded multi-speciality hospital – Rs. 48 Cr

• Development of Berth No.13 for Handling Multipurpose Clean Cargo with a capacity of 4.2 MTPA at Deendayal Port – Rs. 167 Cr

• Mechanization of North Cargo Berth-III (NCB-III) for Handling Dry Bulk cargo at V.O. Chidambarnar Port – Rs. 265 Cr

• Operation & Maintenance of Berth Nos. 10 & 11 at Mormugao Port, Goa – Rs. 139 Cr

• Development of Mumbai Marina at Prince's Dock of Mumbai Port Authority- 575.19 Crore

• Development of Oil Jetty No.09, Deendayal Port Authority- 123 Crore

5. Sanctioned Projects Under Sagarmala in February, 2023:

• In Andhra Pradesh, 1 coastal berth project - Rs. 73.07 Crore and 3 fishing harbour projects -Rs. 1,137 Crore

• In Karnataka, 5 floating jetty projects - Rs. 15.99 Crore and 1 inland waterway project - Rs. 9.54 Cr

• In Tamil Nadu, 2 floating jetty projects - Rs. 14.66 Crore

• On 24.04.2023 the Discovery Campus of the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) inaugurated at IITM, Chennai, Tamil Nadu established at a cost of Rs. 77 crore under the ambit of Sagarmala Programme.

6. Signing of concession agreement for construction of a mega-container terminal at Tuna-Tekra near the existing Deendayal Port- Rs 4,243.64 crore (~$510 million)

7. Capacity Expansion at Visakhapatnam Port

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways inaugurated projects worth Rs. 216.53 crore, including a state-of-the-art Vizag International Cruise Terminal in Vishakhapatnam. Other projects include a Covered Storage Shed, a Truck parking terminal and an Oil refinery berth, aimed at boosting the capacity of Visakhapatnam Port.

8. Harit Shrey Scheme

Mormugao Port launched "Harit Shrey" scheme offering incentives to ships with good ESI score. The aim is to promote green initiatives and improve sustainability of port operations. M.V August Oldendorff was the first ship to receive the green incentive.

3. Shipping

1. National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping

On March 22nd, 2023, the country inaugurated its first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS), a collaboration between MoPSW and TERI. The research institution's field station in Gurugram will steer the shipping industry and ports towards carbon neutrality and circular economy.

2. First International Cruise Liner in India

On November 3rd, 2023, Costa Serena, the first international cruise liner in India, was launched from Mumbai by the Union Minister of MoPSW. This is a significant milestone in the history of cruising and tourism in India and was made possible by the "Dekho Apna Desh" campaign of the Honorable Prime Minister.

3. Indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) ‘SAGAR SAMPARK’

The Union Minister inaugurated indigenous DGNSS 'SAGAR SAMPARK' on 12.07.2023. DGNSS corrects GNSS errors for precise vessel positioning, reducing accidents in ports.

4. SAGAR MEY SAMMAN

The initiative started during special session on seafarer’s held on 19th of October 2023 in the GMIS-2023. It is a campaign to promote the role of women seafarers in India's Maritime Sector.

5. Indian seafarers on board vessel 'ADVANTAGE SWEET' safely brought back from Iran.

23 Indian seafarers on board the ADVANTAGE SWEET vessel, which was seized in the Gulf of Oman, have safely returned to India from Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs, the Embassy of India in Iran, and MoPSW, with support from the Iranian Government, worked continuously to make this rescue possible. The Union Minister of MoPSW highlighted the commitment of government agencies towards protecting seafarers' welfare.

4. Inland Waterways

1. Cargo Movement through Inland Waterways

From April to November 2023, cargo of 86.47 MMT moved through Waterways as compared to 80.44 MMT during April to November 2022, i.e. an increase of 7.49%.

2. Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC)

MoPSW has launched IWDC, a new initiative on 12.10.23 to develop Inland Water Transport (IWT) in India. The Union Minister will chair this initiative, with participation from State Governments/UTs and other Union Ministries as members. This will boost cargo, passenger movement and river cruise tourism.

3. MV Ganga Vilas

On 13th January 2023, the Hon'ble Prime Minister flagged off the world's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas. The 51-day cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh will cover over 3,200 km across five Indian states and Bangladesh, with visits to 50 tourist spots. The ship is 62 meters long, 12 meters wide, with three decks and 18 suites accommodating 36 tourists. The vessel follows sustainable principles, with pollution-free mechanisms and noise control technologies. The maiden voyage will witness 32 tourists from Switzerland relishing the journey. The PM also inaugurated four community jetties in Uttar Pradesh, laid the foundation stone of five community jetties in Bihar, inaugurated the Haldia Multi-Modal Terminal, and three major projects in Assam.

4. Ro-Ro service

Bahri Line, a shipping carrier from Saudi Arabia, has launched a new Ro-Ro service called FE service (Far East Europe) from Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) on January 22nd, 2023. The new Ro-Ro service directly connects China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Europe (Germany, France, and Belgium), providing a direct opportunity for exporters and importers.

5. Launching of Online Dredging Monitoring System

Online Dredging Monitoring System (Sagar Samriddhi) launched by Hon'ble Minister for PSW aims to streamline monitoring of dredging activities at Major Ports/IWAI, increase productivity of dredger, and achieve daily targets for timely completion of dredging projects.

Source: PIB

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