Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates ‘SAGAR SAMPARK’ Differential Global Navigation Satellite System to Strengthen Maritime sector

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is committed towards innovation, building best infrastructure,andstrengtheningtheIndianMaritimesector.

To further the digital initiative in maritime sector the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the indigenous Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS) ‘SAGAR SAMPARK’ in the presence of Shri Shripad Y. Naik, the Minister of State of Ports, ShippingandWaterways;ShriTKRamachandran,IAS Secretary, MoPSW and other senior officials from the Ministry and Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships. DGNSS is a terrestrial based enhancement system which corrects the errors and inaccuracies in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) allowing for moreaccuratepositioninginformation.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, ‘Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri.NarendraModiji,theMinistryofPorts,Shippingand Waterways have given high priority to the safety of Navigation, especially due to the considerable increase in shipping volume in the recent past’. He said, the launch of ‘Sagar Sampark - Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (DGNSS)’ at 06 locations under DGLL, will definitelyenhancethecapabilityoftheDGLLinthefieldof theRadioAidstoMarineNavigation.’

The DGNSS service will help mariners in safe navigation and will reduce the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in the port and harbour areas. Thiswillleadtosafe&efficientmovementofvessels.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shripad Y. Naik said ‘DGNSS is an important Radio Aid to Navigation towards fulfillment of international obligations of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA)’.

After recapitalization with multiple satellite constellations like GPS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), DGNSS further increases the availability and redundancy as per International standards and helps the mariners to improve their positioningwithin5meters.

The latest DGNSS system is now able to transmit corrections of GPS and GLONASS. The DGNSS significantly improves the accuracy of GPS positioning, reducing errors caused by the atmospheric inferences, satelliteclockdriftandotherfactors.Thisisachievedwith the help of modern state of art technology receivers and latest software. The error correction accuracy has been improved from 5 to 10 meters to less than 5 meters for 100NauticalMilesfromIndiancoastlines.

RTI response reveals Maharashtra can’t get any more Dry Ports

KOLHAPUR: The plans to set up a multi-modal logistics park or integrated container depot (dry port) at Ranjani in Sangli have been cancelled. This was revealed in the response of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to an RTI application filed by an activist from Sangli.

The JNPA response said the memorandum of understanding signed between the port authority and the Maharashtra government about the Ranjani dry port is cancelled. Moreover, as per the Union Finance Ministry’s guidelines, no new dry ports can be set as Maharashtra’s requirementhasbeenfulfilled.

Sangli MP Sanjaykaka Patil said there is no truth to the claims that the dry port is not happening. Patil said that due to some issues, the site was changed to Salgare village in Miraj tehsil of Sangli. “The National Highway Logistics Management Limited is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to implement dry port plans. We are in discussion with the state industries department, which has approved the transfer of land. Salgare village has 450 acres at a crucial point connecting the National Green Corridor Highway. The State Government is going to transfer 230 acre immediately. The work will start in twomonths,”saidPatil.