India needs increased draft depth to handle large vessels : Parliamentary Committee

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.....the committee said. It observed that increased competition and economy of scale has fuelled the development of bigger ships and to accommodate such vessels,portsmusthaveaccesschannelsofsufficientdepth alongwithadvancedandhighlyefficientterminalfacilities.

“There is an urgent need to increase the draft of almost all the ports of the country under the Sagarmala Programme, for which, the requirement of dredging at Indian Ports should be assessed and dredging plans should be formulated to accommodate larger ships,” the committee recommended.

While noting that though the Government has taken a number of initiatives to modernize our ports under the SagarmalaProgramme,thecommitteesaidalotremainsto be done to ensure deep draft availability to handle mega ships.

The committee recommended that the Ministry of ports, shipping and waterways should expeditiously resolve all pending issues, including clearances related to land acquisition, CRZ clearances etc, so that the execution of Sagarmalaprojectsisexpedited.

The committee pointed out that only two Indian ports featureinthetop40GlobalContainerPorts.

While pointing out that there is significant potential to develop port infrastructure in India and become competitive with other leading maritime nations by driving cost effectiveness, it recommended that overall capacity augmentation of Indian ports should be done and cost competitiveness at Indian ports should be ensured in a manner that in the next 5-7 years India has at least 5 of its portsbycontainerthroughputinthetop40ports. The committee also suggested that Major Ports should consider suitable reduction in vessel related charges and make them at par with the charges prevailing in neighbouringforeignports.

Adani Ports Mundra clocks 40 vessel movements in a day

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....."The management of the port expresses their sincere appreciation and acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication exhibited by the team responsible for achieving thissignificantmilestone.Werecognizethatthesuccessofthe port is a result of the collective efforts of various departments. The unwavering commitment of the team to provide seamless services has played a crucial role in enhancing the port's reputation." Spokesperson,APSEZ.

APSEZ has invested heavily in technology, infrastructure, and equipment to enhance its operational capabilities across its ports. Besides, the teams also undergo rigorous training to handlecomplexandchallengingsituations.

Mundra Port's outstanding achievement in handling vessel movements is a clear demonstration of their unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional services to their customers, placing them at the forefront of India's maritime industry. This remarkable accomplishment is a true reflection of the nation's maritime sector's increasing importance and the vast potential for further growth. The port's exceptional capability in handling an immense volume of cargo and vessels is pivotal to India's economic and trade prosperity. APSEZ is poised to harness India's maritime economy, which presents an immense opportunity for progress and expansion, with the Government's proactive policies and initiatives set to play a vital role in unlocking this potential and drivinggrowthinthesector.

Mundra Port's vision is to establish itself as a world-leading port by offering cutting-edge, sustainable, and innovative solutions. The port aims to promote sustainability and implement innovative technologies. This clearly reflects APSEZ’s forward-thinking approach and the intent to remain at the forefront of industry advancements. With this ambitious vision, Mundra Port is poised to become a leading player in the global market, setting new standards for excellence, efficiency,andsustainability.