INDIA. Mumbai:A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) and Chennai-based Indian Maritime University(IMU) to provide maritime training and assist in skill development to over 7000 seafarers working on inland ships, on Monday.
The MOU was signed by MMB CEO Dr. Amit Saini and Commodore (Retd) Rajeev Bansal, Campus Director, IMU, in presence of Maharashtra Minister for Fisheries and Port development Aslam Shaikh. MMB Chief Port Officer Capt Sanjay Sharma and Additional Chief Secretary Ashish Kumar Singh were present.
The seafarers will be given training at T.S.Chanakya, Navi Mumbai campus of IMU. T.S. Chanakya, is a shore-based successor to the Training Ship Rajendra (1972–1993) & Training Ship Dufferin (1927–1972), is situated off Palm beach road in an area of about 40 acres. It is the oldest and most renowned maritime academy in India.
The MMB becomes the first government institute to sign the agreement with IMU for training. The MMB will also seek the help of IMU for port development and improvement in infrastructure, Maharashtra Minister for Fisheries and Port development Aslam Shaikh said.
Maharashtra has 35 creeks and rivers spread across a 720 km long coastline. Annually nearly 15 million passengers in the coastal districts use Inland Water Transport. The State Government has tasked the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) as the implementing agency for the development of passenger jetties on the Western Coast of Mumbai from Nariman Point to Borivali and the Eastern Coast of Mumbai from South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai.
Under a centrally sponsored scheme for the development of inland water transport, the Union Ministry of Shipping has approved eight projects in Maharashtra State at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 crores. The sites include Vishnupuri and Isapur in district Nanded, and Karanja, Mandwa, Rajpuri, Janjira, Dighi, and Agardanda in district Raigad. These projects are at various stages of implementation.
Maharashtra Maritime Board
Maharashtra Maritime Board is the nodal agency that takes care of the regulatory and developmental framework of the state’s maritime activities. Over the years, the board has taken several initiatives to harness the potential of its coastline. These include the development of the marine front including setting up several cargo jetties, ferry wharves, larger port terminals, inland water transport system, shipyards, etc. MMB ports presently handle 10 percent of the total cargo handled by minor ports in the country.
Maritime India Summit 2021
In the meanwhile, MMB is joining the Maritime India Summit 2021, organized by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways on a virtual platform from March 2 to March 4. The summit will visualize a roadmap for India’s maritime sector for the next decade and will work to propel India to the forefront of the global maritime sector. The MMB has set up a pavilion in the summit to provide information about the port network and facilities it is offering and investment opportunities.
