The Hindu Business Line : Mumbai-Karachi ferry service likely to be resumed

Relations between India and Pakistan may take yet another positive step with the historic ferry service between Mumbai and Karachi, which was discontinued more than 30 years ago, likely to be resumed shortly. The revival of this service is expected to come with the revised joint shipping protocol that the two countries are likely to announce shortly.

An indication to this effect was given by Mr G.S. Sahni, Director-General (DG) of Shipping and Secretary to the Government of India, at the conclusion of the week-long 43rd National Maritime Day Celebrations here on Wednesday.

Shipping protocol

Recently, a six-member delegation from the Indian Shipping Ministry visited Pakistan to discuss the modalities for a revised shipping protocol that will also remove many constraints facing movement of Indian and Pakistan flagged vessels between the two countries.

Mr Sahni said the Shipping Ministry had taken a decision to expand the country's maritime administration by setting up six new offices of Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), including at Kochi, Kandla, Paradip and Haldia ports. "The new office at Kochi was opened recently, which will be followed by a new office at Kandla," he said, adding that this would facilitate rendering of quicker MMD services, including surveys, to the shipping industry.

Rise in tonnage

On Indian tonnage, he said the country's fleet strength increased by 1.25 million GRT to touch the 8.5 million GRT mark last fiscal, representing a growth of 15 per cent.

He said this growth was largely an upshot of the Tonnage Tax regime that the industry was brought under.

Mr Sahni said the office of the DG - Shipping was on the verge of completion of its e-governance project, which will enable ship-owners and maritime students to interact with the office electronically.

He said efforts were on to develop the Indian Institutes of Maritime Studies into a world-class Indian Maritime University, which will also offer post-graduate and doctorate courses in maritime studies.

Mr Ravi Budhiraja, Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, spoke about the challenges facing the shipping industry today.

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