The Union Territory of Lakshadweep is making steading progress in its plans to acquire several passenger-cum-cargo ships that will enable smoother and faster crossover between the mainland and the archipelago, and back.
The acquisitions, many already under way, are based on a 15-year perspective plan, Administrator B.V. Selvaraj said at Kavaratti, the capital island, on Republic Day. Shipping Corporation of India Ltd will provide technical consultancy services for the acquisitions.
To begin with, plans to acquire a 400-passenger all-weather vessel has reached the sanctioning stage and a final decision is expected shortly. Further details were not available.
The order for the construction of six landing barges, placed with Vipul Shipyard Ltd of Goa, is in various stages. The delivery of the initial two landing barges is likely to be made soon. The barges will do away with the embarkation and disembarkation through smaller craft and facilitate safe landing to and from the bigger ships. It may be noted that ABG Shipyard Ltd signed an MoU in 2007 to acquire Vipul Shipyard, situated close to its existing shipyard at Magdalla Port in Surat district of Gujarat.
The construction of two 250 passenger-cum-100 tonne cargo ships at Colombo Dockyard Ltd is on schedule. The hull of the first vessel is ready. The two ships are expected to be delivered by September 2009 and May 2010.
Harbour worksThe scheme for providing embarkation facilities at Agatti, Amini and Minicoy islands are in progress. Work on the east-side jetty at Minicoy is complete. Construction of an additional 40-metre wharf at Andrott will be ready by the end of March. A committee headed by B.V. Selvaraj is identifying the location of similar east-side jetties at Kadmat, Chetlat and Bitra islands.
Meanwhile, the ministry of shipping, road transport and highways has agreed to various proposals of the Lakshadweep Administration. These include shore protection by constructing retaining walls, subject to environment clearance; improvements on all the four east-side jetties within the next two-three years; charter-hire of required capacity cargo vessels; and global/regional tendering for timely annual dry-docking and repairs of ships. The Administration has submitted a proposal to the ministry of shipping for chartering of two 900-1200 tonne cargo vessels to transport essential commodities and petroleum products.
Cochin Port Trust will prepare the DPR and conduct soil investigation for the construction of a dedicated berth and other facilities at the port. CPT has allotted a 50,000 sq. metre frontage area (bed of backwaters) near the south coal berth, on lease for 30 years for this project.
M.V. Kavaratti, the 700 passenger-cum-160 tonne cargo ship unveiled in August 2008 has boosted tourist traffic into the islands — it has carried about 22,000 passengers till November. The Rs 173-crore ship, the largest passenger vessel ever built in India, is 120 metres long and has a speed of 17 knots. It has world-class facilities like a 152-seater cafeteria, 100-seater dining hall, a recreation room, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a helipad, an upper deck promenade and a centralised air-conditioning system. The ship has 100 deluxe berths (two berths in each room) and 70 first-class berths (four berths in each room). M.V. Kavaratti was designed and built by public sector Hindustan Shipyard Ltd in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Source : www.projectsmonitor.com