MEDIA INTERACTION BY HON’BLE UNION MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF PORTS SHIPPING & WATERWAYS ON 27.02.2024 at chennai

1.      1.     Tamil Nadu has very rich cultural heritage and has vibrant history of seafaring/maritime trade since ancient time of Pallavas and Cholas

2.     Tamil Nadu is the only state with 3 Major Ports i.e. at Ennore, Chennai and Tuticorin.

3.    MoPSW given immense focus on the major ports locatedP at Tamil Naduand development of trade and industry through initiatives such as Sagarmala, Bharatmala, MIV 2030, PM GATI Sakti Master Plan etc.

4.             4.     Since 2014, in total more than 45 number of projects were initiated and/or implemented in the Major Ports in Tamil Nadu and an amount of more than Rs. 16,000 Crore was invested

5.             Under Sagarmala, 98 projects worth Rs. 93,671. Cr. are being implemented in the state of Tamil Nadu ;50 projects worth Rs 35,247 Cr. have already been completed.

6.             In last 10 years, Capacity of three major ports have been doubled from around 167 MTPA to 338 MTPA and turnaround time have been reduced by more than 50% (VOC-from 94 hrs to 46 hrs and KPL from 101 to 45 hrs)

7.             Coastal Community – With Sagarmala funding support; 4 fishing harbours projects in Kunthukal, Poompuhar, Chinnamuttomin, Mookaiyuralready completed.

8.             For Skill development; DG shipping has approved 37 Maritime training Institutes (MTIs) in Tamil Nadu with an intake capacity of 3,37,758 students and employing 1,644 faculty members.30,000 seafarers from Tamil Nadu are in active employment.

9.             Innovation Centre - NTCPWC has been set up in IIT Chennai for Innovation in maritime sector under Sagarmala program.

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10.        Tomorrow (28th Feb 2024)Hon’ble PM will lay foundation Stone, inaugurate, and dedicate to the nation 36 transformative projects worth more than Rs 17000 crores. This is a step towards "Viksit Bharat @2047"

11.        30 projects of Ministry of PSW worth Rs. 10,324 Crores would be inaugurated / foundation laid / dedicated by Hon’ble Prime Minister

12.        Of these 6 projects worth Rs. 7,587 Crores are only in the two ports in the State of Tamil Nadu

13.        Fulfilment of Modi’s Guarantee - Only a few years ago, our Hon’ble Prime Minister had announced that Government will take steps to make VoC Port as the Transshipment Hub of East Coast of India.Tomorrow this Guarantee is going to be fulfilled.

14.        Development of the Outer Harbour Container Terminal project at VOC port, costing Rs. 7056 Crores, will position it as a major transshipment hub on the east coast of India.

15.        This project will increase the container capacity of VoCPA port by many times.This project will significantly boost the economy of the state. It will also reduce the logistics cost and time thereby saving thousands of crores annually.

16.        VoC Port is India’s first Green Hydrogen Hub for large scaleproduction.Already 500 acres of land has been earmarked and a MoU has been signed with NTPC for installation of Green HydrogenProduction Facility.

17.        First time in India, indigenously developed hydrogen fuel cell ferrybuilt by Cochin Shipyard Limited will be launched – Atmanirbhar Bharat

18.        This Zero Emission, Zero Noise Vessel is a revolutionary step towards India becoming a Hydrogen Fuel Vessel Manufacturer.

19.        First time in India,SCI will convert existing two ships to run on green hydrogen – Sustainable Development

20.        Under the Green Tug Transition Program, it is targeted to convert at least 50% of all tugs into Green Tugs by 2030. – Green Ecosystem

EASTERN MARITIME CORRIDOR

·        Chennai is soon to become the Gateway to the Eastern Maritime Corridor to Vladivostok, Russia.

·        A big advantage of this corridor is the significant reduction in time required to transport cargo between India and Far East Russia…. by up to 16 days, from 40 to 24 days, and a significant reduction of the distance by upto 40%.

·        Presently, the distance between Mumbai Port and the Port of St. Petersburg, Russia by the Western Sea Route via Suez Canal, is 8,675 Nautical Miles or 16,066 Kms, whereas the distance from Chennai Port to Vladivostok Port via the Eastern Maritime Corridor is only 5,647 Nautical Miles or 10,458 Kms.

·        There is a clear-cut saving of 5,608 Kms in distance via Eastern Maritime Corridor as compared to the Western Sea Route. This will help in reducing logistic cost immensely, apart from hugely boosting efficiency in transportation of cargo between the two countries.

Cruise Tourism is another area where Tamil Nadu has made great achievements due to the steps taken by the Central Government through the launch of Cordelia Cruises to Sri Lanka and now domestic cruises are starting from this year onwards.