Current Affairs Brain Booster for UPSC & State PCS Examination

Topic: Maritime India Summit 2021

Why in News?

• The summit was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) jointly with FICCI as Industrial Partner andEY as Knowledge Partner.
• Denmark was the partner country of the Summit 2021.

Key Highlights

• Prime Minister has released e-book of ‘ Maritime India Vision-2030’. Maritime India Vision 2030 is aiming to make the Indian Maritime Industry at par with top global benchmarks in next 10 years.
• Prime Minister also unveiled the e-plaque of ‘Sagar-Manthan’:Mercantile Maritime Domain Awareness Centre(MM-DAC). It is an information system for enhancing maritime safety, search and rescue capabilities, security and marine environment protection.
• India will invest USD 82 billion in port projects by 2035, raise share of clean renewable energy source in maritime sector, develop waterways and boost tourism around lighthouses as part of port-led development.
• More than 574 projects costing USD 82 billion or Rs 6 lakh crore have been identified for implementation between 2015 and 2035 under the Sagarmala Project. The government is also looking to operationalise 23 waterways by 2030.
• The government of India is also planning to develop tourism on land adjacent to 78 out of 189 lighthouses on Indian coastline.
• The capacity of major Indian ports has increased from 870 million tonnes in 2014 to 1550 million tonnes now.
• Indian ports now have measures such as: Direct port Delivery, Direct Port Entry and an upgraded Port Community System (PCS) for easy data flow.
• Indian ports have reduced waiting time for inbound and outbound cargo. Mega ports with world class infrastructure are being developed in Vadhavan, Paradip and Deendayal Port in Kandla.

Indian Ports: Current Status

• Sagarmala project: Under the Sagarmala project, more than 574 projects have been identified for implementation during 2015 to 2035 at a cost of about Rs 6 lakh crore.
• Domestic waterways: The government of India aims to commission 23 waterways by 2030. Additionally, steps are also being taken by the government to introduce urban water transport systems in major states and cities such as Kochi, Mumbai, Gujarat and Goa.
• Lighthouse: At present there are about 189 lighthouses on the vast coastline of India. The government of India has prepared a programme to develop tourism on the land around 78 lighthouses. The main objective of this initiative is to develop the existing lighthouses and the areas around them into specific maritime tourist destinations.
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: Recently, the government of India has expanded the scope of the maritime sector by renaming the Ministry of Shipping to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways so that the sector can grow in a holistic manner. It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has prepared a list of about 400 investable projects. These projects have an investment potential of $ 31 billion or Rs 2.25 lakh crore.
• Domestic shipbuilding and ship repairing market: To encourage domestic shipbuilding, the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy for Indian Shipyards has been approved. Ship repairing clusters will be developed along both coasts (eastern and western) by 2022.
• Mercantile Marine Domain Awareness Center: Recently the Mercantile Marine Domain Awareness Center has also been started by the government. It is an information system for promoting maritime security, search and rescue capabilities and marine environmental protection.
• Wealth from west: Government of India is also promoting domestic ship recycling industry for creation of 'Wealth from West'. India has implemented the Ship Recycling Act, 2019 and agreed about the Hong Kong International Convention.
• Overall development of island infrastructure and ecosystem: Government of India is focusing on the overall development of island infrastructure and ecosystem.
• Renewable energy in the marine sector: The government is making significant efforts to promote the use of renewable energy in the marine sector. The government is in the process of installing solar and wind-based power systems at all major ports of the country. The government aims to have more than 60 percent of the total energy consumed at all ports in India by renewable energy by 2030.