The new year has begun on a buoyant note for the shipping industry with the tonnage rising by 6.67 per cent. |
The total Indian tonnage stood at 6.62 million gross registered tonne (grt) on December 31, 2003 against 6.20 million tonne grt on December 31, 2002. The number ships rose to 625 on December 31, 2003 from 617 at the end of the previous year. |
"If the government introduces measures like tonnage tax, the total tonnage will receive a big boost," said Naresh Salecha, senior deputy director general of shipping at a press conference today. |
The rise in tonnage comes at a time when the shipping industry is in the midst of an unprecedented boom. This boom coupled with low interest rates has propelled ship acquistiion. |
Meanwhile, the directorate-general has approved three rating agencies""Crisil, Icra and Care""to undertake grading and rating of various maritime training societies. There are about 130 institutes conducting pre-sea and post-sea courses. |
"Rating by these three agencies is recommendatory and not mandatory. However, the graded institute will have weightage for getting fresh approval for expansion of capacity," director general of shipping G S Sahni said. |