Port Blair, Aug. 21: The Lt. Governor has approved the proposal for conclusion of Charter Party Agreement for chartering of a 450 passenger-cum-100 MT Cargo vessel. The Charter Party Agreement will soon be concluded with the owners of the vessels whereafter the vessel will be inducted into service within a period of 04 months. The ship once inducted would be providing passenger-cum-cargo services in the Inter Island sector i.e. in between Port Blair and Nicobar group of Islands.

Further, MV “Bharat Seema” a 388 Passenger-cum-100 MT cargo vessel which belongs to the Lakshadweep Administration is ready to be transferred to the A&N Administration. The vessel after undergoing dry-docking and repair schedule at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. for the last 02 months has now been certified and is ready in all respects for operations. After completion of handing/taking over formalities between the two Administrations, the vessel is likely to be transferred to A&N Administration by September 2016.

The Director Shipping Services while sharing the above information has stated that the induction  of these two vessels i.e. MV Bharat Seema by September 2016 and the Chartered Vessel by the end of this year would provide a strong boost to the Shipping Services in the Inter Island Sector both in terms of transportation of passengers as well as cargo.

In addition to the above, the New Ship Acquisition Plan has now been put on track whereby contracts for 14 new ships, including 2x1200 Mainland Ships, 2x500 Inter Island Ships and 10 Harbour Crafts have been concluded earlier this year and the respective Shipyards have already started the Design/Construction work.

These new inductions would inject new lease of life in the aging shipping fleet of the A&N Administration and would make a definite positive impact in the shipping services across all sectors in the coming months and years. 

The aggressive and positive approach of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration under the dynamic guidance and leadership of the Lt. Governor towards improvement of shipping services and with complete support from the Ministry of Shipping and GOI including provision of dedicated funds for these projects, has injected new lease of life into the shipping fleet of the A&N Islands.