Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan has said no erring shipping corporation could stay off the radar of the Directorate General (DG) of Shipping.
He said this at the Chennai Port Trust, where he distributed welfare measures on Friday.
On vessels sailing with expired licences, Vasan maintained that the DG (Shipping) would take appropriate action against such vessels. “We have tough guidelines for shipping in India. None will be overlooked. We will stick to the norms,” he added. The Minister said the preliminary investigation had been completed in the case of Pratibha Cauvery, in which six sailors were killed while abandoning the ship during cyclone Nilam.
The report was submitted to the DG (Shipping). “Based on the investigation report, we have formulated several guidelines and are pursuing the case. The compensation has been paid partly and the case is still pending before the court. Law will take its own course,” he added.
When asked about the Pratibha Varna vessel with stranded sailors on board, Chennai Port Trust chairman Atulya Misra said that there was no imminent danger to the crew on board.
On the Sethu Project, Vasan said it would develop the economy of the country. “It is a dream project in the South,” he noted. Condemning the attacks on Indian fishermen by Lankan forces, Vasan said the Centre was working towards creating a conducive environment for fishermen and ensuring their livelihood.
He said the Koodankulam Project will address the power crisis to some extent and sought the cooperation of people in the region.Vasan said the Maritime State Development Council Meeting, convened annually, would take place in Mumbai on January 7 and 8.
“We will have Maritime Ministries of the corresponding States and other stake holders of the minor ports. The meeting is aimed at tackling issues faced by minor ports in operationalising and other aspects,” he said. There were around 200 minor ports in the country, besides the 13 major ports, he added.