The Union Shipping Minister on Saturday announced that Shipping Corporation of India would set up a maritime training academy at Thoothkudi in collaboration with VOC Chidambaranar Port Trust.
Addressing a conference on investment opportunities in Thoothkudi organised by All India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan said the Shipping Corporation of India with its experience of running the premier Maritime Training Institute at Powai in Mumbai would provide its expertise in selection of faculty, academic staff, instructors and infrastructure for the academy.
This institute would cater to the requirements of students from southern districts of the state and provide quality maritime personnel to the country.
He said currently a blueprint is being prepared by the director general, Shipping Corporation of India and Indian Maritime University on the proposal. On the Outer Harbour Project in VOC Port, he said the draft detailed project report is being prepared. The estimated cost for its first phase is `5241 crore for the creation of 43 million metric tonnes per annum. “It would be taken up in 2015 and completed in 2021,” the minister said.
With the support being provided by the Shipping Ministry, VOC Port could emerge as a leading port in southern India catering to its vast hinterland and compete with ports like Colombo and Singapore, he added.