February 19, 2012:
The board of Indian National Shipowners Association will discuss this week a strategy to counter a likely decision on relaxation of Cabotage regulations to allow foreign lines to carry containers along the Indian coast. They expect some move from the Shipping Ministry this month before its Secretary, Mr K. Mohandas, demit office. Container-terminal operators, particularly those run by private parties, have been seeking relaxation in Cabotage. But this has been strongly opposed by domestic ship-owners' lobby on the ground that coastal cargo is reserved for Indian flag-carriers. Shipping sources believe that the association will move the court if the Government takes any decision which hurts its members' interests.