To examine the contents of the National Maritime Agenda 2010-2020 and to promote India as a world's major shipbuilding and ship repair industry, the CII-Southern Region has organised Ships 2011, a two-day conference on strategies, human resource, infrastructure, processes and security in the Indian shipbuilding industry here.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Admiral (Retd) Pradeep Kaushiva, Director, National Maritime Foundation, was of the view that the opportunity in the country's maritime trade had been grossly underutilised. Requesting the Government to consider shipbuilding as a strategic industry, he pointed out that the prospects of growth of subsidiary industry in the sector remained high.

He stressed the need to promote inland water transport, being the cheapest mode of transport, and also called for exchange of data on shipping and allied sectors among various stakeholders.

Private sector role

Vice Admiral B.Kannan, Programme Director, Advanced Technology Vessel Project, Indian Navy, pointed out that the private sector has a key role in shipbuilding industry. The maritime policy agenda document brought out by the Government lacked focus. In keeping with international trends, India would have to augment the handling capacity at ports to facilitate operation of bigger ships.

Mr Paul Antony, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, said that non-availability of land posed problems for shipbuilding industry. He also underlined the need for massive clusters to support the industry.

Mr Manoj Joshi, Ports Secretary, Kerala, said the heavy duty imposed on maritime trade with a view to protecting domestic industry was indirectly harming shipbuilding industry.

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