High Power Committee holds meeting at NMPT

High Power Committee holds meeting at NMPT

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 22: The High Power Committee comprising Capt P V K Mohan, the chairman of the National Shipping Board; Principal Officer of MMD, Kolkata, Capt L K Panda; Shri Ajay Kalam, chairman of the Visakhapatnam Port Trust; Shri P Tamilvanan, the chairman of New Mangalore Port Trust, Shri Biplav Kumar, the deputy chairman of Paradip Port Trust and representative of the Ministry of Shipping organized a meeting at NMPT on Dec 22, Tuesday, as directed by Ministry of Shipping. 

The committee discussed issues related to the sinking of the Chinese vessel M V Asian Forest with agents, shippers, and other concerned parties. The agenda was to recommend guidelines on how to avoid such happenings in future, to improve sailing conditions, and to facilitate safe trading. 

The committee feels that vessels more than 25 years of age must not be allowed to load iron ore in Indian ports. Moreover, only duly certified bulk carriers must be permitted to load iron ore in bulk. Only government-approved laboratories will issue a certificate of cargo worthiness and lab facilities will be provided as close to the port as possible. 

Before the loaded vessel sets out to sea, the MMD official or any other authorized official will inspect the ship. Cargo surveyors appointed by shippers and exporters will inform terminal managers about any cargo that is not seaworthy. The terminal manager of the port will take the entire responsibility according to internationally accepted bulk code and bulk loading and unloading code. 

The port might revise the cargo operation guidelines for the rainy season. The DG Shipping will devise safe cargo operation guidelines to all ports that intend to load iron ore. The shipper will take the responsibility of aggregating the total cargo before the vessel is allowed to berth for cargo loading. 

In July 2009, the committee recommended the above guidelines during a similar meeting held at Paradip Port.