India will set up two operational Mega shipbuilding parks by 2030, eyeing a share of the $100 billion global shipbuilding market, the minister for ports, shipping, and waterways said Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The immediate target is to have four Mega shipbuilding parks with two each on the East and West coast. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are showing positive signs, he said, adding that states reiterated their commitments for these projects at the 20th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC). He said there will be one operational Mega shipbuilding park each on the West and East coast of the country by 2030.

Keel laid for India's largest dredger at Cochin Shipyard
The Cochin Shipyard (CSL) laid the keel of India’s largest dredger for Dredging Corporation of India (DCI). The construction of this high-capacity dredger will also enhance India’s dredging capabilities, supporting the growth of the coastal and inland shipping market. To be named as ‘DCI Dredge Godavari’, the Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) has a hopper capacity of 12,000 cubic metres. The keel for DCI Dredge Godavari, was laid by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, Ports, Shipping and Waterways, virtually. Once commissioned, this dredger will be the most sophisticated and technologically advanced dredger ever built in India. Contact: Cochin Shipyard Tel: 0484-2501200 Website: www.cochinshipyard.in

Malpe, Mulki ships of anti-submarine warfare project being built for navy
Malpe and Mulki, fourth and fifth ships of the Eight Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft project, being built by Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Navy, were launched at Cochin Shipyard (CSL), Kochi. The Mahe class ASW Shallow Water Crafts have been named after ports of strategic importance along the coast of India, and will look to carry forward the glorious legacy of the erstwhile minesweepers which were their namesake. The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and CSL in April 2019. The Mahe class of ships will be equipped with indigenously developed, state-of-the-art underwater sensors and are envisaged to undertake anti-submarine operations.

Centre notifies Galathea Bay as a 'Major Port'
The Centre has notified the international trans-shipment hub at Galathea Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a ‘Major Port’. With this, the proposed Rs 4.4 billion mega project is officially under the administrative control of the union ports, shipping and waterways ministry. It is also eligible for central funding and will be developed under the public-private partnership model. India currently has 12 operational major ports controlled by the central government and another 200 non-major ones governed by the states.

Review of major ports underway to identify operational shortcomings
India has initiated a comprehensive review of its ports to identify operational shortcomings. All large ports are being evaluated as a part of the exercise on multiple parameters to identify infrastructure deficiencies and highlight improvements. The idea is to scale up port capacities and ready some ports for handling larger ships and green transition. Upgrading existing ports into regional maritime hubs is now the plan. The evaluation will enable the government to firm up benchmark standards and best practices among ports that can be emulated nationwide. The government also proposes to rank ports in an exercise that will run in tandem with this evaluation and establish common minimum standards. The fresh improvements are being planned to supplement targets defined under the Maritime India Vision 2030.