[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) has asked for permission from govt to upgrade them from inland vessels to coastal vessels for the local barge industry.
At present barges are classified as inland vessels and allowed to ply only in inland waters. However, they need to be allowed to upgrade to coastal vessels, after suitable modifications in equipment, functioning, etc said GBOA on Friday.
Atul Jadhav, president, GBOA, put forward the request on behalf of members at the day-long Maritime Summit, Panaji. At the interactive session organised for all stakeholders in the morning, he said that the local barge industry is in distress because inland cargo trade is over.
“Barges must be allowed to be upgraded to coastal vessels to operate in the coastal shipping market,” he informed officials from Ministry of Shipping and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). Jadhav said that Goan barges are built sturdily and can meet the standards of coastal vessels after minor modifications in equipment such as hatch cover, etc. “They should be upgraded in status and allowed to operate in fair weather,” he added.
The local industry currently comprises 185 barges and the industry is fighting for survival due to lack of work. They need to be allowed to tap the coastal market, he suggested. Jadhav also informed that the government is constructing a coastal roadway connecting Mumbai-Goa at a total cost of Rs.5,000 crore. “The huge infrastructure project will require bulk movement of millions of tons of cement. The project could be a game-changer in transportation for local industry if they are permitted to operate in coastal waters,” he said.
Goa’s barge industry was in high profit during the mining boom when 304 were operating. But after the closure of mining in October 2012 the industry is in distress.
Mining is re-opened but barges have yet to get proper business despite reduction in their fleet strength. The stake-holders session summit had participants from shipping companies, vessel operators and logistic companies.
The Goan shipping industry was represented by GBOA, Mandovi Shipping and Dempo Shipping.
The director of Mandovi Shipping Atreya Sawant said that RSV vessels must be permitted to move from east coast to the west coast and that the government needs to make suitable changes in the law for the east-west, coastal movement.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
