RS query on Visakhapatnam as trans-shipment hub

Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, Member, Rajya Sabha

Q: Whether the (union) ministry has received suggestions from stakeholders to make Visakhapatnam a trans-shipment hub. What are the advantages of making a port as such a hub?

A: Ministry of ports, shipping and waterways is in receipt of suggestions from stakeholders to make Visakhapatnam a trans-shipment hub. Presently, proposals to develop Galathea Bay at Great Nicobar Islands and Cochin Port as trans-shipment facilities have been taken up by Government of India.

Developing a port into a trans-shipment hub will accrue significant benefits, such as forex savings, foreign direct investment, increased economic activity at other Indian ports, development of related logistics’ infrastructure, employment generation, improvement in operation / logistics efficiencies and increase in revenue share. Several other allied businesses – ship chandlery-ship supplies, ship repair, crew change facility, logistics’ value-added services, warehousing and bunkering also come up at trans-shipment ports.

Tariff guidelines 2021 fix market-determined tariff for PPP operators, thereby creating healthy competition; leading to rationalisation of logistics costs.

- Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways