Latest news with #KeralaMaritimeBoard
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt sanctions 1.83cr for Vizhinjam port-led growth
Thiruvananthapuram: In a bid to accelerate port-led industrialization and supporting infrastructure, the state govt has granted administrative sanction of Rs 1.83 crore to appoint a consultant for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) on industrial development around the Vizhinjam International Seaport. The consultant, expected to be finalized by the end of this month, will chart a strategic roadmap for both marine and land-based infrastructure. A selection committee will soon meet to choose the consultant from tenders floated last year. Technical and financial evaluations have already been completed. Once appointed, the consultant will have one year to finish the study, though earlier submission will be accepted if completed ahead of schedule. "We are ensuring that the foundations for a port ecosystem are put in place without further delay," said a senior govt official. "The study will detail supporting infrastructure, container yards, logistics clusters and marine access necessary to make Vizhinjam port an industrial hub." The urgency stems from the lack of allied infrastructure around the port. Currently, there are no container yards, freight handling zones, or trucking terminals nearby. Without these, the port cannot begin gateway cargo operations. Land scarcity is another challenge. "We are getting numerous inquiries from investors seeking land near the port. However, inflated land prices make it unviable. Even around India's larger ports, land is much cheaper. We are now prioritizing land identification for infrastructure like truck terminals and container yards," the official added. To address this, the Kerala Maritime Board (KMB) has proposed transferring five prime acres near the historic Inspection Bungalow on Harbour Road to the government. The land will host container yards, freight stations, oil storage units and warehouses under a public-private partnership model, pending cabinet approval. Additionally, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd has been authorized to earmark at least 200 acres for industrial infrastructure, covering container yards and sector-specific clusters such as food processing and manufacturing. Connectivity improvements are also underway. The temporary access road to NH-66 at Thalakode is expected to be ready within a month. Soil filling between the 1.7km approach road and NH-66 is ongoing after retaining walls were completed. The road has been trial-tested with loaded trucks and streetlights and signboards are in place. However, the proposed permanent cloverleaf interchange at Thalakode, estimated at Rs 360 crore and requiring 30 acres of land, remains uncertain. The project is to be jointly funded by the state and NHAI, but progress has stalled despite preliminary meetings. VISL has so far paid Rs 11 crore to acquire 36 cents of land for related developments. On the rail front, a 9km tunnel is proposed to link the port with Southern Railway's mainline at Balaramapuram. Tenders for the project are expected shortly.. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
New Indian Express
12-08-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
DG Shipping cracks whip on maritime institutes, Kerala Maritime Board steps in
KOCHI: With the Director General of Shipping (DGS) cracking the whip on institutes offering maritime training and certification courses, the Kerala Maritime Board has decided to start approved courses at its facilities in Kodungallur and Neendakara. The DG Shipping had issued an order on August 1, banning private training centres from conducting maritime courses without mandatory approval. 'Maritime education and training provided to Indian seafarers are required to meet strict national and international standards as prescribed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and enforced by the DGS. "It has been brought to the attention of the directorate that certain foreign governments and maritime administration have authorised private training centres to conduct maritime training courses leading to issuance of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) certificate of competencies and certificate of proficiencies within Indian territory. But many such institutes do not have the approval of the DGS. Such activities are unauthorised and in contravention of Indian law and international obligations,' the order said. "As the courses are conducted undermining the regulatory authority of the Indian Maritime Administration, no training shall be deemed to be valid unless it is of such standard and type as approved by the Central government. No foreign government, maritime administration, agency, institution or representative shall conduct or deliver maritime training within India, without prior written approval from the DGS,' the order further said. As per the order, any entity violating the directive will face legal action and will be blacklisted. The DGS has advised all ship owners, and maritime training institutes not to collaborate with unapproved foreign training providers. Any foreign administration intending to conduct maritime training in India must submit a formal proposal to the directorate seeking prior approval.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Dredging at Beypore port likely to be completed by February 2026
The capital dredging work proposed at Beypore Port to remove virgin material from the seabed and deepen the existing waterway to allow easier navigation of larger vessels is likely to be completed by February 2026. Sources with the Kerala Maritime Board said the channel depth, currently at 3.7 metres, will be increased to 5.50 metres upon completion of the work, which had earlier faced delays due to rock formations. They added that the depth could be increased to 7.0 metres in a phased manner in the future. According to officials, the State government has already sanctioned ₹11.80 crore for the project, which has been pending for over eight years. The project, reviewed recently by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be carried out based on the hydrographic survey wing's report. To meet additional financial requirements, the Harbour Engineering wing has submitted a separate estimate of ₹82.80 crore to the State government. Efforts are also under way to include the port's development needs under the Union government's Sagarmala initiative. The lack of adequate draught — the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of a ship's hull — has been restricting vessel movement to Beypore Port. The proposal for a passenger ship service also remains stalled due to the long-pending dredging work.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- The Hindu
Crackdown on unregistered houseboats in Kozhikode
The operation of inland cruise houseboats in Kozhikode district will be brought under strict monitoring, following a State-level directive issued by the Kerala Maritime Board (KMB) to enforce regulations related to passenger safety and boat registration. The move comes in the wake of internal reports highlighting widespread violations of safety norms in the sector. Instructions have been issued to local enforcement squads to impound mechanised boats used for tourism that operate without adhering to legal formalities. The port officer and local police will be responsible for taking action against such illegal services. Tourism department sources said that details of several boats suspected of using fake registration numbers—or using registration numbers belonging to other vessels—are currently under scrutiny across different parts of the State. They added that many tourists remain unaware of such malpractices. KMB officials said boat operators would be given time until July 15 to complete the mandatory registration and paperwork via the Kerala Nauka inland vessel e-portal. The misuse of fishing boats for tourism purposes will also be investigated, they added. The police sources said the support of the Tourism department would be sought to monitor the entry of illegal operators into the sector. They said that all boat owners will be required to clearly display the vessel's registration details and carrying capacity for the awareness of passengers. In Kozhikode district, the registration details of houseboats operating in the Chaliyar, Akalappuzha, and Korappuzha rivers will be examined in the first phase of the drive, they said.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Minority commission recommends immediate action to resolve dredging uncertainty at Muthalapozhi
Thiruvananthapuram: The minority commission, which took a suo motu case in the Muthalapozhi issue, directed the district administration to take urgent measures to remove the uncertainty in dredging activity and resume sand removal. A sitting was held at the commission's headquarters on Wednesday, which was headed by chairman A A Rasheed. The harbour engineering department informed the commission that dredging operations were carried out using the dredger 'Chandragiri', owned by Kerala Maritime Board, to remove the accumulated sand at the estuary and channel. However, the work was halted due to a malfunction of the dredger after more than half of the work was completed. The authorities stated that they approached the manufacturing company for repairs and were taking steps to resume dredging immediately. Expressing dissatisfaction with the uncertainty in sand removal at the estuary, the commission instructed the harbour engineering department to submit a detailed report, including the details of the contract with the company responsible for sand removal, to the commission urgently. Meanwhile, coastal police informed the commission that the estuary was currently covered with sand, making it difficult for interceptor boats and enforcement boats to conduct patrolling and rescue operations.
