The Indian coastal trade is yet to take off in a big way though it has a very long coastline stretching 7,517 km with not less than 13 major ports and 200 non-major ports. In fact, the coastal waters prove a very good option for any heavy massive lift for transportation. In fact, Lift and Shift, India, lifted and shifted five very big monstrous equipments along the coast for Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation’s gas project in Kakinada on the east coast of India from Hazira on the west coast. It is said the last of the five Over Dimensional Cargo (ODC)s are on the way to the destination. To cite one example of an ODC just to bring out the massiveness of the equipment: a 23.50 meter high South Deck module weighing 4, 232 metric tons. The Executive Director, LIFT & SHIFT, Mr. Sanjay Valia, said: “The whole operation involved detailed planning for the past two years with client’s design and manufacturing teams and marine calculations for ensuring an event free safe load out on to the floating barge”.The government must extend more patronage to develop the coastal shipping in India. It is said the companies opting this mode of transport have to face harsh and impartial taxes like no exemption from income tax, customs duty on bunkers, landing fees. Even though the goods are not imported, they are subject to customs procedures and formalities. The ports too do not give any preferential treatment to the coastal cargo and nor do they provide dedicated berths for the coastal vessels. Many more grievances can be added. In short, the coastal shipping desperately needs genuine patronage.
However long the night, the dawn breaks.
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