Single agency to synergise all maritime activities needed: Byce

Mumbai, Nov 3 (UNI) Western Naval Command's Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Sangram Singh Byce today called for a policy decision to articulate maritime strategy and appoint a single maritime agency to synergise all ocean related activities.

''Far too many agencies are dependent on the ocean for their work, but there is no single co-ordinating agency. The need of the hour at the policy level is to articulate maritime strategy and appoint a single maritime agency to synergise all activities,'' he said while addressing a Special Plenary on 'Leveraging Naval - Shipping Synergies' at the CII flagship event for the Shipping and Maritime Industry, 'India Maritime Summit 2006'.

Admiral Byce emphasised that a holistic policy would also help in drawing attention to maritime issues, and recommended having fewer ports with larger handling capacities as efficiencies would only come if they were able to manage large volumes of trade and also stressed on the need for greater surveillance of the Indian Ocean by sea and air.

S Hajara, Chairman, CII National Committee on Shipping and aritime; Chairman and MD, The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd, highlighted the importance of the Indian Ocean to the world economy and world shipping, while stressing on importance of security in commercial navigation.

The Summit is being held concurrent to the ongoing CII Shipping and Maritime Expo at the Bandra Kurla Complex, which witnessed a tremendous response with thousands of enthusiastic visitors thronging the stalls on the first two days. Visitors are expected in even larger numbers on the third and final day of the Expo, which concludes tomorrow.

Some of the prominent exhibitors at the Expo who witnessed a substantial number of inquiries include ABG Shipyard, Bharati Shipyard, Caterpillar Commercial Pvt Ltd, Container Corporation of India, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Maersk India Pvt Ltd, Maharashtra Maritime Board, MAN Diesel India, Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai Port Trust, Mundra Port&SEZ, Pondicherry Port, VSNL, Wartsila India Ltd.

UNI MR KU VD RS1602