SSCP all set to enter second phase of dredging on Dec 11

Chennai, Dec 2 (UNI) The Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) is all set to enter the second phase, when the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) takes up dredging operations in the Adams Bridge area on December 11.

Announcing this to mediapersons here, Union Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu said the 2500 KW capacity DCI Vessel ''Acquaries,'' which was on lease abroad, has arrived and it would begin the dredging work on December 11.

He said the ongoing dredging work in the Park Strait area was in full swing and the present 4700 cubic mt capacity vessel, would be joined by another 7,400 cubic mt capacity vessel in January so that work could be completed six months ahead of the schedule in August 2008, Mr Baalu said.

Mr Baalu, who visited the National Maritime Academy, near here, said the academy would start courses from April next. The academy was the first of its kind in the country to have two stimulators for training cadets. The annual fee for the course was fixed at Rs two lakh, he added.

Presently, the country had about 40,000 trained crew members and there was a need for another 40,000 to 50,000 cadets in the coming years, Mr Baalu said.

For the setting up of Martime University at Semmancheri, near here, 300 acres of land had been acquired. Work would begin, once the cabinet gave its approval, he added.

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