DGS looks to upgrade Vizag port MMD

Visakhapatnam, Jan 11 (UNI) Additional Director General (Technical) A Chatterjee today said the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) was looking into a proposal to upgrade the Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) in Visakhapatnam port.

Speaking after inaugurating the MMD here, he said the performance of the port has been excellent and there was an urgent need to upgrade it to principal office.

He said the importance of MMD increased manifold following the impressive development of the port sector for the last decade, Vizag port has higher strategtic and economic importance in the changed global scenario and it should have a better equipped MMD. The MMD's of Cochin and Khandla were upgraded and steps would also be taken for the development of Vizag MMD.

Port Surveryor S K Sinha said the MMD established in 1948, had been functioning from the existing dilapidated building. The MMD looks after the safety of ships and environmental aspects, he added.

UNI