Asia/Pacific News
Shipowner Wants Level Playing Field Before Law Change
The Chairman and Managing Director of Mumbai based Shreyas Shipping, S. Ramakrishnan, has said Indian shipping companies want "a level playing field to compete with foreign ships" before a proposed relaxation of Cabotage law takes effect, according to a Hindu Business Line report Tuesday.
Ramakrishnan said that the government should have a waiver of duty for bunker calls, a tax reduction for crew wages, and development of infrastructure facilities in various ports and terminals, as well as address security issues.
Indian ship owners are not against the relaxation of the law, he said, but the government needs to first address domestic shipping company concerns as there are "several other issues to be sorted out before going ahead with this move."
V.K. Singh, CEO of Shreyas Shipping, said there was no need for additional tonnage by way of Cabotage relaxations as the tonnage available today "did not justify the volume of transhipment."
Shreyas Shipping says it is India's first and only container feeder owning and operating company.
