Question : Disinvestment of SCI

(a) whether the Government has decided for disinvestment of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI);

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether it is fact that the Government has changed the disinvestment plan in 2017, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) the present stake of the Government and sale proposal therein;

(e) whether any steps have been taken by the Government to utilize the ships in war or national emergency after the sale of SCI;

(f) whether the Government is having any other agencies to deploy their own ships in case of emergency and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the details of the rescue operations performed by SCI during the last three years and the current year till date?

(a) to (d) Yes sir. The Government has decided for disinvestment of Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). The present stake of the Government in SCI is 63.75% and the proposal of its entire stake sale is in process.

(e) Yes sir. Government can requisition any Indian assets, including Indian ships, during a war or national emergency.

(f) Director General of Shipping has power to issue directions to ships registered under Merchant Shipping Act or licensed under Merchant Shipping Act in public interest or in the interest of Indian Shipping to proceed for any particular purpose.

(g) The details of the rescue operations performed by SCI during the last 3 years and for current year are attached at Annexure – 1.



Annexure - 1
Rescue Operations by SCI Vessels in the last 5 years
<pre>
Sr.
No. Vessel Category
- Vessel Name Date Description of incident

1.
OSV - SCI Urja
26 Oct 2019 SCI Urja rescued 18 fishermen from distressed trawler ‘Vaishnav devi mata’ in the Arabian Sea along with the Indian Navy vessel, INS Teg

2. Tanker – Maharaja Agrasen
5 Aug 2019 Maharaja Agrasen rescued one person who fell overboard from M.V. Spar Capella in Gulf of Oman on 05 Aug, 2019

3.
Bulk Carrier – Vishva Vijay
5 Nov 2018 Vishva Vijay picked up a patient from fishing vessel LAKSIRI 04 off Trincomalee and transferred him ashore timely to help save the life of a seaman.

4.
Tanker – Desh Shanti
3 Feb 2017 Desh Shanti rescued 7 persons from sinking boat FRTK1 in Gulf of Oman on 03 Feb, 2017 (strong Shamal winds & very high sea swell over the Gulf region). Capt. Devendra Kumar was in command.

5.
Tanker – Sampurna Swarajya
June 2015 Sampurna Swarajya rescued seven fishermen from a sinking fishing boat during a tumultuous storm in the Bay of Bengal
</pre>

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