Question : Maritime Board

(a) whether the National Transport Development Policy Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Rakesh Mohan has given certain recommendations regarding Maritime Board and if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
(b) the details of Maritime Boards functional in the country along with the sanctioned/ actual strength of Members therein;
(c) the criteria adopted for appointment of Members in these Boards;
(d) whether there is a shortage of marine specialists in these Boards and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to avail the services of marine specialists for framing and implementation of maritime policies and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a):Yes, Madam, the National Transport Development Policy Committee has recommended that a new regulatory authority, Maritime Authority for Ports may be constituted under a modernized Indian Ports Act, suitably empowered to regulate competition and port conservancy across all the major and non-major ports in the country.

(b)&(c): At present, only 3 State Maritime Boards are constituted and functional in the state of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The criteria for selection of members are specified in the Maritime Board Act of the concerned State. The details regarding sanctioned/Actual Strength of members are at Annexure- I.
(d) As informed by the State Maritime Boards, there is no shortage of Marine Specialists in Tamil Nadu Maritime Board and Maharashtra Maritime Board, whereas in Gujarat Maritime Board, certain posts are vacant. The details of the vacant posts in Gujarat Maritime Board are at Annexure-II.
(e) No, madam.

Annexure -I
S. No. State Maritime Boards Sanctioned/ Actual Strength Criteria for Selection of Members
1. Maharashtra Official Members: 7
Non-Official Members: 6 1.Official Members of the Board are ex-Officio members.
2.Non-official members are appointed according to the specifications mentioned in the Maharashtra Maritime Board Act.
2. Gujarat Board consists of 6 members and 7 invitee members.

The Board shall consist of such number of members, not being less than 5 and not more than 12. a. 3 members appointed by virtue of their office amongst officers of the State Government, of whom
i)One shall be a representative of the department in-charge of the administration of minor ports in the state.
ii)One shall be the Commissioner of Fisheries, and
iii)One shall be a representative of the Finance Department;
b. The other members appointed from amongst the persons who are, in the opinion of the State Government, having expertise or experience in or capable of representing anyone or more interest of Shipping, navigation, ports, sailing vessels, fisheries, trade, commerce, finance, industry, workers of minor ports and such other interests, as in the opinion of the State Government, ought to be represented on the board.”
3. Tamil Nadu 14 Ex-Officio members under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Highways and Minor Ports, Government of Tamil Nadu Appointed by the Government of Tamil Nadu
Annexure-II
Posts Approved Posts Filled Posts Vacant Posts
Marine Engineer 3 0 3
Dredging cum Marine Engineer 1 0 1
Port Officer 7 3 4
Pilot Officer 4 0 4
Nautical Officer 1 0 1
Nautical Surveyor 2 0 2
Naval Architect 1 0 1
Chief Nautical Officer 2 1 1