Jan 2020

January 2020 | Littoral Wind | 1

Presents

Littoral Future

Maritime Studies India

2020

2 nd Edition

7 th Feb 2020

Hotel Taj Mahal, Mumbai

Topics And Discussions

* Collaboration of Latest Technology

and Education Trends

* Challenges in Global Maritime Studies

*Adaptive Learning Platforms

* Maritime Security Studies

* Govt Policies and regulations

For Sponsorship & Speakership Contact

Raja Vaiz

E-mail - info@littoralcommunications.com

Mobile No. +91 96190 56871


INSIDE:

Page No.

1. Indian Shipping Fraternity achieves a

milestone with the approval of Ship Recycling Bill

17

2. Indian Cruise Industry and its magnification:

An exclusive interview with Shri Mansukh Mandaviya

9

3. Littoral concludes the year with yet another

successful seminar Littoral Cruise India 2019

30

4.The only home port for foreign ships is Mumbai Port

and it stands out in its role in the Cruise Industry.

7

5. Indian Cruise Industry gets a makeover

with the advent of Jalesh Cruise Lines.

20

6. A tale of Cruise Industry from the Sri Lankan lens.

22

7. Blue Economy and its role in National Development.

27

January January 2020 2020 | Littoral | Littoral Wind Wind | 3 | 3

Littoral Communications Pvt. Ltd.

Vol. 3 • Issue 01 • 1 st January 2020

Raja Vaiz

Managing Director

rajavaiz@littoralcommunications.com

Rajeev Nambiar

Editor in Chief

rajeevnambiar@littoralwind.in

Tiya Chatterji

Associate Editor

tiya.chatterji@littoralwind.in

Princy Natarajan

General Manager Marketing

princy.natarajan@littoralcommunications.in

Chandrika Pujari

Head - Events

chandrika.pujari@littoralcommunications.com

Sonal Bhosale

Graphic Designer

sonal.bhosale@littoralwind.in

John P Rayen

Tuticorin Zone

john.prayen@littoralwind.in

Srimal Fernando

Sri Lanka

srimal.fernando@littoralwind.in

January January 2020 2020 | | Littoral Wind | | 34

EDITORIAL

From the Desk of Managing Director

I am glad to present to you, the Littoral Wind

January 2019 magazine featuring a special issue

on the Indian Cruise Industry. This issue is being

delivered to you after the successful completion of

Littoral Cruise India 2020 on 20th December, 2019

at Mumbai. This event was one of littoral’s most colorful

seminars attended by well known personalities

from the Cruise Industry.

This issue carries an exclusive Interview with

our Shipping Minister Shri. Manshuk Mandaviya,

by our Associate Editor Tiya Chatterji. The minister’s

hope on this most promising domain will

surely cheer the Indian industry leaders. The Ministry

of Shipping is taking promising measures for

the Indian cruise industry to thrive. The minister

also points out at the job opportunities which will

emerge out of the government’s initiatives.

I also believe that Tiya’s cover story about

the Indian Cruise Industry will definitely bring out

more details about the potentials and prospects of

this fast growing segment. The contribution made

by Mumbai Port Trust’s Chairman Mr. Sanjay Bhatia

about the role of MPT is really the most interesting

article of this special issue. While the article

by Mr. Jurgen Bailom, the CEO of Zen Cruises

talks more about the rose tinted Indian Perspective.

Mr. Srimal Fernando’s write up about the Sri

Lankan Cruise line perception has added more

value to this Cruise Special Edition. Dr. Kannan

Rajaratnam’s article on Blue economy once again

reminds us about the shipping industry’s active

participation in the following years and the immense

potential of the logistics sector in the country.

On this occasion, I would like to bring to your

notice; Littoral’s seven forthcoming seminars

in the year 2020. I am confident these events

will strengthen Littoral’s position as Maritime

Knowledge provider from the Indian soil. Looking

forward for your support and wishing you all a very

happy and prosperous new year.

Dear Valued Readers,

Raja Vaiz

Managing Editor

January January 2020 2020 | Littoral | Littoral Wind Wind | 5 | 3


CRUISE TOURISM

IN MUMBAI

Mumbai Port has seen tremendous growth in Cruise ship

arrivals. In year 2017-18 only 40 Ship called with 56601

pax visited, while a year later in 2018-19, We had seen

106 Ship calls with 86757 Pax. This is to grow to 256 Ship

calls in year 2019-20 as per the schedule received.

To grow this business Mumbai Port Trust has undertaken

many steps in terms of Physical Infrastructure and the

processes as also interacted with regulatory authorities

for ease of cruise business.

Sanjay Bhatia

Chairman, Mumbai Port Trust

Development projects that have

been taken up to prmote the

cruise industry in Mumbai

• Construction of New International

Cruise Terminal at Mumbai.

• Waterfront Development Projects

like sea side restaurant, Skating

rink, Amphitheatre, Marina, Ropax

terminal etc.

• Operation of Floating Restaurants

in Mumbai harbour

• Development of Kanhoji Angre

Light House for Light House Tourism.


GUEST COLUMN

Steps taken to promote the

cruise industry in the city/state?

• Guaranteed berths to cruise ships.

• SOP-2 implemented for uniform

& predefined services by various

stakeholders like, Port, Customs,

Immigration, CISF, Port Health,

Cruise agent, Cruise Terminal operators,

State Govt. Tourism Boards,

etc..

• Uniform single rate for all major

ports is introduced with discounts

ranging from 42% to 67%, in the

major Ports.

• Ousting charges removed to attract

more cruise vessels.

• Volume discount in Port Tariff upto

50% for Domestic Cruise Ship

75 to 100 calls – 40%

Above 100 calls – 50%

• e-Visa introduced enabling tourists

to avail online and on- arrival

visa facilities.

• Biometrics exempted for e-Visa

for 3 years for ease of travel, for

cruise tourists

• Single e-Landing cards introduced,

valid for all ports in cruise

itinerary, as a travel document for

the cruise tourists in various ports.

• Cabotage waived for foreign

cruise vessels on Indian shores

benefiting Indian passengers.

• Nodal Officer at National level, is

appointed in each port.

• BPX reserved for Cruise ships

with priority berthing.

• Upgradation and modernization

of existing cruise terminal with

more passenger amenities and

convenience.

• Starting New Mumbai International

Cruise Terminal by December

2020.

• Roadmap drawn for development

of cruise in India by Ministry

of Shipping

• Participation in all Cruise Trade

Sea Trade conclaves Globally, i.e.

Miami, Dubai, etc.

• Roadmap/Action points for ports

drawn for infrastructure, facilities

GUEST COLUMN

and services.

• Training/Sensitisation session

held.

New destinations being developed

within India

• Maharashtra - Tarkarli, Murud

Janjira, Ganpatipule.

• Kerala -Thiruvanathpuram, Vizinjam,

and Calicut.

• Gujarat - Daman, Diu, Porbandar,

Dwarka, etc.

• Lakshdweep islands and Kadmat

island.

“ To grow this business

Mumbai Port Trust has

undertaken many steps in

terms of Physical Infrastructure

and the processes

as also interacted with

regulatory authorities for

ease of cruise business”

Mumbai becoming a hub for luxury

cruise tourism in the future,

• Cruise lines are homeporting

in Mumbai. Costa Cruise

homeported for three consecutive

years, and 4th year is in operation.

‘Karnika’ India’s first premier

luxury cruise ship is homeported

in India offering variety of cruise

routes like Mumbai-Goa, Mumbai-

High Seas, Mumbai-Diu, Mumbai-

Ganpatipule, Mumbai-Gulf etc.

The third ship to homeport in

Mubai is ‘Angriya’ which offers

three cruises in a week to Goa.

• At present there are two Domestic

cruises on Mumbai-Goa route,

more domestic cruise may shortly

commence due to reduction in domestic

cruise tariff by Government

of India.


COVER STORY

Cruise

Tourism in

India

Tiya Chatterji

Associate Editor


COVER STORY

India has a vast expanse of land which is blessed

with water on three sides and pristine locations across

multiple idyllic islands. The diversified flora and fauna

gives a respite from the daily humdrum of the city

life, while authentic cuisine is worth relishing in this

ethnically diverse country we reside in. Our country is

abundantly diverse both culturally and geographically,

which opens a whole new dimension of tourism which

is multifaceted in nature.

“The economy boosting

potential of the cruise

industry is evident from

the estimates of $100-150

direct and indirect revenue

generation from a single

foreign cruise passenger

visit.”

Cruise tourism in India has had a recent genesis in

our county. It has always been viewed for the elite and

not the middle class, while also owing a reputation to

burn a hole in your pocket! With the recent attempts

to introduce budget cruises, along with an economic

turn with leisure activities gaining momentum and

more disposable income, the cruise tourism industry

has started sprawling. On a global scale cruise tourism

began somewhere in the year 1844 when the Peninsular

and Oriental Steam Navigation Company expanded

its passenger operations from transportation

to leisure cruising, operating sailings from England to

the Mediterranean. The concept of travelling by sea

was dying out after world war two and people preferred

travelling by air for obvious factors. The face of the

modern cruise industry took shape around the 1980s.

The industry of cruise tourism in India has immense

potential. The country is bestowed with 7516 Km of

coastline which is the untapped potential of our country.

The economy boosting potential of the cruise industry

is evident from the estimates of $100-150 direct

and indirect revenue generation from a single foreign

cruise passenger visit. This also aids in boosting the

importance of natural heritage of our country. This

unique sector of the tourism industry has also run a

long way to grow out of its stereotypical image of being

targeted to the niche segment; from exclusive in nature

to accessible and affordable. It is growing both as

a leisure and social activity and hence its development

is paramount.

India is a popular cruise destination- currently ranking

ninth in the global list of popular destinations. In

India there is a general lack of awareness regarding

cruise tourism and there is little to no realization pertaining

to the advantages it offers for the Indian market

and the contribution to the economic growth. India and

its diversity have attracted visitors from far and wide

since ages and this is a prime reason for availability of

developed tourist destinations. While considering development

of cruise development in India, a majority of

the tourist attractions are located near the coastal areas

and hence the development will be essential and

beneficial for the magnification of cruising.

However, the industry is still developing and India

as a country is yet to fully capitalize on the cruise industry.

Indian passengers only account to six percent



Cover Story


COVER STORY

in South Asian cruises, suggesting ample scope in the

domain. One of the major hurdles to deal with in the industry

is the lack of infrastructure, required in order to

facilitate the influx of cruise vessels. INCLA has been

formed by leading cruise liners and other stakeholders

from around the globe with the objective to create a

roadmap for the development of the cruise sector in

India and also to highlight various issues being faced

by the Indian cruise industry, initiate reforms required

to address the said issues and ensure that reforms are

implemented effectively at the ground level. A detailed

SOP document is also available, aided by the Ministry

of Shipping which is very coherent. This is also allied

with quarterly policy and monitoring meetings for

cruise tourism.

Mansukh Mandaviya

Minister of state for Shipping

In an exclusive interview with the Honourable

Minister of state for Shipping, Shri. Mansukh

Mandaviya; he expressed his thoughts about the cruise

potential in India along with the government’s vision

for its expansion. A vast majority of Indians, are opting

for cruise holidays in destinations like Singapore,

Maldives, Thailand and the like. Cruising is now gaining

popularity in India while the government is looking

forward towards promoting the same. The potential

of inland waterways is realized with the introduction

of river cruises on the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.

Uniworld, Pandaw and Avalon are the most popular

cruise lines on the Ganges River in India, while lines

including Saga Cruises, International Expeditions and

Fred River Cruises service the Brahmaputra River.

‘’Cruise tourism can become a major source of

employment because of its labour-intensive nature.

Shri Mandaviya remarked that, today 2.30 lakh Indian

seafarers are serving in the global shipping industry’’.

Therefore, the Centre is facilitating growth in this sector

by creating synergy between the various stakeholders

of the industry like cruise companies, tour operators

immigration and customs department and so on, said

the Minister. This is also complimented by the various

cruise circuits that are being devised to amplify the


development. The ministry of shipping has plans to

also focus on the development of maritime heritage in

the country, and is planning to construct a museum at

every port beginning with Kolkata. This museum will be

an incentive in providing the tourists the infotainment

while they enjoy their cruising experience. Earlier this

month, the Road Transport, Highways and Shipping

Minister Shri .Nitin Gadkari recently laid the foundation

stone for construction of a passenger jetty at Kanhoji

Angre Island in the presence of Heavy Industries &

Public Enterprises Minister Anant Geete. The project

is being implemented by the Mumbai Port Trust (Mbpt)

and was initiated by the former union minister of state

for shipping; Milind Deora. “The Mumbai Port Trust

will invest Rs 47 crore to develop the Kanhoji Angre

Lighthouse as a tourist destination,” Shri Gadkari said.

He added that, Rs 17 crore will be spent for building a

jetty, while the balance will go towards tourist facilities

on the island, which will include restaurants, camp

sites, accommodation rooms and up gradation of the

fort. The union minister had said a few days ago that

his ministry plans to throw open over 300 lighthouses

across the country for tourism. These are some of the

few initiatives among many that the shipping ministry

envisions in order to enable blooming of the industry.

Shri Sanjay Bhatia, Chairman, Bombay Port Trust

& Chairman, Indian Ports Association, said: “There has

been a strategic shift in thinking regarding utilization

of ports in India. We are planning to transform ports

to support cruise tourism. The government is working

very closely and several reforms have been taken including

reduction of tariffs at five ports Mumbai, Goa,

New Mangalore, Kochi and Chennai”.

“ Cruise tourism can become

a major source of employment

because of its labour- intensive

nature. Shri Mandaviya

remarked that, today 2.30

lakh Indian seafarers are

serving in the global shipping

industry. ’’

“The ministry has also recently resolved the issues

regarding Cabotage laws and will look at the charter of

demands from industry stakeholders to resolve them

at the earliest to promote cruise tourism,” said Shri

Nitin Gadkari, Honorable Minister of Road Transport

COVER STORY

and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River

Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government

of India.

In 2011, AMET Shipping Pvt Ltd of the AMET Group,

the Chennai based company, invested a swooping 100

crore in procuring a 35-year-old cruise vessel, the Arberia

from its Greek owner. This training-cum-cruise

vessel was renamed the AMET Majesty and became

the first cruise ship registered in Chennai with an Indian

flag. International cruise liners like Royal Caribbean,

Celebrity Cruises, MSC and Costa Cruises are

monitoring the growing number of Indians looking for

affordable cruise holidays and are docking at major

ports such as Mumbai, Goa and Kochi with new, India

-specific itineraries. The squall of India oriented trips,

carefully crafted to introduce more Indians to cruises,

“The ministry has also

recently resolved the issues

regarding Cabotage laws

and will look at the charter

of demands from industry

stakeholders to resolve them

at the earliest to promote

cruise tourism,” said Shri

Nitin Gadkari, Honorable

Minister of Road Transport

and Highways, Shipping

and Water Resources,

River Development and

Ganga Rejuvenation,

Government of India’’

are economical and shorter in duration, starting for as

little as Rs 26,800 onwards for three nights compared

to the ultra-luxurious liner that traverse the Mediterranean

and Aegean, and expect patrons to pay a hefty

amount beforehand. As expressed by the head of Costa

Cruises in India; MS Nalini Gupta, “Everybody is

testing the waters in India. We have our ships coming

in from December until March and we do our sailings

from Mumbai to Maldives. Over the last two years, the

people who have sailed with us are the middle class.

Cruising is now becoming affordable for the common

man of India. It is not the reserve of the rich and famous

and this was an eye opener for us also”.

There are 13 major ports and around 200 minor

ports in India. Amongst them, six major ports are being

developed as world-class cruise terminals. These

ports, are situated in states where tourism is a dominant

sector and hence proves to be a ready platform

for the development of cruise tourism. These ports are

Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, New Mangalore, Tuticorin and

Chennai. In four of them, terminals for cruise liners are

ready, but they require additional infrastructures.

The above listed ports have some basic features

to support cruise industry. The Cochin port has basic

berthing facilities available at the Samudrika Convention

Centre. Since, the foreign ships that call at the

port, are too large for the jetty to handle, they berth at

the Ernakulam Wharf, which does not have facilities

for cruise passengers. The

Cochin Port Trust had submitted a proposal to the

Ministry of Tourism for the creation of a new terminal.

Estimated to be completed by 2020, the terminal

would have state-of-the-art facilities, making Kochi a

preferred destination for cruise tourism. Kochi is also

the first port in India along with Mumbai port to set up

an online immigration clearance facility. The port attracted

39 cruise liners in 2016 and is expected to cater

to 45 cruises in 2017.

The central government has launched several initiatives

to boost India’s cruise tourism industry. These

are the following:

(i) The Ministry of Shipping has further requested

the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to continue

to exempt Cruise Tourism from the ambit of GST.

(ii) E-visa facilities have been extended to five major

ports, following the model of Cochin and Mumbai Port.

(iii) A 30 per cent rebate is being offered on vessel

related charges by all major ports to cruise ships.

(iv) Cruise vessels are exempted from any priority,

ousting, or shifting charges at all major ports, provided

the vessel informs the port 30 days in advance.

(v) Major ports provide 25 per cent rebate in vessel


COVER STORY

related charges for coastal cruise movements, in addition

to the existing rebate of 40 per cent for coastal

vessels.

(vi) Walk-in or preferential berthing is given to cruise

vessels at their home ports, without any extra charge.

(vii) Foreign Flag passenger vessels are allowed to

call at Indian ports without obtaining a license from DG

Shipping. This was initially allowed for a maximum

period of 10 years, (with effect from 06 February

2009) but now, the period for which this relaxation is

applicable has been extended to 15 years.

(viii) A Task Force to promote cruise tourism has

been constituted jointly by the Ministry of Shipping and

the Ministry of Tourism. The Task Force is responsible

for formulating suitable strategies and for facilitating

their execution.

(ix) The government has implemented Standard Operating

Procedures (SOPs) for the handling of cruise

vessels.

(x) A number of ‘Port-Level Committees’ have been

constituted to address manpower, coordination, and

logistics issues, in optimal handling of cruise vessels.

Each such committee has the Chairman of the respective

Major Port Trust as its Chairman, the Secretary

Tourism of the concerned state as its Vice-Chairman,

and the Regional Director of the respective region of

the Ministry of Tourism as its Convener.

(xi) The Ministry of Tourism also extends financial assistance

to Ports for developing tourism infrastructure,

under its Scheme for Assistance to Central Agencies.

The reforms initiated so far, have enticed various

foreign-flag vessels to call at Indian ports, and have

also opened up opportunities for domestic companies

to venture into this sector. With other programmes,

such as ‘Sagarmala’ and it’s ancillary projects such as

port industrialization, existing companies and entrepreneurs

can set up cruise tourism-related businesses.

They would be supported by the government induced

initiatives, along with other initiatives like ‘Start-Up India’,

‘Skill India’ and ‘Make in India’. All these initiatives

and projects complement one another and hence, it will

“As expressed by the head of

Costa Cruises in India; MS

Nalini Gupta, “Everybody is

testing the waters in India.

Over the last two years, the

people who have sailed with us

are the middle class. Cruising

is now becoming affordable

for the common man of India.

It is not he reserve of the rich

and famous and this was an

eye opener for us also.”

not only promote cruise tourism at the domestic level,

but also help in the development of Coastal Economic

Zones and support the success of Project Sagarmala.


COVER STORY

“Cruise tourism is gaining

traction among Indians, although

gradually. This changing

trend has seen people of

all age and income groups

preferring cruises as a mode

of travel and tranquillity; it is

no longer considered to be a

high -end luxury.”

Cruise tourism is gaining traction among Indians,

although gradually. This changing trend has seen people

of all ages and income groups preferring cruises as

a mode of travel and tranquility; it is no longer considered

to be a high -end luxury. With the concept of the

Blue Economy being very much part of the global parlance,

cruise liner operators are looking for islands as

their destinations, which makes India a desired choice

which has more than 1300 islands and islets and the

ability to be a potential cruise hub.

India is a land of mesmerizing beauty and it does

not disappoint when it comes to the cruise potential

destinations. There are several challenges that still

exist , and need to overcome. Having adequate infrastructure

to support the industry is the first and foremost

necessity. This can only be achieved through undertaking

of proactive measures and formation of clear

policies by the government for seamless operations.

The industry needs to focus towards private collaborations

in order to learn, explore and enhance the nuances

of the industry. These measures are a prerequisite

and the quotient of profit should be retained , in order

to ensure sustainability and growth in the said industry.

The cruise vessels also play a major role in catering

to the environment conducive to development and

popularity of the same. Passengers look for comfort

with a world-class experience. The home ports and

ports of call must be equipped with adequate transport

facilities, connectivity, shopping centers and welldeveloped

tourist destinations. Reference here can

be made of the heli- tourism commenced by the New

Mangalore Port. These initiatives when combined together

will result in the desired output. The development

of the cruise industry will not only enable a major

share in the economic development but also cater to

job opportunities. If this is advertised with the digital India

initiative along with various outreach programmes,

we can be at par with global competitors.


ARTICLE

Recycling of Ships Bill 2019

A modern ship generally has a lifespan of 25 to 30

years before corrosion, metal fatigue or lack of parts

render it and uneconomical to operate. After having

faced rough seas and hundreds of voyages, ship

reaches the end of its life. Once the life of a ship ends,

ship recycling starts. Ship recycling is a type of ship

disposal involving extraction of its raw materials. This

is also known as Ship dismantling or Ship breaking.

Ship recycling allows the materials from a ship, especially

steel to be extracted & transformed into various

by-products. Fixtures and other equipment onboard

the vessels is reused as per the condition and size of

the vessel. All types of household items like antique


Mansukh Mandaviya

Minister of state for Shipping

furniture for drawing/dining rooms, doors, cupboards,

fans, washing machines, sanitary fittings et-al are sold

at a premium price after removal from ships. So rather

than breaking the ship we clear, clean and recycle

the ships when their lives end. More than 90 to 95%

parts of the ships are properly treated and reutilised

and there is hardly any scrap left behind. The recycled

steel from ships continues to play an important role in

the economic growth & development of the countries.

In India the recycled steel recovered from the scrapping

units’ amounts to almost 10% of total consumption

of steel. It is a well-known fact that for extraction of every

1 ton of steel from the iron ore, about 6 to 10 tons

of coal is required during the normal process. Hence

the production of steel from recycling of ships, without

replenishing natural resources like iron ore, coal etc.

in comparison to steel produced by integrated steel

plants, is a green and eco-friendly method.

While ship recycling is a sustainable process there

are concerns regarding environmental hazards and

impacts. It is a labour intensive & one of the risky industries.

The health risks in the presence of materials

like asbestos, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls & heavy

metals, particularly in older vessels pose a danger to

the workers. Burns from explosions of fire, suffocation,

mutilation from falling metal, cancer & disease

from the toxins are regular occurrences in this industry.

The dangerous vapours & fumes from the burning

matter can be inhaled & pose a major health hazard to

the workers. When flammable gas is not fully removed

from the fuel tanks, many workers may get injuries

ARTICLE

from the explosions. Therefore, it is paramount that

insurance and health risks of yard workers are taken

care of on priority.

c. Now a days also, around 30% of the global ship recycling

(around 250 to 280 ships) is carried out in India.

India, Bangladesh, China & Pakistan have the highest

market share & are global centres for Ship Recycling.

Alang in Gujarat is world’s biggest shipyards

which leads this business. The shipyard is providing

direct employment to the tune of 30,000 workers and

indirectly to lakhs of workers. The employment generation

for lakhs of individuals is one of the most positive

aspects interconnected with ship recycling industry and

more vital for a country like ours.

The Recycling of Ships Bill 2019 has been brought

into force in India to set global standards for safe and

sound environmentally-friendly recycling process and

also to provide adequate safe working conditions for

the yard workers. It is in consonance with International

standards as laid down in Hong Kong Convention

2009.The convention when enacted, requires ship

recycling facilities to obtain authorisation to operate

and only authorised yards will be permitted to import

ships for recycling. Ship-specific Ship Recycling Plans

(SRPs) will need to be prepared for incoming vessels.

The ships will need to obtain a “Ready for Recycling

Certificate” in accordance with the HKC prior recycling.

Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) is also

required to be prepared mandatorily. Ratification of

HKC by India will ease the restrictions on non-European

Union (EU) yards that are currently imposed by

the EU Ship Recycling Regulations, enabling green

ship recycling in India. It is going to open up routes

of trade & draw the interest of countries like Norway,

Japan, Jordan, UK, Iran to invest in the markets of India

which will enhance the economic growth & development.

Widening the global markets will also give a

large scope of employment & job opportunities to our

country. It will raise the brand value of ship recycling

yards of India and increase the business; consolidating

India’s position as a market leader. So, it is certainly

going to result into tremendous growth of business

activities in ship recycling industry contributing to the

country’s GDP.

The instrument of India’s accession to the Hong

Kong Convention was recently handed over to the IMO

General Secretary on 28th November 2019 during the

31st session of the IMO Assembly. The accession has

been greatly appreciated by the IMO Secretary General

Kitack Lim.

India’s accession to the HKC 2009 and passing of

Ship Recycling Bill 2019 is a landmark achievement in

India’s maritime sector. With India’s ship recycling volume

considerably high, it is a significant step for the

Hong Kong Convention, bringing it closer to entering

into force globally. With passing of this landmark Bill

the Indian Government has ensured that this industry

continue to operate keeping yard workers’ health and

safety as well as addressing all environmental concerns

interconnected with it. India, thus, now holds

the key to unlock Hong Kong Convention. It is therefore

a hallmark moment in the Indian maritime history.

Undoubtedly, it is a part of ongoing major reforms and

Modi Government’s commitment towards making

India a 5 trillion economy by 2025.



GUEST COLUMN

Cruise

Tourism

An emerging ‘experience’

for domestic Indian

travellers

Jurgen Bailom

President and Chief

Executive Officer

Jalesh Cruises

“Having the lowest

cruising age in the world

(37),India’s cruise tourism

market has the potential

of growing to more than

4 million passengers

in the next 10 years.

Currently India produces

over 150,000 cruise

passengers, while the

domestic cruising sector

is virtually non - existent.”

Air Deccan, the budget airlines,

opened Indian skies for millions

of Indians who would otherwise

spend hours on long train journeys.

It gave fillip to the domestic

travel sector, creating an ecosystem

for the domestic travellers.

Today, the Indian travellers prefer

experiential holidays and cruise

tourism is on the cusp of offering

these differential experiences to

the domestic tourists.

With an increasing disposable

income, there is huge demand for

travel from the middle class. Increasing

connectivity, exposure to

international trends and evolving

cultural nuances are shaping their

travel needs. Changing the face of

travel are millennials, young adults

of the 21st century. From music,

cars, food, adventure sports to

travel, millennials constantly look

at unconventional means to satiate

their desire for new experiences.

Having the lowest cruising age

in the world (37), India’s cruise

tourism market has the potential

of growing to more than 4 million

passengers in the next 10 years.

Currently India produces over

150,000 cruise passengers, while

the domestic cruising sector is virtually

non-existent. It is imperative

for the cruise tourism industry and

other stakeholders to develop a

sustainable business model catering

to the domestic demand.

From Alaska, Scandinavia to

Malaysia, cruise travel is an attraction

for the Indian travellers.

However it is still not accessible

to a large segment of the market.

The cruise industry, government

and other stakeholders have a collaborative

opportunity to present a

lucrative cruise experience to the

domestic travellers. Introducing

them to the benefits and advantages

of a cruise holiday and associating

with like-minded brands.

There is an enormous potential

to tap India’s vast and scenic

coastline for building a travel-centric

cruise tourism. Dotted with

pristine beaches, natural beauty

and rich culture, cruise tourism

presents an unparalleled experience

of sailing along the coast.

India’s beach holiday destinations

like Goa or Kerala, rural hamlets

or cultural centres provide ample

opportunities to curate on-board

and on-shore excursions for the

travellers.

Cruise holiday with a value offering

could become a preferred

option for the travellers. Considered

a niche experience, it could

provide competitive pricing to attract

a large section of India’s domestic

travel segment. Additionally,

it will also boost foreign tourists

visiting India who now will have

the option of home-grown Indian

cruise ships to discover India’s

picturesque coastline.

Sensing the scope of the industry,

the government has started

taking some policy initiatives

to boost cruise tourism. Development

of five major ports across

the country is expected to attract

over 700 vessels. A joint effort by

the industry, government and other

stakeholders will enable to unleash

another golden opportunity

for the Indian travel industry.



A REPORT FROM SRI LANKA

Forecasting on Sri Lanka’s

Tourism: New Trends in

Luxury Cruise ship visits

Srimal Fernando

“Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has risen

multi-fold contributing 5 percent of

the country’s Gross Domestic Product

(GDP) with US $ 4 billion revenue. To

meet ongoing cruise vessel demands,

the Colombo port regarded as one

of the top thirty ports in the world

(Drewry Port Connectivity Index,

2018) converted a Quay into a

fully-fledged cruise terminal to cater

to the growing cruise ship calls.”

Sri Lanka also known as “ Serendib” needs little

introduction to many visitors to the country . The

country’s natural and historical attractions appeals to

many visitors from all parts of the world. As one of

the best travel destinations to visit the coastal paradise

secured the top spot in the Lonely Planet and

USA Todays’ best travel destinations list of countries

to travel in 2019. In this context there have been new

trends in luxury Cruise ships calling on Sri Lanka’s

ports in the recent years. Hence statistics speaks for

them-selves, where over 53 luxury cruise liners with

around 72500 onboard passengers visited the island

nation in 2018.

Making a difference the paradise island is now

on luxury cruise liner operator’s radar screen. In

the same year the islands ports have seen a 28.8

percent increase in luxury cruise ships visiting the

island nation compared to the corresponding period

in2017 (The Island, 2018) . The reasons for this are

manifold, due to its geographical setting it serves as a

crucial maritime gateway connecting the, the nations

of ASEAN, Africa and West Asia. As with the Maldives,

Sri Lanka too has a flourishing tourism industry

with over two million tourist arrivals. Every year

Sri Lankan authorities are working hard with special

concessions to restore overseas tour operators confidence.

As a result, Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has risen

multi-fold contributing 5 percent of the country’s

Gross Domestic Product(GDP) with US $ 4 billion

revenue. To meet ongoing cruise vessel demands,

the Colombo port regarded as one of the top thirty

ports in the world (Drewry Port Connectivity Index,2018)

converted a Quay into a fully-fledged


A REPORT FROM SRI LANKA

cruise terminal to cater to the growing cruise ship

calls. This year Sri Lankas leading tour operator Aitken

Spence Maritime, agents for Hapag-Lloyd shipping

group announced MS Europa -2 cruise line will

continue to make regular calls at Colombo, Hambantota,

Trincomale ports. In fact the luxury cruise lines

also selected Sri Lanka as a port for passengers to

begin and end their voyages. (Xinhua,2019 ). There

is a high expectation among globally reputed luxury

travel Cruise line operators in promoting European

voyages to Sri Lanka . Increased demands on

Sri Lanka as a top tourism destination have changed

greater number of cruise vessels visiting the paradise

island ports. This has seen one of Italy’s largest

Cruise line operators Costa Cruises offering cruise

packages to Colombo.

In addition, world’s biggest luxury cruise ship operators

, such as Princess Cruises, Silversea Cruises

, Celebrity Cruises ,Washington based Cruise Seabourn

Cruise Line , Miami based Oceania Cruises

organizing regular voyages to Colombo. Making predictions

about the future of the luxury Cruise ships

regularly calling on island nations ports might be

a challenging process. In short the new emerging

trends in luxury cruise ships calling on Sri Lanka’s

ports will unquestionably turn a new page in Paradise

islands tourism and ports history.

Sri

Lanka

Tourism







ARTICLE

Blue Economy’s Role in

Economic Development

The blue economy

is the, sustainable

use of

ocean resources

for economic

growth, improved

livelihoods, and

jobs while preserving

the health of

ocean ecosystem.

It is a Concept

which encourages

better management

of our ocean

Dr. Kannan R

and blue resources.

Blue economy

also includes benefits , such as carbon storage, coastal

protection, cultural values and biodiversity.

The concept of Blue Economy covers, Port development,

Port based Industrial Development, City development,

Cluster development, Fisheries, Education

and Research, Shipping, Oil and Gas Extraction, Aquaculture,

Coastal Development, Tourism, Marine bio

tech, Renewable energy, waste disposal, environment

protection and maritime security, Ship building , Ship

breaking and Ship repairing.

Blue Economy plays a major role in economic development

of a country. When we discuss the development

of blue Economy , it becomes very relevant in the Indian

Context. Prime Minister set a vision of achieving $ 5

trillion GDP within a short period of time. Blue Economy

can contribute to $ 1 trillion of GDP . We can have Blue

Economy Vision of $ 1 tillion. Lot of initiatives are being

January 2020 2020 | Littoral | Littoral Wind Wind | 27 | 3

ARTICLE

overall development of blue Economy.

The logistics cost in India is more than 14% of the GDP

and it is one of the highest in the world. The government

has set an objective to bring this down to less than

10%. With this in view, the inland waterways will be developed

across the country for the transportation and

20,000 KMs are likely to be developed and already few

National waterways were opened for transportation of

cargo. The focus of Inland waterways will be transport

of bulk items like Steel, Coal, cement, Iron ore, Agricultural

commodities.

The Sagarmala Programme covers investment of ₹8.5

trillion to set up new mega ports, modernizing India’s existing

ports, developing of 14 Coastal Economic Zones

“Prime Minister set a vision of achieving

$ 5 trillion GDP within a short period

of time. Blue Economy can contribute

to $ 1 trillion of GDP . We can have Blue

Economy Vision of $ 1 tillion.”

To increase the pace of growth through Blue Economy,

plans could be drawn up to create Ports with city and Industrial

development similar to Singapore and four ports

in India could be identified to replicate the model and

success of Singapore.

One of the challenges for achieving this growth will be

arranging finance for such large projects. The options for

raising the required financial resources could include,

lease of operating Port assets to generate revenue for

new projects, issue of Blue Bonds ( already issued by

Seychelles ), attracting FDI from leading players in Blue

Economy in the world, issuing special bonds focussed

on port based projects apart from the traditional sources

of funding.

Considering the new found thrust on this concept, we

will have opportunities arising in the developing the areas

of Automobiles, Engines, Inland water Transportation

Vessels, Renewable energy, Security, Infrastructure

Development , River based projects, Water based projects,

Lubricants and Marine oil, Banking and Financial

Services.

We should use the long coast line and rivers in India

to achieve the desired target of $ 1 trillion through and

the government initiatives in place will go a long way in

achieving the target and all the stake holders should be

geared to achieve this target. The government can create

a programme to propagate the vision of $ 1 trillion

to all the stake holders which will help to achieve the

target very fast.

(CEZs) and Coastal Employment Units, enhancing port

connectivity via road, rail, multi-modal logistics parks,

pipelines & waterways and promoting coastal community

development, with the aim of boosting merchandise

exports by US$110 billion and generating around

10,000,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Sagarmala aims to modernize India’s Ports so that portled

development can be augmented and coastlines can

be developed to contribute to India’s growth. It also

aims at “transforming the existing Ports into modern

world-class Ports and integrate the development of the

Ports, the Industrial clusters and hinterland and efficient

evacuation systems through road, rail, inland and coastal

waterways resulting in Ports becoming the drivers of

economic activity in coastal areas.

January January 2020 2020 | | Littoral Wind | | 28 3

January 2020 | Littoral Wind | 3 January 2020 | Littoral Wind | 27

EVENT

Littoral Delivers yet

Another Successful Event:

Littoral Cruise India 2019

The blue economy is the, sustainable use of ocean

resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods,

and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.

It is a Concept which encourages better management

of our ocean and blue resources. Blue economy

also includes benefits , such as carbon storage, coastal

protection, cultural values and biodiversity.

The concept of Blue Economy covers, Port development,

Port based Industrial Development, City development,

Cluster development, Fisheries, Education

and Research, Shipping, Oil and Gas Extraction, Aquaculture,

Coastal Development, Tourism, Marine bio

tech, Renewable energy, waste disposal, environment

protection and maritime security, Ship building , Ship

breaking and Ship repairing.

Raja Vaiz

Managing Director at Littoral Communications

Blue Economy plays a major role in economic development

of a country. When we discuss the development

of blue Economy , it becomes very relevant in the Indian

Context. Prime Minister set a vision of achieving $ 5

trillion GDP within a short period of time. Blue Economy

can contribute to $ 1 trillion of GDP . We can have

Blue Economy Vision of $ 1 tillion. Lot of initiatives are

being taken to develop the blue Economy . The focus

is on using the water resources for Transportation, Port

Based Economy Development, Port based industrial

development. The initiatives like Sagar Mala is part of

the overall development of blue Economy.

The logistics cost in India is more than 14% of the

GDP and it is one of the highest in the world. The government

has set an objective to bring this down to less


EVENT

Littoral Cruise India 2019, was held at Hotel Taj

Mahal, Mumbai and was a grand success with a star

studded participation from stake holders of Cruise Line

industries including International leaders.

‘Littoral Cruise India 2019’,was the fifth seminar

conducted by Littoral Communications in this year. It

was held on the 20th December and was graced by

the presence of eminent leaders and members of the

Cruise Line Industry.

The event commenced with the welcome speech deliberated

by Mr. Raja Vaiz, Managing Director of Littoral

Communications. While welcoming the speakers and

the delegates, Mr. Vaiz elucidated the importance of the

seminar and explained about Littoral’s past seminars

and the company’s seven forthcoming events for the

coming year.


Mr. Jurgen Bailom, the chief executive officer of Zen

Cruises delivered the first presentation about the Future

of Indian Cruise Industry. The presentation was

engaging and was followed by an interaction with the

audience. The second speaker for the event was Mr.

Gautam Dey, Senior Deputy Traffic Manager, Mumbai

Port Trust. The session enclosed a detailed address on

the role of Mumbai Port Trust in the Cruise domain and

the potential of Indian cruise Industry.

The next notable speaker from the industry was Ms.

Nalini Gupta, Managing Director of Costa Cruises India.

Ms. Gupta’s presentation shed light on Cruising and the

various constraints faced in the industry. Her thoughts

and vision about Indian Cruise future enlightened the

audience about this propitious sector.

Capt. Ashwin B Solanki, Chief nautical officer, Gujarat

Maritime Board presented a paper about Cruise

Tourism keeping in view the Gujarat Perspective. He explained

the delegates about past and future role of GMB

in the Cruise domain. This was followed by a presentation

by Cdr. Nevil Malao, Vice President JM Baxi on

Cruise Terminal Activities. His interaction with the audience

was productive and backed by useful information.

After the networking lunch, Mr. Jasem Zaiton, the

Global Commercial Manager Inchcape spoke on the

subject of Cruising and the global scenario. Mr. Zaiton’s

immense experience and deep rooted knowledge

enabled the audience to grasp more on cruising.

Ms. Lavina Kriplani, Specialist in shipping matters

made an interesting presentation about the legal perspective

on the cruise industry. She interacted with the

audience while addressing issues related to legal aspects.

The last but not the least presentation was on the

EVENT

Potential of Cruising in Maharashtra. This pivotal presentation

was made by Capt. Praveen Khara, Regional

Officer, Maharashtra Maritime board .

Ms. Chandrika Pujari, Head Advertising and Marketing,

Littoral communications extended her vote

of thanks to the audience after the summation of the

event. This significant event was moderated by Capt.

DK Singh, Veteran Naval Officer.


ARTICLE EVENT

Ms. Lavina Kriplani

Specialist in shipping matters

Mr. Jason Zaiton

Global Commercial Manager Inchcape

Ms. Nalini Gupta

Managing Director of Costa Cruises India

Mr. Gautam Dey

Senior Deputy Traffic Manager

Mumbai Port Trust

Capt. Ashwin B Solanki

Chief nautical officer

Gujarat Maritime Board

Other Respected Guests




Excellence since 1931

Service profile as :

• D2D Logistics services globally

• Handling Custom clearance

• LCL consolidation globally

• Air & Sea freight forwarding

• Inland transport.

Contact

Mohammed Sadik

Branch manager- Mumbai

Tel: 022- 67214835

Mobile: 9920054138/ 9152030466

Email: bom_sadik@icsgroup.com

www.icagroup.com

K Kulanthaivel

Asst. Manager ( C& F)

Deepak Agencies Private Limited

Tel: 022- 67214835

Mobile : 9930326023/ 9152030462

Email: k.kulanthaivel@deepakagencies.com

www.deepakagencies.com

Head Office:

Chennai

Branches:

Bangalore, Cochin, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Krishnapatnam, New Delhi, Hosur, Tuticrotin, Vizag






Presents

Littoral Marine

Archaeology

2020

14 th March 2020

Hotel Coromandel, Chennai

Topics And Discussions

* Marine Archaeological studies in India

* Maritime Heritage Tourism

* Conservation of Maritime Heritage

* Maritime Law

* Global Inferences

* Technology in Underwater

archaeological studies

For Sponsorship & Speakership Contact


Tiya Chatterji

E-mail - tiya.chatterji@littoralwind.in

Mobile No. +91 70306 74642


Jan 2020

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