Saturday, July 16 2005 15:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: A world class 'National Maritime complex' is to be set up near here to provide training and research facilities in the areas of Maritime Law, Transport and Logistics, Ship and Port Management, Union Minister for Shipping T R Baalu said here today (July 16, 2005).

Coming up on nearly 400 acres of land at Chemmannacheri on the East coast road, the project would be the first such in the country, he told newsmen after inspecting the site for the proposed complex.

The ambitious project would also house the project office for National Waterways, a Maritime Museum, an Art Gallery, an Aquarium besides an Academy of Excellence in Maritime Studies and a Marine 'food court'.

To be set up by the National Institute of Port Management (NIPM), the maritime complex would ensure that the courses and the syllabi met the requirements of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code, he said.

The NIPM had also been advised to implement the E-governance initiative in total, so that a comprehensive data bank on various ports in the country could be created, the Union Minister added.

Baalu said, the NIPM had also been directed to establish professional contacts with the Sweden based World Maritime University and the Malta-based International Maritime Law Institute through Memoranda of Understanding, for effective structuring of training courses and modules on par with international standards.

"Similar coordination should be ensured with the Suez Canal Authority and Panama Canal Authority for sharing their experiences in maritime studies," the Minister said.

Replying to questions on Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, Baalu said the Dredging Corporation of India, which had been awarded the dredging works at Palk Straits near Point Calimere, would complete its works within the stipulated two-year period.

Global tenders had been invited for the remaining three dredging works and the selected firms would commence their work by November this year.

He also announced that on completion of the ongoing four-lane projects in the state, about 14,500 persons would get permanent employment in highway maintenance. About 2900 km length of national highways in the state were being upgraded into four-lane roads and about 1.21 lakh people would get employment in these projects during the next three years, the Minister said.