Exim News Service reported that India’s Directorate General of Shipping has constituted a new committee to look into the issue of safe loading of iron ore fines at ports. This follows frequent mishaps involving iron ore laden vessels.

The new committee, under the Nautical Advisor to the Union government, Captain MM Saggi will study measures to ensure safe handling of iron ore at ports.

The committee held its first meeting on October 6.

Concerned over these incidents, the Shipping Ministry had formed a high powered committee headed by Captain PVK Mohan chairman of the National Shipping Board to scrutinize the entire gamut of ore trade.

While the Captain Mohan panel is studying the entire gamut of iron ore trade practices, the Captain Saggi panel’s scope is limited to safe handling of ore at ports.

Capt Mohan is expected to submit his report in three months, while the new panel has been given a month to do so.

The manner in which almost all the ships involved in the accidents seem to have been subject to faulty loading of wet cargo made them list.

Some of the major iron ore handling ports are Mormugao, Port Reddi, New Mangalore, Belkari, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Haldia, besides the ports of Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram.

(Sourced from Exim News Service)