BackIndia-Bangladesh coastal shipping trials to start by 14 October
The two countries have agreed to use the Indian standards for river sea vessels and buy insurance covering up to $10 million
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New Delhi: India and Bangladesh are set to start coastal shipping by this year and trial runs between the ports in the two countries are slated to start by 14 October.
“An understanding has been reached between the two countries for commencement of coastal shipping between the ports of Bangladesh and the eastern ports of India... It was agreed that a trial run of Bangladesh/Indian vessels would be undertaking latest by 14 October," an official said.
The two countries have agreed to conform to Indian standards of river sea vessels (RSV)-4 for the operation of ships. India has agreed to assist Bangladesh through the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) for classification of Bangladesh vessels.
“Both the countries have also agreed to buy insurance cover for a limit of $10 million (around ₹ 60.3 crore) from the respective domestic insurance companies," the official said.
Indian coastal vessels are presently covered for an insurance liability up to a maximum limit of $10 million. The official said that in a meeting held last month at Dhaka it was also agreed that Bangladesh would draw a draft agreement and the standard operating procedures on the basis of the decisions reached.
Director general of shipping Gautam Chatterjee last month had said Bangladesh officials had asked Indian officials to get the IRS to inspect the vessels to meet the vessel standard protocol and that according to them there are some 20 vessels from Bangladesh that can adhere to the Indian standards.
Coastal trade with Bangladesh will result in huge savings for the industry. The Chittagong port is 150km from Agartala, the capital of Tripura state, and more than 350km away from Kolkata via Bangladesh, while distance between Tripura and Kolkata is about 1,650km through hilly terrain.
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