M.V. AMET MAJESTY, Policy on shipping

• 8th june 2011
• Thiru G.K. Vasan, Hon’ble Minister of Shipping flagged off M.V. AMET MAJESTY, India’s first cruise liner and onboard training ship in Chennai today.
• The Cruise Shipping policy is already in place which permit 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Shipping Sector including Cruise Shipping.
• Besides, foreign flag Cruise ships/vessels have also been permitted to make coastal voyages between different ports of India in relaxation of the provisions of Section 407(1) of MS Act. 
•  Indian seafarers are one of the most qualified lot in the world with a share of 6.3% for officers and 7.5 % for ratings in the world.
•  Maritime Agenda- 2020, India aims to increase this share to 9% by 2015, entailing expanding annual training capacity from 5,600 to 15,000 Officers and from 4,600 Ratings to 9,000 Ratings.
•  He said that setting up the Indian Maritime University in 2008 is a step in this direction and that further steps will be taken to increase the share of Indian seafarers as envisaged in the Maritime Agenda.
  
  Shri Vasan also announced that the Thoothukoodi-Colombo Passenger Ferry Service would be flagged off within the next two weeks.