Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 31 July 2025
Mr. R. Sachithanantham, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Tamil Nadu [CPI(M) MP], along with Mr. D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the CPI(M) Andaman and Nicobar State Organising Committee, met the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, at his office in Parliament House today and submitted a letter enclosing a detailed memorandum from the party’s Andaman & Nicobar State unit.
During the meeting, the CPI(M) leaders urged the Minister to resume the construction of two 1200-passenger vessels with a cargo capacity of 1000 metric tonnes, which were ordered by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration from Cochin Shipyard several years ago. The memorandum stated that construction had reached the halfway mark before being halted based on a directive from the Government of India, citing that the ships were no longer required.
Highlighting the ongoing difficulties faced by passengers traveling between the islands and the mainland, the CPI(M) leaders stressed the urgent need for additional ships to address the gap in maritime connectivity. They argued that the availability of these large vessels would not only ease passenger transport but also facilitate bulk cargo movement, thereby reducing the high freight costs currently charged by private cargo operators — costs which are eventually passed on to consumers in the islands.
The memorandum further pointed out that the commissioning of these ships would generate employment for approximately 200 to 300 unemployed seafarers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Addressing the transportation needs of the southern group of islands, the CPI(M) delegation reiterated the long-standing demand of the Nicobarese tribal communities for additional MV Sentinel-type vessels. Due to the rough sea conditions and shallow berthing infrastructure in islands like Car Nicobar, these smaller vessels are more suitable than larger ships. The party requested the procurement of at least three more such vessels to strengthen maritime connectivity in the region.
The CPI(M) leaders also called for the procurement of additional inter-island ships with a capacity of 450 to 500 passengers to meet growing demand among islanders.
The memorandum expressed concern over the complete reliance on private cargo vessels for transportation between the mainland and Port Blair, noting that currently no government-owned cargo ships are operating on these routes. With the technical validity of private cargo vessels nearing expiry in the coming years, the CPI(M) warned of an impending crisis in essential supplies unless government cargo vessels are procured urgently.
On the staffing front, the memorandum highlighted the shortage of regular roster crew members in ships operated by the A&N Administration. It noted that many seafarers are being hired on a contractual basis due to a lack of new permanent recruitments, even as existing permanent crew retire year after year. The CPI(M) urged the Minister to initiate permanent recruitment to address the growing unemployment among seafarers in the Union Territory.
The Union Minister of Shipping, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, assured the CPI(M) delegation that the issues raised in the memorandum would be considered favourably.
