Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 31 May 2024
The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) recently released the ship schedule for June 2024, detailing connections between the various islands of the Nicobar District and Port Blair. However, the residents of Katchal Island were taken aback by the significant reduction in their shipping services.
In a stark departure from previous months, the new schedule shows the elimination of two crucial ship stops between Port Blair and Katchal. Historically, at least two out of the four monthly sailings between Port Blair, Nancowrie, and Campbell Bay included a stopover at Katchal. These voyages, often serviced by modern ships like the Sindhu and Nalanda, have been essential for the transportation of passengers and cargo, providing a reliable and comfortable means of travel.
For June 2024, DSS has only planned two sailings to Katchal using the M.V. Bharat Seema, an older and less comfortable vessel. These trips, scheduled for June 13 and June 27, will take more than two days to reach Katchal from Port Blair, imposing significant inconvenience on the residents.
Mr. Lawrence, a local resident, expressed the community’s frustration to the Nicobar Times. He highlighted that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) established by the Shipping Secretary had previously ensured regular stopover of ships connecting Port Blair to Campbell Bay via Nancowry at Katchal, in the first and third weeks of each month. The unexpected reduction in services has aggrieved the island’s settlers, traders, and tribal community members.
Mr. Lawrence warned that unless DSS reinstates the additional two direct sailings, the residents of Katchal are prepared to protest against the curtailed shipping services. The community’s reliance on these services for essential cargo and comfortable travel underscores the urgency of their demand.