Scanning Facilities at Ports & Alliance for Recycling Workers

In the Lok Sabha, Supriya Sule asked the Minister of Shipping on 15th March to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to set up state‐of‐the‐art scanners including X‐ray or gamma‐ray scanners of the size that scan an entire cargo container at all major and minor ports of the country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to meet any threat?

G K Vasan, the Union Minister of Shipping replied:
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): At Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Customs has installed two units for scanning of containers, one mobile scanner unit installed in port and one fixed scanner unit installed in Central Warehousing Corporation’s Dronagiri Container Freight Station (CFS). There is a proposal by Department of Revenue, (Customs) to install X‐ray scanners at Chennai, Tuticorin, Mumbai and Kandla ports for which port were directed to provide land at concessional rate by this Ministry. Major ports also have proposals for installing Radio active material detector scanning equipment by 2012.

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Lok Sabha Question on workers in shipping industry at major ports
15TH MARCH, 2010
WORKERS/LABOURERS AT MAJOR PORTS
2951. SHRI HUKUMDEV NARAYAN YADAV:
SHRI FRANCISCO SARDINHA:
Will the Minister of SHIPPING be pleased to state:‐
(a) the details of the grades and the number of posts of workers in each grade sanctioned in all major ports, port‐wise;
(b) the number of workers got retired and the time since when the posts are lying vacant indicating the number of vacancies filled up, port‐wise;
(c) the number of workers/labourers including casual, contract and daily wage are working at present in various major ports, port‐wise;
(d) whether the Government has received any representation from various unions
regarding participation of such workers in management and other decision of the ports; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF SHIPPING
(SHRI G.K. VASAN)
(a) to (e): The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.

Alliance for Recycling Workers

India remains a major player among suppliers by importing more than 3 million tonnes of steel scrap annually. There are more than 700 steel makers.


On March 10, under the banner of Alliance of Wastepickers which represents about 15 lakh scrap and waste collectors across India, the workers came on the street in Pune who work in the informal recycling industry ranging from garbage, paper, plastic, metal and glass to organised recycling industries. Workers in Alang too need to join hands with these recycling workers.

Odfjell sells ship for recycling

Odfjell has entered into an agreement to sell the parcel tanker MT Bow Fighter (35,100 DWT/built 1982) for recycling in India.

The sales price is close to the book value. The vessel has Green Passport and Buyers undertake that the recycling yard shall submit a working plan corresponding to IMO guidelines for ship recycling.

The Odfjell Group is a leading participant in the global market of the seaborne transportation and storage of chemicals and other speciality bulk liquids. The Odfjell fleet exceeds 90 ships, trading both globally and regionally. The tank terminal division consists of nine fully or partially owned tank terminals and nine associated tank terminals strategically located. The Odfjell Group is headquarted in Bergen, Norway and has more than 20 offices world wide. Odfjell has about 3 700 employees and an annual gross revenue of about USD 1.3 billion.

Source: Odfjell Group
Monday, Mar 08, 2010