13th maritime states development council

The Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) June 14th  urged those coastal states of the country that are yet to constitute maritime boards to complete the task at the earliest.
"All the coastal states who have not yet constituted their maritime boards were urged to set up the bodies and a time limit has been specified to them. They have agreed towards it," Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan told reporters after attending the 13th Maritime States Development Council Meeting at Hyderabad.
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat are the three coastal states which have their Maritime Boards.
The Minister said the meeting agreed that all the ports, including major and non-major, will give priority for berthing of Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
Keeping in view the security aspect at various ports, it was agreed that all the ports dealing with EXIM cargo (Export- Import) should install Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS). The functioning of VTMS should be manned by appropriately qualified and trained personnel, he said.
Vasan said the Ministry of Shipping will ask the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the state governments to expedite port projects.
"In view of the increased threat perception, there is an urgent need for all the ports to be made International Ship and Port Facility Security System (ISPS) compliant. Presently, all the major ports and 53 non-major ports are ISPS compliant," Vasan said, adding "the remaining non-major ports are to be made ISPS compliant on priority basis".