MUMBAI, October 5: The Indian National Shipowners Association has demanded better screening of foreign ships entering Indian ports. ``Foreign ships entering Indian ports are not subject to the same scrutiny that Indian ships are when they go to foreign ports,'' said BL Mehta, President of the Board of Directors, INSA.

Mehta advocated strengthening of port state controls (checks on vessels entering port) ``so that they can, by deterrence, keep out and penalise ships poaching on our trade''. He pointed out, ``Port state control in India has been rather inadequate. It is a matter of distress that in a span of less than two years Mumbai port, which is the showpiece of the nation, has been spotted with as many as 11 wrecks spread over the entire harbour, endangering the safe movement of ships.''

A huge problem facing Indian ports today is the influx of substandard foreign ships. Run by dubious shipping companies, many of these have either sunk or run aground due to inadequate inspection by port authorities. Mehta added that the inadequately staffed Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), whose task is to inspect and certify foreign ships, was inadequate with regard to foreign flagged ships. ``The inadequacy of staff at the MMD does not indicate that Indian ships are inadequately staffed,'' he added.

INSA has also asked for shipping to be considered a direct export earning industry, since the freight bill which currently stands at Rs 16,000 crore is expected to shoot up to Rs 50,000 crore by the end of the current ninth plan (five years hence).

According shipping the status of an export industry was topmost on the priority list as identified by Mehta. ``Overseas shipping must at least be accorded the status of an export industry, while coastal shipping should be given the status of an infrastructure industry,'' he said. Other areas include better fiscal measures. While 75 per cent of the ships abroad worked in a zero tax regime, Indian shipping was still subject to taxation, he said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.