Subject-Cabotage relaxation for Tsunami relief material

            I am directed to say that aftermath of ‘Tsunami’ at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has necessitated a flow of relief material towards the Islands.  Hence it is felt that it is necessary to relax Cabotage for vessels’ movement between Port Blair to any other port in India or vice versa with a condition that the vessel carrying the relief material is certified by the Relief Commissioner of the respective State in India.

 The matter has been examined and it has been decided to allow foreign flag vessels carrying the relief material to Port Blair from any other Indian port for a period of six months from the date of issue of these orders, in terms of Section 407 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

Sd/-
(Naresh Salecha)
Senior Deputy Director General of Shipping