The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) recently paid an official visit to the proposed site of the International Container Transhipment Port (ICTP) at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar Island. This project is not just a part of the Maritime India vision 2030 but also features prominently in the blueprint of the Amrit kaal Vision 2047.
Understanding the ICTP Project
ICTP, a significant infrastructure initiative, is designed to facilitate the transshipment of containers between different ports. The hallmark of a transshipment deepwater seaport is its ability to handle large cargo vessels efficiently, courtesy of its deep water channel and extensive berth areas. These attributes aid in seamless loading, unloading, and transfer of goods between the ships at the port.
The ICTP at Great Nicobar Island is advantageously positioned 40 nautical miles away from the international shipping trade route. Its strategic location, natural water depth, and capacity for transshipping cargo from nearby ports are expected to establish it as a prominent container transshipment port.
Why ICTP Project Matters for India
Currently, over 75% of transshipped cargo in India is handled at ports outside the country. Ports such as Colombo, Singapore and Klang manage more than 85% of this cargo, with Colombo Port alone handling 45% of it. With the Galathea Bay port lying directly on international shipping routes, India looks forward to leveraging this strategic location for boosting export-import trade.
Benefits of the ICTP Project
The ICTP project stands to generate significant advantages for India, including forex savings, attraction of foreign direct investment, and enhancement of economic activity at other Indian ports. It is also expected to enrich logistics infrastructure, generate employment, and raise revenue share. Moreover, this Mega Container Terminal forms a part of the comprehensive development plan for Great Nicobar Island.
Project Progress Report
The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted environmental clearance to the ICTP project. Stage 1 forest clearance has also been procured. The project is slated for development in four phases, with Phase 1 set for commissioning in 2028 with a handling capacity of around 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). By 2058, the handling capacity is projected to reach 16 million TEUs.
Insights into Great Nicobar
Great Nicobar, part of the Nicobar Islands Archipelago, is located at India’s southernmost point, known as the Indira Point. It houses tropical evergreen forest ecosystems and rich biodiversity within the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. This reserve comprises tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges rising up to 642 m (Mt. Thullier) above sea level, and coastal plains. The Nicobar Islands are home to the ‘Mongoloid’ tribes of Shompen and Nicobarese.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Prelims Questions
In 2014, questions related to which locations have coral reefs and the islands separated by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’ were asked in the UPSC Civil Services Examination Prelims. Correct answers were 1, 2 and 3 only (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Kachchh, Gulf of Mannar) and Andaman and Nicobar, respectively.
