Three maritime trade associations join together to form an apex organization for securing a better deal
Being disregarded more often then not caused three maritime professional bodies to come together as a single massive entity with the aim of exercising greater clout with the authorities, the maritime community and the public at large. On 5th March 2010, the Institute of Naval Architects (India), the Institute of Marine Engineers (India) and the Company of Master Mariners of India signed a memorandum of understanding to work under a single umbrella called the Federation of Maritime Professionals Organization.
The maritime sector has been making repeated appeals to the government for withdrawal of various taxes which have been a hindrance to shipping and other allied industries to compete in the international markets. The least they have been asking for from the government is a level playing field visa vis their foreign counterpart with whom they have to compete. Abolition of taxes such as the seafarers’ tax, MAT, etc would greatly help the industry to grow. It was after several years of persuasion that the government had finally introduced the tonnage tax regime. But several issues remain unaddressed. Making a concerted stand appears to be the only way out as there are far too many trade bodies serving similar business activity.
“We have formed a major technical body to which the government and other authorities can look to for assistance and direction,” says V. Kumar, Managing Director of Bharati Shipyard Ltd and who is also the President of the Institute of Naval Architects (India). “We will be in a better position to promote the cause of the maritime profession in particular and the maritime industry in general.”
Explaining the objectives of the new organization, the first chairman of the Federation, M. V. Ramamurthy who is also the President of the Institute of Marine Engineers (India) said, “As individual separate entities it is not possible to represent our association even on a world body like the International Maritime Organization. Now having come together will make us eligible to get representation on different world bodies. We can also help to provide inputs in the formation of future government policies. Once we have consolidated our position we would welcome other trade bodies into our fold however we are not interested in joining hands with commercial organizations.”
It had almost become a custom with the government while presenting the finance budget to ignore the shipping industry and instead handout freebies and offer sops to almost all other sectors. Mr. Ramamurthy feels this scenario will change over a period of time as more and more other trade bodies come and join their federation.