2 Sep :Captain P.V.K. Mohan, the senior-most member of National Shipping Board, has been nominated as Chairman of National Shipping Board (NSB) for a two year term with immediate effect. The Board consists of four members of Parliament from the Lok Sabha and two members of Parliament from the Rajya Sabha, besides some technical people.
The National Shipping Board is constituted under the Merchant Shipping Act and was first formed in 1959 and headed by illustrious people like late Shri G.L. Mehta, Shri C.H. Bhatia and Mr. C.M. Stephen. Apart from Members of Parliament, the National Shipping Board has representatives from the Trade Unions, Ship Owners, Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Commerce as well as the different sectors like Commodore M. Jiterndran, CMD of Kochi Shipyard, from Ship Building Sector, Mr. S. Velumani, Chairman Ennore Port from Port sector, Dr. Vijayan, Dirctor, National Maritime Academy from the Maritime education sector and Prof. Ramaswamy a renowned scientist. The Board has been instrumental in contributing towards several developments both in the shipping and port sectors. The Vallarpadam project, the expansion of container terminals in other major ports in the country like JNPT, Chennai and Kandla are some of the examples. Issues relating to training, man-power shortages and dredging activities were also taken up by the Board in recent times.
The entire shipping fraternity and the industry has expressed his happiness on the selection of a technical person and an eminent shipping personality with 30 years experience in shipping to head the Board by Thiru T.R. Baalu, the Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways said that. The Minister has chosen. Captain Mohan is the youngest and also the first Master Mariner to become the Chairman of the National Shipping Board. In his vast experience on the Board for over 11 years, he is well-versed with all subjects in the shipping and port sectors besides having an intricate knowledge of the global shipping industry.