Holland offers its technical knowhow

The maritime sector could well use Holland’s expertise in various areas, especially in shipbuilding and dredging, stressed Ms Lakshmi Venkatachalam, Director-General of Shipping (DGS), Exim News Service reported.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Partnership and Cooperation in Heavy Seas’, organised by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Holland Marine Equipment and others, the DGS pointed out that in shipbuilding, for example, Holland could offer its technical knowhow in the niche segments such as dredgers, tugs, workboats, etc.

The DGS was open to suggestions on how this mutually beneficial cooperation could be brought about, and added that India could even consider formulating a more conducive regulatory regime.

She conceded that tonnage needed to more than double, from the present over 9 million GT to 20 million GT by 2012, for India’s shipping to just maintain its current 14 per cent share in international trade.

Dredging, both capital and maintenance, could be a key area for partnership, Ms Venkatachalam highlighted. Besides the technical aspects, the paltry number of Indian-flagged dredgers and lack of organised training were some of the issues affecting the sector, she observed.

Maritime education was another area that could be considered for cooperation between the Netherlands and India, she felt.

The Dutch maritime industry considered India an attractive partner, stressed Mr Frank Heemskerk, Holland’s Minister for Foreign Trade, with the focus areas being shipbuilding, dredging, coastal shipping, inland waterways, and research and training.

The rapid growth in Indian shipbuilding over the last few years, given its advantages like people and expertise, could be accelerated with Dutch technical knowhow, he emphasised.

Indian shipyards should focus on building complex vessels like dredgers, tugs, workboats, inland waterway vessels, sea-going heavy-lift vessels, naval ships, fishing boats, yatchs, etc., suggested Mr Pim van Gulpen, Chairman of industry body Holland Marine Equipment. According to him, the demand for these vessels had been less affected by the current global economic downturn, which had taken its toll on bigger vessels like boxships, etc.

The Dutch were world leaders in developing these types of vessels, he highlighted, and could assist in design consultancy, engineering, planning and implementation of best practices.

Dutch expertise could also come in handy in ship repair and maintenance techniques, shipyard upgrade, etc.

With nearly 45 per cent of Indian vessels being single-hull, there was no shortage of demand for shipyards here, Mr van Gulpen pointed out.

In his welcome address, Mr Hans Ramaker, Consul General of the Netherlands in Mumbai, highlighted that the five-point strategy of Dutch shipbuilding comprised talent; sustainability and innovation; synergy; cooperation with government, and international branding.

Mr Guus van der Bles of the Delft University of Technology, in his presentation on the Dutch approach to higher efficiency in shipbuilding, stressed the need to focus on technological and social innovation to bring about business innovation and, in the process, reduce risks in quotation, reduce failure costs, reduce man hours, improve chances to win good orders and reduce throughput times.

The seminar saw active participation from a cross-section of the maritime trade.

Source: Transport Weekly