MoS issues condition in procurement/chartering of tugs by major port trusts

The Ministry of Shipping (MoS) has issued a stipulation in the standard operating procedures for the procurement/chartering of tugs by the major port trusts. Accordingly, the MoS will blacklist Indian tugboat owners from participating in vessel hiring tenders floated by major port trusts if they fail to replace a foreign-built tug initially offered for work on winning a contract with an Indian-built tug within a period of 18 months of starting the charter.