Goa Affairs
Just one university shows interest to set up maritime school
The proposed Goa Institute of Maritime Excellence (GIME) has run into rough waters even before its inception, as only one university has responded to the states call for bidders to set up the institute.
The official said that the government has now to take a decision whether or not to allow the university to go ahead, or to re-tender it. The Captain of (CoP) had recently invited bids from interested national and international educational institutions and developers to redevelop the existing maritime school into a world-class GIME.
The state had decided to start 22 long-term, short-term, mandatory, and optional courses at GIME. A senior official said the concessionaire would have to run six mandatory courses and 16 optional ones.
Some of the other courses MICE was supposed to run are maritime MBA courses such as shipping and Logistics management, port and shipping management, shipping and finances, etc. The yacht training courses include master of yachts for coastal, open sea, and ocean-going yachts.
National and International Affairs
Indias 1st International Cruise Vessel MV Empress Flagged Off
Union Minister of , Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal has flagged off the maiden International Cruise Vessel MV Empress, Indias first international cruise vessel from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai. This marks the beginning of the international cruise tourism terminal at Chennai, built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crores, heralding a new age of cruise tourism and maritime trade in the country.
The launch of the MV Empress is a major boost for cruise tourism in India. The country has a long coastline and a rich HISTORY and culture, which make it an attractive destination for cruise passengers. The MV Empress is expected to attract tourists from India and abroad, and to help boost the local economy