Introducing CICMT to Indian Shipping

Ports' development has always been marred due to their continued dependence on foreign sources for technology, an asset that we could easily develop in our laboratories and research centres.

Despite more than seven decades having passed since independence, Indian shipbuilders are hingeing on to the west for testing and experimentation facilities necessary for shipbuilding and improved marine logistics. to address the same, the Ministry of Shipping has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with IIT Kharagpur to set up the Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) under the Sagarmala Programme. The Project would initially be funded to the tune of Rs. 69.20 crores for the first five years by the government post which the earnings from its end customers woule ensure its viability and sustenance in the long run.


Pre Bid Meeting for Comprehensive Consultancy Services for Deep and Shallow Water Maneuvering and Seakeeping Bad in Facility

Proposed CICMT Facility

Tenders

Design Supply and Comissioning of Computer Controlled Planar
View Document

Tender Document of CICMT for Construction of Shallow and Deep Water Maneuvering Seakeeping Basin facility
View Document

Work Order for Design and procurement of towing carriage, control systems and instrumentation
View Document

News

First Oversight Committee Meeting For Centre for Inland and Coastal Maritime Technology (CICMT) is scheduled on

Date: 6th December (Friday) 2019
Venue: Boardroom, Director Office,
IIT Kharagpur
Time: 10:30am

Objectives

  • Ship design for Inland/ Coastal waterways
  • Shipbuilding Technology and Structural Design
  • Transport Systems & Logistics
  • Cryogenic Cargo Handling
  • Green/ Renewable Energy harvesting from Coastal and Inland waters
  • Automation and AI for Maritime Operations

What will CICMT DO?

Establishing CICMT will make up for the advanced technological tools that India currently lacks

Research & Development

At the core of every developed economy is the continual research that goes into every aspect in a bid to ensure improved functioning. Research activities on every facet and feature inclusive of hydrodynamics and structural designs of inland and coastal vessels would be carried out. In addition, exploration of novel shipbuilding activities, automated transport systems, advanced cryogenic handling systems along with designing of innovative wave energy devices to put up with increased dependence on marine logistics would be taken care of by the centre.

Moreover, CICMT is the first of its kind to come up with a shallow water ship model testing facility - an essential requirement deemed for inland vessels, which implies that the centre would lend a new fillip to the design development and testing aspects of water vessels. Depleting natural resources has forced the country to look for renewable energy sources that can serve the same purpose without hurting the ecosystem. The centre, in tune, with the country's growing requirements, will carry out research and testing on green energy generation while working on devices that heighten the efficiency of the processes.

Public-Private Partnership

Technical expertise of the engineers coupled with solid infrastructural backing by the Union Ministry of Shipping implies that both the public and private shipyards would benefit from the centre's proficiency in shipbuilding technologies. Development and implementation of indigenous technology is the need of the hour. Shipyards, design firms and research organisations will benefit from the technology and designs specific to the country's increasing logistics needs.

Inland Vessel Operations

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) implemented by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has shifted the focus to using inland waterways for transportation owing to its cost-effective nature. In addition to the four pillars of the Sagarmala Programme, the Ministry of Shipping is keen to expand the scope of using inland waterways by connecting them and using them for inland water transportation. The centre aims to work on Artificial Intelligence tools, delivery- oriented operations management, innovative logistics systems and Big Data Analytics to ease the cargo handling and transportation systems in the country. Automating systems to vessel tracking and making use of remote-control systems are also on the cards.

Imparting Martime Education

Relevant education and training programmes will be carried for MoS institutions and industrial partners.

Currently, the centre has decided to include the following courses for its students and participating partners.

  • Short-term customized courses for specified applications
  • Mocro-credit courses towards mocro-specialization
  • Sponsored M.Tech programmes
  • PhD for working professionals