NE BUSINESS BUREAU
CHENNAI, JAN 27
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami launched modern deep-sea fishing vessels for TN fishermen through virtual mode from Secretariat.
The project is a part of the AIADMK Government’s scheme to convert 2000 trawler boats into deep-sea fishing and gillnet boats for the fishermen.
The boat building division of Sicagen India Limited (Sicagen), a leading integrated, value-added solutions provider for infrastructure, industrial packaging, and specialty chemicals, and part of AM International – Singapore, recently delivered eight deep-sea fishing boats to the department of fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu.
The project is part of the government’s vision to provide better livelihood opportunities to the fishing communities of Pudukkottai, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram districts by converting 2000 trawler boats into deep-sea fishing and gillnet boats.
Sicagen’s boat building division built the deep-sea fishing boats converted from fishermen trawlers in the palk bay.
50% of the boat costs were met through a central government subsidy, while the state government provided financial assistance for 20% of the costs. Another 20% of the price was financed through bank loans, and the users themselves contributed the remaining 10%.
Mr. Ashwin Muthiah, Chairman, Sicagen and Founder Chairman, Am International, said, “it is an honour to partner with the government of Tamil Nadu and the state fisheries department for this project. The deep-sea fishing boats are safer, efficient, and enable the beneficiaries to cruise deeper into the sea. In many ways, they are symbolic of a better future that awaits the state’s hardworking fishing community. At Sicagen, we’re proud to facilitate a progressive transition.”
Sicagen was contracted to build eight deep-sea fishing boats due to its rich experience and shipbuilding expertise for the maritime industry. While the vessels were built and were ready for use in early of 2020, the handover to beneficiaries was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chief Minister handed over the registration certificates for seven boats to beneficiaries during the function.
Sicagen has now been contracted for the construction of six other deep-sea fishing boats.
Besides the Chief Minister, the virtual launch event was attended by the Minister for Fisheries, Personnel and Administrative Reforms D. Jayakumar, Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam, Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries department K. Gopal, Director of Fisheries Development and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation J. Jayakanthan, Additional Director of Fisheries department Jony Tom verghese, and other higher officials of government.
Mr. R. Chandrasekar, whole time director represented Sicagen at the event, a release said.
