Question: National Maritime Day is celebrated every year on …
(a) April, 1st
(b) April, 5th
(c) March, 29th
(d) April, 2nd
Ans: (b)
- 54th National Maritime Day of India was celebrated on April 5.
- National Maritime Day is celebrated in commemoration of the maiden voyage of S.S Loyalty, India’s first merchant vessel from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919.
- The London-based International Maritime Organisation is the United Nation’s specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships.
- The Organisation also convenes international maritime conferences and drafts international maritime conventions from time to time. IMO has 158 countries as its members, India became its member in 1959.
- India has about 7516 kilometres of coastline serviced by a total of 199 ports.
- 12 of them are under a special status as Major Ports which are under the purview of the Central Government. Ennore in Tamil Nadu has been declared as the 12th Major Port.
- Minor ports come under the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments.
- The Indian Ports Act (IPA), 1908 is the governing Act which defines the jurisdiction of Central and State Governments over ports.
- Major Ports are autonomous bodies, managed by Board of Trustees under the overall control of the Central Government through the Ministry of Shipping. Major Ports are administered under the framework of Major Port Trusts Act (MPTA), 1963.
Reference:
http://shipping.nic.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=0&linkid=16&lid=64
http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2001/fmar2001/f260320011.html