Maharashtra Maritime Board

The Maharashtra Maritime Board is governmental organisation in the state of Maharashtra, India. The board is tasked with the administration of ports and harbours, conservancy, licensing of crafts, levying of fees, regulation and control of traffic. Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) came into existence in 1996 and Commissioner, Water Transport was re-designated as chief executive officer, MMB.

Commissionerate of Water Transport was formed in 1990 by amalgamating 3 departments within the Port Organisation, i.e. CPO, Hydrographer and Marine Engineer, for better co-ordination and to promote development of minor and intermediate ports in the State of Maharashtra, and to administer, control and manage these ports.

To be recognised as a world class port system and maritime infrastructure provider, a favoured choice for shipping and water-front activities.

Accelerate integrated development of Maharashtra’s coastline by facilitating business-friendly investment environment and port conservation through futuristic policies and innovative port regulatory systems.

Maharashtra is bestowed with a coastline of 720 km, of which Greater Mumbai District has approximately 114 km, Thane District 127 km, Raigad District 122 km, Ratnagiri District 237 km, and Sindhudurg District 120 km. There are 48 Intermediate & Non-Major Ports and 35 creeks on this coastline. The Port Organisation under the Buildings and Communications Department was formed by the State Government on 1 April 1963 under the control of Chief Ports Officer – Maharashtra State. Administration of ports and harbours, conservancy, licensing of crafts, levying of fees and regulation/ control of traffic etc. were entrusted to this organisation.

There are 48 intermediate and minor ports situated on the coast of Maharashtra, which are organised in five Groups, each headed by a Port Officer. Following five groups of ports were formed, which are each headed by a Port Officer:

For better co-ordination between its three branches vide GR dated 31 August 1990 the State Government created a post of Commissioner, Water Transport as Head of Department of the state’s Port Organisation.

As a sequel to the liberalisation policy pursued by the Central Govt. in the early nineties, the State Govt. decided to transform this organization, thus far under the Commissioner, Water Transport, and constitute Maharashtra Maritime Board, with the Minister of Ports as its chairman.

Maharashtra has two major ports, Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP) both located in Mumbai harbour. While Mumbai port has been acting as one of the major gateways for more than a century, JNP has over the years since its establishment in 1990s has emerged as a premier container handling port, accounting for almost 55% of the container traffic movement amongst the major ports in India.

...
Wikipedia