India's booming economy and its potential continue to attract big-ticket business groups. The latest one to drop anchor on the Indian shores is Germany-based Peter Dohle group, one of the world's largest privately held shipowners.The group owns about 100 vessels and controls another 240 ships. It is planning to add 60 owned ships to its fleet over the next four years.In India the group is eyeing investment in a spectrum of shipping activities right from sourcing manpower for foreign fleet to shipbuilding."As a prudent owner we are studying all aspects of the shipping business to stay ahead of competition. The group is always exploring opportunities for expansion but we study these in detail before taking a leap," Stuart B Allen, MD, Allen Chartering (IOM) told TOI.Allen Chartering, headquartered out of the Isle of Man, British Isles, belongs to Peter Dohle Schiffarhrts-KG, the flagship firm of the group.Peter Dohle has shown that it means business in India by picking up equity in Mumbai-based Danautic Ship Management. The five-year old Danautic was set up by captain Daniel Chopra to provide technical management and ship manning.
"Peter Dohle will be sourcing some of its manning requirements from India," said Chopra. The foreign group has also become the first to tie up with the Maritime Institute of India (MTI) — a seafarers' training institute which belongs to the SCI.The new joint venture entity, Doehle Danautic, has selected its first Indian batch of 25 seafarers to be trained at MTI from January.The group wants to participate in the two international benchmarked shipyards which India wants to set up. Ennore Port and Mumbai Port will shortly come out with tenders for selecting a consultant for each of these proposed shipyards.