New Delhi, Oct 7 : Union Minister for Shipping and Road Transport T. R. Baalu today said that the shipbuilding facilities are being developed in different parts of the country to meet the growing demand of ships.

Addressing a global Conference on Shipbuilding Industry here, Baalu said that 400 more ships would be introduced in the next five years to augment the existing fleet.

He said commissioning of new facilities would change the face of the Indian shipbuilding industry.

"The unprecedented increase in global trade during the past few years has fuelled the demand for more and more ships," he added.

Expressing concern over the shortage of skilled manpower in the sector for higher productivity, he said there is a need for taking various measures to upgrade training institutes to cater to this sector and public-private partnership will be able to fill the gap.

He said government is planning to set up the Indian Maritime University to promote higher learning in marine and shipbuilding sectors. (ANI)