Summary of the Knowledge Sharing Conference on Maritime Sector
Conference Overview
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) celebrated its 75th Anniversary by hosting a Knowledge Sharing Conference in Mumbai, emphasizing the future of maritime safety, training, and sustainability. The event gathered industry leaders, global maritime experts, and policymakers to explore ways to enhance India’s leadership in the maritime sector.
Inaugural Address
Dr. Malini V. Shankar, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University, inaugurated the conference. She highlighted the vital role of maritime education in developing a future-ready workforce and underscored the significance of the event as a platform for innovation and progress in the maritime field.
Key Reports Launched
A major highlight was the presentation of the STCW Nautical and Engineering Reports and the Comprehensive Inspection Programme (CIP) Report 2025. These reports contained analyses of training standards and competency frameworks, aimed at aligning Indian seafarer training and ship inspections with global safety and compliance benchmarks.
Keynote Address
Shri Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, delivered the keynote address focusing on the necessity for India to enhance its global maritime position. He emphasized the importance of innovation, digital transformation, and a focus on people-centric training. He stated, “India’s seafarers are among the finest in the world,” calling for world-class training and resilience as key to India’s maritime leadership.
Panel Discussions
The conference included three insightful panel discussions:
- Evolving Role of Maritime Institutions
- Theme: Integrating Skills, Sensitivity, and Sustainability into Seafarer Training.
- Moderator: Ms. Sonali Banerjee.
- Speakers: Included experts from various maritime institutions, discussing the need to create skilled, sensitive, and sustainably trained maritime professionals.
- Future-Proofing Seafarers
- Theme: Transforming Training for Competence, Confidence, and Compliance.
- Moderator: Capt. Abhijith Balakrishnan.
- Speakers: Presenters from international and national maritime educational bodies discussed innovative approaches to training, focusing on compliance and confidence.
- Beyond the Horizon: From Sea to Shore
- Theme: Expanding Career Pathways for Maritime Professionals.
- Moderator: Capt. Anish Joseph.
- Speakers: Panelists shared insights on career opportunities in the maritime sector, promoting versatile pathways for maritime professionals.
Networking Opportunities
The conference also served as a crucial networking platform, enabling professionals, academicians, and policymakers to collaborate and align their goals in establishing India as a global leader in maritime training and technology.
Conclusion
In the valedictory session, Capt. Ravi Singh Sikarwar highlighted DG Shipping’s commitment to creating a technologically advanced and risk-ready maritime ecosystem. The conference concluded with participants recognizing it as a significant milestone in advancing collaborative action and knowledge sharing for the future of India’s maritime sector.
