DG Shipping hosts landmark knowledge sharing conference on 75 Years of maritime excellence
Shikṣita Nāvikaḥ, Saśakta Saṁsthānam, Surakṣita Samudraḥ
India Navigating Through T³: Training, Transition, Transformation – Building a Technologically Advanced, Risk-Ready, and Sustainable Maritime Ecosystem
MUMBAI: The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, successfully hosted the Knowledge Sharing Conference on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary at Hotel Aurika, Mumbai. The event brought together distinguished leaders, global maritime experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on the future of maritime safety, training, and sustainability.
The conference was inaugurated with an address by Dr. Malini V. Shankar, IAS, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University, who set the tone by highlighting the role of maritime education in shaping a future-ready workforce.
A major highlight of the inaugural session was the launch and presentation of the STCW Nautical and Engineering Reports, along with the Comprehensive Inspection Programme (CIP) Report 2025. Together, these reports provided an in-depth analysis of training standards, competency frameworks, inspection mechanisms, and future requirements to align Indian seafarer training and ship inspections with global benchmarks of safety, compliance, and technological preparedness.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping, emphasized the need for India to strengthen its leadership in the global maritime sector by embracing innovation, digital transformation, and a people-centric training ecosystem.
“India’s seafarers are among the finest in the world, and our responsibility is to empower them with world-class training, technology, and resilience. This conference marks the beginning of a new chapter where safety, sustainability, and skills will define India’s maritime leadership,” said Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping.
The day-long conference featured three insightful panel discussions:
Session 1: Evolving Role of Maritime Institutions
Theme: Integrating Skills, Sensitivity, and Sustainability into Seafarer Training
Moderator: Ms. Sonali Banerjee, Principal Surveyor, Indian Register of Shipping
Speakers:
- Dr. Malini V. Shankar, IAS, Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University & Former Director General of Shipping
- Capt. Arvind Natrajan, Senior Marine Manager (Crewing & Training), International Chamber of Shipping
- Capt. Subroto Khan, Principal, Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies
- Shri. Praveen Nair, Deputy Chief Surveyor, Directorate General of Shipping
- Shri. Deependra Singh Bisen, Deputy Director General (Training), Directorate General of Shipping
Session 2: Future-Proofing Seafarers
Theme: Transforming Training for Competence, Confidence, and Compliance
Moderator: Capt. Abhijith Balakrishnan, Designated Person Ashore, Scorpio Group, India
Speakers:
- Capt. Pradeep Chawla, CEO, Maritime Knowledge Limited, MarinePALS, Hong Kong
- Capt. Viraf Chichgar, General Manager & Dean, Fleet Management Training Institute, Mumbai
- Capt. Sunil Chand Panigrahy, Director (I/c), Indian Maritime University Mumbai Port Campus (LBS CAMSAR & MERI)
- Shri. Prasad Nayak, Chair, SGMF Ammonia Working Group & Lead Expert, Maritime Just Transition Task Force
- Shri. Anand Tripathi, Regional Director – Placements, AMET University
Session 3: Beyond the Horizon: From Sea to Shore
Theme: Expanding Career Pathways for Maritime Professionals
Moderator: Capt. Anish Joseph, Deputy Nautical Advisor, Directorate General of Shipping
Speakers:
- Capt. Dhruv Sawhney, CEO & Co-Founder, ShipsKart
- Shri. Mahesh Subramaniam, General Manager, Anglo-Eastern
- Dr. Sanjeev Vakil, CEO, Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training
- Capt. Gaurav Rana, Founder & CEO, Sea and Beyond
- Shri. Rajnish Khandelwal, President, World Maritime University India Alumni Association & CEO, J. M. Baxi Marine Services
The conference also provided an invaluable networking platform for industry professionals, academicians, and policymakers to align on the vision of making India a global hub for maritime training and technology.
Speaking at the valedictory session, Capt. Ravi Singh Sikarwar, Nautical Surveyor-cum-Deputy Director General (Tech), DG Shipping, summarized the discussions and reinforced DG Shipping’s commitment to fostering a risk-ready, sustainable, and technologically advanced maritime ecosystem.
The event concluded on a high note, with delegates acknowledging the conference as a milestone in knowledge exchange and collaborative action for India’s maritime future.