CHENNAI: Shri Prashant Patil, IAS, Deputy Director General (Maritime Administration), visited HIMT’s Pre-Sea and Post-Sea Maritime Training Institute in Chennai on 16 October 2026, highlighting the importance of quality maritime education, competency-based training and seafarer welfare in advancing India’s maritime ambitions.
The visit commenced with a ceremonial march past and salute by the cadets, reflecting their discipline and commitment to the maritime profession. Shri Patil subsequently toured the institute’s nautical and engineering simulators, interacted with post-sea officers and addressed the gathering of maritime trainees and professionals.
Focus on India’s Maritime Vision and Global Leadership
During his address, Shri Patil highlighted the significance of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 in strengthening India’s position as a leading global maritime nation. He emphasised the need to develop a highly skilled, professionally competent and future-ready seafaring workforce capable of meeting the evolving requirements of the international shipping industry.
Underscoring the importance of competency-based maritime education, he stressed that training must go beyond theoretical knowledge to encompass technical proficiency, practical skills, digital literacy, effective communication and leadership capabilities.
Mission 20%: Expanding India’s Global Seafaring Workforce
A key highlight of the address was Mission 20%, which aims to increase India’s share of the global seafaring workforce to 20%. Achieving this ambition requires high-quality maritime training, enhanced professional competencies and expanded employment opportunities for Indian seafarers in the global shipping industry.
Shri Patil also emphasised that seafarers’ welfare must remain a priority. He highlighted the importance of effective grievance redressal mechanisms, crisis management, protection of seafarers’ rights, mental well-being and access to legitimate employment opportunities.
Safety, Integrity and Professional Excellence
Addressing the cadets and maritime professionals, Shri Patil encouraged them to make safety their foremost priority, uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and demonstrate responsible leadership throughout their maritime careers. He underlined the importance of cultivating a strong safety culture and maintaining integrity and excellence while serving aboard ships across the world’s oceans.
The visit reinforced the importance of collaboration between maritime administration and training institutions in nurturing competent, ethical and safety-conscious maritime professionals. Such initiatives support India’s long-term maritime development objectives and strengthen the country’s contribution to the global shipping and seafaring community.
The interaction served as an important opportunity to motivate aspiring seafarers and experienced maritime professionals to uphold the highest standards of competence, responsibility and professionalism while representing India on the international maritime stage.
