GANDHINAGAR : Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), through its School of Maritime Law, Policy and Administration, inaugurated a two-week capacity-building programme on Maritime Law, Governance and Administration for senior officers of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA).
Dr. Justice Kaushal J. Thaker, Former Chairperson of the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission inaugurated the program in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Manimuthu Gandhi, Vice President of the Indian Society of International Law and Advocate Hari Narayan, Maritime Lawyer at United Mercantile Law Chambers, and Dean of Academic Affairs at GMU Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Kaushik.
In his inaugural address, Dr. Justice Kaushal J. Thaker, former Chairperson of the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission, encouraged participants to use the programme as an opportunity for focused learning. “Treat this as a retreat. Take it as a detoxing zone,” he said, urging officers to engage fully with the sessions. He noted that maritime law continues to develop through judicial interpretation and highlighted the jurisdictional questions that can arise in matters involving foreign crews and Indian waters.
Justice Thaker also encouraged participants to carry the learning forward: “You can go back to your jurisdictions and have training modules for your colleagues.”
Prof. (Dr.) Manimuthu Gandhi, Vice President of the Indian Society of International Law, situated maritime law within the wider framework of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. “Don’t look [at] this maritime law alone, because maritime law is one subset of law of the sea,” he said, emphasising the links between maritime public law, private law and the International Maritime Organization framework.
He added that “ freedom of navigation” remains central to the development of maritime law and encouraged officers to approach the programme with full attention and engagement.
Advocate Hari Narayan, Partner and Maritime Lawyer at United Maritime Law Chambers, described 2025 as a pivotal year for Indian shipping law following the introduction of five key legislations, including the Merchant Shipping Act, Coastal Shipping Act, Bills of Lading Act, Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, and Indian Ports Act. “The Indian law is now in conformity with the industry’s best practice and international conventions ,” he said.
Highlighting the role of DGMA officers, he said: “You are the key people who are involved in the enforcement of these statute provisions.” He noted that effective implementation is essential to protecting seafarers, the industry and environmental interests .
Dr. Abhay Singh, Director, School of Maritime Law, Policy and Administration said: “Through this initiative, Gujarat Maritime University seeks to contribute to the professional development of maritime administration officers by deepening their understanding of the legal and institutional frameworks governing India’s maritime sector and equipping them to engage with emerging regulatory and operational challenges.”
The programme brings together Honble High Court judges, maritime-law practitioners, academicians and international-law experts connected with International Maritime Organisation and World Maritime University to examine key aspects of international and domestic maritime law, maritime administration, shipping regulations, port governance, ship registration, flag State jurisdiction, admiralty jurisdiction, ship arrest, maritime arbitration, marine insurance and commercial shipping contracts.
The programme will also examine maritime environmental protection, marine biodiversity, sustainable shipping, seafarers’ rights, maritime crimes, ship recycling, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and autonomous vessels.
Fifteen senior officers of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration are participating in this two-week programme.
