: Mumbai, March 31, 2023

 

The Governor of Maharashtra Shri Ramesh Bais inaugurated the Merchant Navy Week at Raj Bhavan Mumbai today (31st March). The Director General of Shipping & Chairman NMDC (Central) Committee Shri Rajiv Jalota pinned the miniature flag of Merchant Navy Day on the apparel of the Governor to mark the inauguration of the beginning of the Diamond Jubilee of Merchant Navy Week. Additional DG Shipping Kumar Shri Sanjay Bariar, Nautical Advisor Capt. Ranjit Kumar Muduli, Dy. Director General of Shipping Dr Pandurang K. Raut, CMD, SCI Capt B K Tyagi, Chairman of National Maritime Day Celebrations (Org.) Committee Shri Atul Ubale and heads of the various Organisations and unions in maritime sector were present on the occasion.

Addressing the delegates, Governor touched upon the vast maritime history of India and stressed upon the importance of the merchant navy for the economic development of India. He expressed that the ocean around Mumbai can be explored for development of passenger transport services. He stressed that when our neighboring countries are passing through economic problems, the Indian economy is mostly stable and the maritime business will provide necessary support to make it more stable. He expected that there is a need to increase the number of Maritime Training Institutes in India and further strengthen them. He gave his best wishes and greetings to NMDC (Central) Committee, all the stakeholders of maritime industry and seafarers for celebration of the Merchant Navy week.

The DG Shipping briefed about the importance of the National Maritime Day and the developments made by the Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India and other connected organizations in the maritime field. He informed that the date 5th April is remarkable in Indian maritime history as on this day, the first Indian Steamship “S.S. LOYALTY” of M/s. Scindia Steam, Navigation Co. Ltd., Mumbai embarked on her maiden voyage from Mumbai to London (UK) in the year 1919. A week preceding the National Maritime Day is celebrated as Merchant Navy Week. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Amrit Kaal in Shipping’.

Merchant Navy Week celebrations showcases the role of the Shipping Industry in all its aspects, by exchange of knowledge and information through publications and/ or newspapers, magazines, meetings, seminars, symposiums, workshops, exhibition, competitions etc. and also Sagar Samman Awards are distributed to selected luminaries for outstanding contribution to Indian Shipping. The recognitions will be given to the maritime organizations for their outstanding and praiseworthy contribution in the maritime sector. He also gave detailed account of the merchant marine infrastructure in India and various recent developments and progress made in the maritime sector.

International Maritime Organization (IMO), which is the international regulator for shipping has set goals for green shipping to make the shipping sector greener and free from pollution. The G-20 Presidency has also casted an additional responsibility on India to make the sustainable efforts for the development of shipping. DG Shipping informed that India is endowed with a large coastline of 7500 Kms., inland waterways of nearly 14,500 Kms., more than 200 major and minor ports. Indian merchant marine fleet today stands at 1526 ships with tonnage of 13.7 Million GT. Nearly 95% of India’s overseas trade by volume and 75% by value is carried through maritime transport and approximately 92% of these goods are carried through foreign flagged vessels.  India has more than 500 thousand registered seafarers out of which about 250 thousand are employed in a year, 85% on foreign flag and 15 % on Indian flag ships. He added that the Directorate is also taking steps for gender equality which is a prime objective on Indian Maritime Administration, for encouragement of entry of women into profession of shipping.

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