On December 26, the Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy (AEMA) hosted a remarkable graduation ceremony for the graduating batches of DNS Batch 29, GME Batch 42, and ETO Batch 16 held at Karjat. The event, attended by distinguished guests, parents, faculty, and cadets, celebrated the graduation of 200 cadets, the largest cohort in the institution’s history since 2023, when 160 cadets graduated.
Mr. Tejinder P.S. Bhamra, Principal of AEMA praised the hard work and dedication of the graduating cadets. In his speech, Mr. Bhamra encouraged the cadets to always strive for excellence and reminded them that “Success is not the end—it is a stepping stone to greater achievements.” The event also saw an impressive display of cultural performances, including dancing and singing, reflecting the spirit of the academy’s vibrant community.
The course reports for each batch highlighted the dedication and progress of the cadets. Capt. Gourishankar Hiremath, Faculty (Nautical) and Provost, presented the course report for DNS Batch 29, which commenced in January 2024. He shared that 119 of the 120 cadets had successfully graduated, with the batch excelling in national competitions and academic performance, with all cadets scoring above 70% in the IMU First Semester examination. He also noted the continued commitment to female representation in the maritime sector, with AEMA’s female alumni surpassing 100 since its inception.
Mr. Yogesh Amar Chonkar, HOD (GME), delivered the report for GME Batch 42, which comprised 40 cadets who transitioned from students to professionals through rigorous training. The batch achieved a 100% success rate in their final exams, a testament to their competence and dedication. External examiners were called to assess the practical and workshop skills of the cadets, thereby ensuring an unbiased result of the examination.
Mr. Anil Sharma, HOD (ETO), spoke about the ETO Batch 16, which underwent a focused training program in electrical and electronic systems. Cadets excelled in their studies, participating in numerous extracurricular activities and receiving recognition for innovation in maritime events. As the ETO course is extremely tight, the practical sessions used to go on till 8pm in the evenings. The ETO pass-outs will further undergo three weeks of Electrical / electronics lab training at AEMTC Mumbai as well as IT systems training, prior being placed onboard.
The speeches by AEMA alumni, Capt. Akhil Madhu and Chief Engineer Sanal Mathew, inspired the graduates to embrace the challenges ahead. Capt. Madhu shared his journey and emphasized the importance of hard work and adaptability, while Chief Engineer Mathew highlighted the importance of continuous learning in the evolving maritime industry. Sanal Mathew was on a ship where all the officers were ex-AEMA, and it struck a chord with the passing out cadets, when he mentioned that it was the best team he had sailed on from his sailing experience of last 12 years.
Mr. Rajeev Nayyer, President of IMEI, reminded the cadets of the rapid technological advancements they would face. “You are in that transitional phase when all these new technologies are going to come into the ships which you are most likely to be boarding. Continuous learning in these [technological] fields would be extremely critical for you as you take up your profession,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of awards for outstanding achievements, the release of AEMA’s magazine, “Seaward Bound” and the Academy’s first Library Newsletter “AEMA Deep,” by the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, followed by a heartfelt vote of thanks by the cadets. The day ended with a celebratory lunch, marking a new chapter in the careers of these newly graduated cadets, who are now ready to embark on their maritime journeys.
Marex Media
