On February 20th and 21st NYK Ship Management (NYKSM), a subsidiary of the renowned NYK Group, hosted its annual NYKSM Officers’ Dialogue 2025 at the Navi Mumbai Marriott Hotel. This significant two-day event, themed Safety and Compliance First, brought together NYKSM seafaring Officers, industry leaders and maritime professionals to discuss key operational strategies, safety measures, and the company’s commitment to growth and sustainability.
The event was attended by top management of NYK: Mr Yukata Higurashi, Director and Senior Management Executive Officer of NYK; Mr Nobuhiro Kashima, Senior Managing Executive Officer at NYK; Mr Anubhav Garg, COO and MD of NYKSM; Ms. Doris Mo, CFAO at NYKSM; Mr Deepak Arora, General Manager MHR at NYKSM and other notable personalities.
Capt Purendu Nansi, General Manager, NYKSM (India) formally set the stage for a day of knowledge-sharing and collaborative discussions.
The conference began with a welcome note by Mr Keshav Agarwala, Country Manager of NYKSM (India), who eloquently set the tone for the gathering. Highlighting the subtle yet impactful difference between “oversee” and “overlook,” he urged attendees to embrace their responsibilities with diligence and care. His hope for engaging and interactive sessions was realized throughout the event.
Mr. Nobuhiro Kashima, Senior Managing Executive Officer at NYK emphasized the indispensable role of Indian seafarers in NYK’s global success. Reflecting on the establishment of NYK’s new office in Navi Mumbai, he highlighted the company’s dedication to consolidating technical, manning, and training operations in India. “You are the backbone of our operations, and we seek to take our vision for India forward with your whole-hearted dedication and respectful commitment,” he affirmed.
He further stressed the need for embedding safety and compliance into the company’s core ethos. “Our journey is not just about reaching our destination; it is about developing a safety-first culture as part of our DNA, where every action is naturally conceived with safety and compliance in mind,” he added.
Interactive activities and insightful presentations defined the conference’s agenda. Capt. Rajat Marwaha conducted an engaging ice-breaking session, fostering camaraderie among attendees, while Capt. Ishan Chauhan’s innovative Maritime Human Resources presentation introduced “Krishna,” an AI-generated virtual presenter, to explore seafarer well-being, mental health, and policy adherence.
Technical insights were shared by Mr. Randhir Das, who detailed the functionalities of the NiBiki PMS system, emphasizing the importance of efficient reporting and inventory management. Capt. Vikas Agarwal facilitated a workshop analyzing a ship grounding incident, stressing the significance of bridge resource management and procedural rigor to prevent such occurrences.
Safety was a recurring theme, with Mr. Andrew Lemmins addressing lifeboat deficiencies and the gaps in crew training. He urged ship managers and regulators to enhance oversight and separate training from compliance activities for improved outcomes. Capt. Mohan Rao Munjiti presented NYKSM’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, emphasizing the company’s commitment to IMO’s net-zero targets and sustainability. A thought-provoking session by Capt. Kashif Ali and 3rd Officer Rishabh Badoni tackled generational differences, advocating mentorship and open communication to bridge gaps. Meanwhile, the introduction of SIRE 2.0 by Capt. Marwaha highlighted NYKSM’s commitment to exceeding industry compliance standards.
Mr Andrew Leahy made a presentation on crisis management and media response, where he underscored the importance of swift and professional responses in safeguarding both company reputation and seafarer welfare.
Day 2
While day One ended with a celebratory dinner, cocktails, and live entertainment, encapsulating NYKSM’s ethos of fostering a collaborative, safety-driven, and forward-thinking maritime community, it was followed by equal enthusiasm next morning with presentation by Mr Ansuman Ghosh Director, Risk Assessment, Thomas Miller P&I.
Mr Ghosh through his candid presentations and views highlighted a point forward that “we all are Seafarers by Choice and Not by Chance. For apart from the rigorous work and besides the adventurous journey, a seafarer also gets to explore different part of the world and their culture.” He added, “People who willing to be a part of different culture, embrace their maritime job extremely. He narrated ample examples motivating seafarers thus adding value to the job and contributing towards the nation building.
Mr Rochit Das conducted an inhouse activity; a case study on hypothetical ship management in sea on ‘Role Alignment’ with a decision-making unit. The objective was to understand the importance of all the stakeholders on a commercial ship. The exercise included each team having a Master, CE, VM, P M Procurement, MM and so on. The team was to focus on effective HSEQ performance and smooth sailing with all the deviation, cargo load, cost analysis crew change, procurement, and preventive measures to ensure it reaches the destination safe.
This was followed by HSEQ session by Capt. Vivek Venugopal DGM HSEQ, NKYSM who deliberated upon various Risk Assessment, Safety Process, and Certificate Module highlighting the importance of compliance. Capt. Venugopal said, “We at NYK follow ‘No Blame Culture’ but at the same time we do not accept false cover-ups; Safety and compliance are a must.”
Taking it further, Capt Mr Ashok Srinivasan, Regional Manager, & Technical Advisor, BIMCO introduced the working of BIMCO over the years and stressed upon measures that needs to be adhered to while sailing – to avoid accidents.
While Capt. Prem Prakash did mention about some of NYK’s initiatives towards new fuels, Mr Anubhav Garg, NYKSM MD & COO appreciated all the seafarers for making their presence felt during the two-day event. Acknowledging the huge turnout of seafarers during the discussion, Mr Garg said, “Don’t fear change, rather embrace the change,” for adapting is the nature and the key for survival.
In his closing remarks Mr Ohashi -NYKSM Chairman & CEO once again reiterated the NYK Culture of No blame and its commitment towards ‘Safety and Compliance First.’
NYKSM Inaugurates Navi Mumbai Office
Capt (Dr) Daniel J Joseph, Dy. Director General of Shipping (Crew) DG Shipping, Govt. of India, and Mr Gopikrishna C Dy. Director General of Shipping, (E & SS) DG Shipping, Govt of India inaugurated the new office of the NYKSM in Navi Mumbai on 21st February.
Appreciating the efforts of NYKSM the officials extended their support.
Capt Joseph said, “We thank NYKSM for inviting us on such an auspicious ceremony and we assure maximum support from DG Shipping for enhancing Indian maritime.” On the sidelines, Capt Joseph also urged NYKSM to hire the Indian talent pool especially the Ratings onboard NYK Ships as well.
Mr Gopikrishna said, “We shall be equally available for all the technical support needed time and again; be it fuels and / or green economy. This is one of the most welcoming moments and we look forward to collaboration.”
Spread over the area of over 10,000 sq ft with the modern-day infrastructure, the setup will gradually start offering its bouquet of services in Shipmanagement Technical, and Trainings.
Speaking on the inauguration, Mr Garg, said, “Since its inception in October 2001 NYK Shipmanagement has expanded to become one of the biggest and most reputed ship management companies operating from Singapore.”
Driven by our core values of Integrity, Innovation and Intensity, the company has grown to great strength and now has 125 vessels under full technical management and 200+ vessels under technical and crewing management.
Marex Media
Insights from the High Seas
“NYK sets the standard for maritime excellence, prioritizing safety, security, and employee fulfilment. I’m proud to be part of a company that exceeds expectations and shares my passion for shipping.” – Capt Oesterd Rebello, Master, NYKSM
“NYK stands out for its exceptional support, high standards, and robust safety culture. With a multinational crew, they foster a performance-driven environment where everyone works together seamlessly, making them a leader in the industry.” – Capt Manoj Kumar Mishra, Master, NYKSM
“I’m grateful to work with NYK, a company that actively promotes women’s empowerment in the maritime industry. As a woman seafarer, I’ve felt safe and motivated by the diverse and inclusive crew. I hope more women join, as it will create a supportive and inspiring community at sea.” – Ms Susmita Bhunia, ETO, NYKSM
“I’m grateful to have joined NYK as a cadet and fortunate to have had opportunities to grow, sailing on various ships and being promoted to master on a VLCC. NYK’s supportive culture recognizes hard work and dedication, and I’m thankful for their recognition and trust in me.” – Capt Binoy Nambiar, Master, NYKSM