– Pratik Bijlani –
On 20th August, the Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) hosted its monthly lecture at MSC House in Andheri East, Mumbai, where the spotlight was firmly on the keynote presentation, “Human Element at IMO”, delivered by Capt. Arvind Natrajan, Fellow CMMI, AFNI, MCMM (India), Master Mariner and Senior Marine Manager. The event drew participation both online and offline and was graced by eminent industry figures including Capt. M.P. Bhasin, Master Chairman of CMMI; Capt. Vivek Bhandarkar, Secretary General of CMMI; and Capt. Philip Matthews, Director of SIMTF.
The evening began with a warm introduction by Capt. Bhasin, who outlined Capt. Natrajan’s distinguished career—commanding oil and chemical tankers, his academic contributions in the UK, tenure with the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, and his current leadership role at the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). He highlighted his pivotal role in representing shipowners at IMO committees and in leading the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code. Capt. Bhasin also acknowledged his upcoming role at the DG Shipping’s 75th anniversary celebrations, before welcoming him to the podium.
Opening his address, Capt. Natrajan thanked attendees for braving the weather and clarified that he was speaking in his personal capacity as a member of CMMI, not on behalf of ICS. His presentation offered a candid assessment of how the International Maritime Organization (IMO) addresses the human element in shipping—an area he described as central to safety yet inconsistently defined. While IMO often cites that 80% of casualties involve human factors, Capt. Natrajan argued pointedly: “In reality, one hundred percent of maritime casualties involve the human element in some form.”
He walked the audience through key areas of debate at IMO, from autonomous shipping and the classification of remote operators, to fatigue and manning, to the implementation of the ISM Code. He stressed the growing need for IMO to move beyond box-ticking regulations and address the realities faced onboard. The issue of safe manning received particular attention, with Capt. Natrajan noting that while Resolution A.1047 sets out principles, it still falls short in linking manning levels with fatigue management.
Perhaps the most impassioned part of his talk concerned enclosed space entry, where he expressed grave reservations about the new IMO resolution. Unlike the earlier, more concise Resolution A.1050, which only allowed entry into dangerous spaces to save life or ship, the new framework permits entry after risk assessments and barriers. “This is unsafe and unacceptable,” he warned, stressing that the expanded 32-page resolution dilutes earlier safety principles and places an unfair burden on seafarers.
The Q&A session further underscored these concerns, with discussions around the gap between regulations and practical shipboard realities. Capt. Natrajan emphasized that safety management systems, often written ashore and running hundreds of pages, must be practical, stringent, and crafted with direct seafarer input. Veteran mariners present also reflected on past practices—when safety was ensured through personal responsibility and direct checks—contrasting sharply with today’s paperwork-heavy environment.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Capt. Bhandarkar, the felicitation of Capt. Natrajan, and the awarding of his CMMI fellowship certificate. Attendees then enjoyed high tea, continuing conversations sparked by a thought-provoking lecture that challenged conventions and called for a stronger, seafarer-centred approach to safety at IMO.
Marex Media