Pratik Bijlani –
On 11th October, the Mumbai Branch of the Institute of Marine Engineers (India) hosted a timely seminar titled Mentorship in the Age of SIRE 2.0: From Compliance to Competence and Mind over Matter: Emotional Wellness for Modern Mariners at IMEI House, Nerul, Mumbai. The event addressed both technical proficiency and mental well-being, providing maritime students, officers, and industry professionals a platform to explore how mentorship and emotional wellness are shaping modern seafaring.
The event commenced with the welcome address by the newly elected Chairman of IME(I) Mumbai Branch Mr Saanjeev Mehra for the term 2025-27. He welcomed the new EC members and introduced them to the audience and assured that IME(I) Mumbai Branch will carry forward the good work done during the tenure of the earlier committees and also promised to take IME(I) to newer heights with focused attention on the priorities as lined up in their planning. Mr David Birwadkar, Immediate Past Chairman, IME(I) Mumbai Branch then took over the proceedings and handled the event as Emcee.
He invited the Chief Guest Mr Aniruddha Chaki, Dy Chief Surveyor-cum-Sr. Deputy Director General (Tech.), DG Shipping on stage. He also invited the two speakers Capt Debashis Basu and Ms Deepshikha Mehra on to join the Chief Guest on stage. Mr Chaki in his keynote address emphasized the dual priorities of the maritime profession: “For us as professionals and people in the industry, the two key topics we should be addressing are the health of the ship and the health of the people running those ships.” He highlighted that sessions on SIRE 2.0 and emotional wellness were critical in ensuring both vessel safety and crew resilience.
Capt Debashis Basu, Director of Navguide Solutions, delivered the first presentation, focusing on mentorship in the context of the new SIRE 2.0 and RightShip inspection regimes. He outlined how the human element—seafarers’ knowledge, behavior, and readiness—has become central to risk-based inspections. Capt Basu showcased Navguide’s “Guide2Inspections” app, a user-friendly digital platform that combines inspections, training, and mentorship, allowing crews to perform guided self-inspections, access demonstration videos, and receive immediate feedback. The app promotes competence and confidence on board, bridging the gap between learning and application. Capt Basu stressed, “If technology is just used to police seafarers, we miss the point. We must create tools that they actually want to use — simple, intuitive, empowering.” He underscored that mentorship, supported by technology, is essential to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, turning compliance into genuine engagement and skill development.
The second session, led by Transformative & Wellness Coach Ms. Deepshikha Mehra, addressed the emotional wellness of modern mariners. Through interactive exercises, mindfulness techniques, and practical demonstrations like box breathing and somatic MRI meditation, Ms. Mehra highlighted the link between physical activity, stress management, and mental resilience. Attendees were encouraged to incorporate simple, consistent habits—such as stretching, mindful breathing, and positive self-affirmation—to maintain both mental and physical health while at sea. Her session emphasized that small, daily acts of mindfulness and gratitude can have a profound impact on resilience and performance on board ships.
The seminar successfully combined technical mentorship with practical wellness guidance, underscoring the holistic development of maritime professionals. Attendees appreciated the actionable insights, demonstrating that modern seafaring requires both competence in operations and resilience in mind and body. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr Birwadkar. This was followed by lunch, leaving participants with valuable lessons to carry into their professional journeys.
Marex Media