The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), Madras Branch, commemorated its 30th Anniversary Celebrations & Awards Night on 23 January at Hotel Turyaa, Chennai, marking three decades of contribution to maritime education, professional development, and industry engagement in India.
The anniversary programme featured a Technical Session themed Role of the Maritime Industry in a Circular Economy, followed by an Awards Night recognising academic excellence and professional achievement. The event brought together senior industry leaders, policymakers, academicians, and maritime professionals.
The Technical Session was graced by the Guest of Honour, Rear Admiral Satish Shenai, NM, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Area (FOTNA), who addressed the gathering on the evolving role of the maritime sector in sustainability and national maritime capability building.
Two panel discussions formed the core of the technical deliberations. The first panel, Decarbonising at Sea: Onboard Carbon Capture and the Maritime Path to SDG 14, was moderated by Capt KG Ramakrishnan, FICS, Past Chairman, ICS Madras Branch. The discussion featured Dr Ravi Raj Atrey, Country Lead – Ocean Centres India, UN Global Compact Network India, and Mr Manikandan S., Chair, Blue Economy Expert Committee, Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), who examined technological pathways, policy alignment, and industry collaboration for sustainable maritime operations.
The second panel discussion, Beyond Traditional Training: Preparing Maritime Professionals for a Net-Zero, Digitised Future, was moderated by Capt John Prasad Menezes, FICS, Past Chairman, ICS Madras Branch. Panellists included Capt Suresh Bhardwaj, Resident Director & Principal, MASSA Maritime Academy; Capt Sundeep Inkurthy, Founder & CEO, Smartseas.AI; and Mr Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, Head of Product Management, FrontM Ltd (UK). The panel highlighted the need for future-ready skills, digital transformation, and continuous professional development in a rapidly evolving maritime landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Arathi Narayanan, FICS, Chairperson, ICS Madras Branch, noted that the 30-year journey of the Madras Branch reflects the Institute’s enduring commitment to education, professional development, and knowledge sharing within the maritime community.
The Anniversary Awards Night was graced by the Chief Guest, Dr Malini V Shankar, IAS (Retd.), Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University, who addressed the gathering and presented awards recognising students, professionals, and long-standing contributors to the Institute.
The Presidential Address was delivered by Mr Punit Oza, FICS, Global President, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, who shared global perspectives on shipping markets, maritime leadership, and the evolving role of professional institutions in supporting industry transformation.
The event was led by the Office Bearers of the ICS Madras Branch:
- Ms. Arathi Narayanan, FICS – Chairperson
- Capt. L. K. Lalit Kumar, FICS – Vice Chairman
- Mr. Nilesh Kumar Sinha, MICS – Honorary Secretary
- Mr. Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, MICS – Honorary Treasurer
The celebrations concluded with networking and fellowship, reaffirming the ICS Madras Branch’s role as a key platform for professional excellence, dialogue, and capacity building within India’s maritime sector.
Marex Media