Pratik Bijlani – The 2nd edition of ATPI–Marex Global Crewing & Training Summit & Kashti Awards 2026, held at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Delhi Airport, New Delhi on 13th February, brought together senior maritime leaders, policymakers, trainers, regulators, shipowners, managers and seafarer advocates to deliberate on the most pressing issues shaping the future of global shipping. Convened in the national capital, the summit reinforced the growing recognition that India’s maritime ambitions hinge on the strength, skills and wellbeing of its human capital.
From shipmanning and training reform to digital transformation, decarbonisation, mental health and gender diversity, the conversations were candid, forward-looking and solution-driven. With more than 200 global maritime decision-makers in attendance—including shipowners, charterers, traders, brokers, government officials, training institutes, vessel operators, ship managers, captains and manning companies—the summit underscored the collective responsibility to make seafarers future-ready.
Delivering the welcome address, Capt. Kamal Chadha, Managing Director of Marex Media, set the tone by emphasizing collaboration and seafarer-centric transformation under the theme “Making Seafarers Future-Ready.” He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue toward partnerships that strengthen training ecosystems and sustainable workforce development.
Capt. Rajesh Tandon, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Advisors and CEO of FOSMA, outlined India’s maritime manpower ambitions, highlighting significant government investment plans and the goal of increasing India’s share of global seafarers from 12% to 20%. He drew attention to bottlenecks in onboard training slots and called for innovative solutions such as dedicated cadet training ships and structured trainer development programs. Stressing the importance of data-driven feedback systems and early career awareness at the school level, he advocated building a resilient and future-focused maritime talent pipeline.
Guest of Honour Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Former Director General of Shipping, lauded India’s 17% annual growth in seafarer numbers while urging a strategic shift to meet Maritime India Vision targets of 500,000 seafarers. He emphasized diversification beyond tankers into gas, bulk and cruise segments, segment-specific training including hospitality skills, and greater use of simulators to address sea-time constraints. His four-point focus—digital and AI readiness, green fuel preparedness, regulatory adaptability, and gender diversity—framed the roadmap for a globally competitive maritime workforce.
Guest of Honour Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid, Deputy Consul General at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, highlighted Norway–India cooperation in maritime training and seafarer welfare under the TEPA agreement. He underscored the growing presence of Indian seafarers in the global fleet and emphasized shared commitments to gender equality, alternative fuels and sustainable innovation.
Chief Guest Dr. Shishir Shrotriya, Coordinator at the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC), described the summit as a defining moment for maritime manpower development. He stated, “The ATPI–Marex Global Crewing & Training Summit & Kashti Awards 2026 in New Delhi is more than a conference—it is a collective call to action. By bringing together policymakers, global shipowners, training institutions and seafarers, the summit reinforces a shared commitment to making maritime manpower future-ready while celebrating excellence across the industry.” Emphasizing a human-centric approach amid rapid decarbonisation and digitalisation, he called for advanced training in cybersecurity, alternative fuels, IMDG and IGF Codes, and Polar compliance, alongside curriculum reform and faculty upskilling.
A video message from Prof. Maximo Q. Mejia of the World Maritime University reinforced the need to revise the STCW framework to address cyber risks, mental wellbeing and alternative fuels, urging experiential and technology-enabled learning. Capt. Sarabjit Butalia echoed these concerns, stressing that without genuine industry investment, research and empathy toward seafarers’ realities, progress toward 2040-ready competencies would remain fragmented.
Panel discussions provided granular insight into industry expectations. The first panel, moderated by Capt. S.M. Halbe, examined shipowners’ perspectives on evolving competence requirements. Participants emphasized technological agility, resilience, adaptability and stronger soft skills, with recognition that future seafarers must be digitally aware yet not digitally dependent. The second panel, moderated by Capt. Yashoverman Sharma, debated whether Indian seafarers are future-ready, concluding that systemic investment, cultural change and structured cadet development are essential to close skill gaps.
The third panel focused on fostering a culture of wellbeing, highlighting mental health, leadership empathy, data-driven health assessments and shared responsibility between ship and shore. Discussions acknowledged generational shifts, where younger seafarers prioritize workplace culture and wellbeing alongside remuneration. The fourth panel, “Maritime Careers from Classroom to Ship & Beyond,” explored strengthening awareness through school outreach, alignment with the National Education Policy 2020, and clearer career pathways from seafaring to boardroom leadership.
Marex Media