Pratik Bijlani –
The Maritime Trainers Guild (MTG) marked its Launch Day Anniversary on 20 February with a special webinar celebrating its formation as a professional body representing maritime educators and trainers. The seventh Launch Day brought together training leaders, regulators, and academic experts to reflect on the evolving landscape of maritime instruction, address emerging challenges, and reinforce a shared commitment to quality, collaboration, and continuous professional development.
Capt. Prabhat Nigam, Founder and President of MTG, set the tone by emphasizing the need to balance rapid technological adoption with the enduring values of seamanship. He welcomed participants with the theme “Balancing Human Wisdom and Digital Immersion in MET”, noting that maritime education today stands at a critical inflection point.
He highlighted that while AI, simulators, VR/AR platforms, and adaptive learning systems are now embedded in maritime training, technology must remain an enabler—not a replacement. “No algorithm can substitute a master’s situational judgment, an engineer’s intuition, or a trainer’s ability to read human behaviour under stress,” he said. Maritime competence, he stressed, is shaped not only by information but by mentorship, experiential learning, ethical responsibility, and professional culture.
Capt. Nigam underscored that the true objective of maritime training is balance: human expertise provides wisdom, judgment, leadership, and safety culture, while digital immersion enhances realism, scalability, and accessibility. When aligned correctly, technology amplifies the instructor’s capability, improves learning retention, and prepares seafarers for increasingly complex operations—without compromising seamanship. He encouraged participants to actively engage in shaping future-ready, safety-driven, and human-centred maritime education systems.
A key presentation was delivered by Chief Guest, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, who outlined the Directorate General of Shipping’s reform roadmap aligned with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. He detailed initiatives aimed at building India into a leading seafaring nation, including AI-enabled learning systems, standardized digital content, faculty certification, senior seafarer engagement, a universal learning management system, common admission and authentic job portals, and fully digitized competency examinations in partnership with C-DAC and NTA. Emphasizing transparency and integrity, he stated, “Our vision is clear—technology must strengthen maritime training, not replace its human foundation. Through digital platforms, transparent systems, AI-enabled learning, and zero tolerance for malpractice, we are building an ecosystem where competence is credible, certification is trustworthy, and every Indian seafarer is empowered through quality, integrity, and equal opportunity.”
Mr. Mahesh A. Patil, Dean of Samudra Institute of Maritime Studies, showcased the technical integration of AI, AR, and VR in maritime education. Demonstrating adaptive LMS platforms, VR simulators, and augmented reality applications such as the Intelligent Ship in Campus, he presented research findings indicating improved engagement and knowledge retention through balanced blended learning models. He cautioned, however, that immersive tools must align with STCW competencies and complement, not replace, structured instruction.
Capt. Viraf Chichgar, General Manager of FMTI, described AI as the “Swiss knife” of maritime education—an inevitable and versatile tool for research, lesson planning, assessment, and performance analytics. He demonstrated AI-driven cloud simulators, automated evaluation systems, and VR-based skill assessments, underscoring measurable gains in efficiency and competency development while reiterating the importance of instructor oversight.
The webinar concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Mr. David Birwadkar on the Directorate General of Shipping’s 18-hour weekly teaching norm. Panellists debated its impact on academic quality, faculty sustainability, and technological integration. Mr. Francis Akkara advocated regulatory compliance with flexibility based on institutional capability. Capt. Philip Matthews proposed increasing teaching hours to 24 per week, linking structured time with competency outcomes. Capt. C. L. Dubey argued that the current ceiling underutilizes experienced faculty, while Capt. Anand Subramanian called for more flexible limits aligned with global benchmarks.
The session ended with an engaging Q&A and a vote of thanks by Capt. Kamal Chadha, reaffirming MTG’s role as a catalyst for responsible innovation and human-centred maritime training worldwide.
Marex Media