Pratik Bijlani –
The maritime industry is built on policies, regulations and international conventions, but their real value is measured much further down the line—in the safety of ships, the efficiency of ports, the resilience of supply chains and, above all, the wellbeing of the people who work at sea. That message shaped India’s World Maritime Day 2026 celebrations, held on 30 September at Bharat Ratnam, Mumbai, under the theme From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence.
Bringing together senior government officials, maritime regulators, industry leaders and seafarer representatives, the event examined how India can turn its expanding maritime policy framework into practical outcomes. Dr Deepti Mankad, Master of Ceremonies, highlighted the need for regulations and international commitments to translate into tangible improvements across ships, ports, institutions and workplaces, while keeping the people who sustain the sector firmly at the centre.
Capt BK Tyagi, CMD, The Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI), welcomed the delegates by pointing to India’s broad maritime transformation, from shipbuilding and fleet expansion to coastal shipping, inland waterways, container manufacturing and ship disposal. He stressed the importance of implementing IMO conventions effectively while recognising the contribution of Indian seafarers operating in challenging areas such as the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. “India has taken a proactive approach towards maritime development, with the government and DGMA putting policies and frameworks in place. From shipbuilding and fleet expansion to coastal shipping and inland waterways, every aspect of the maritime sector is receiving attention.” he said.
In his message, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India reinforced the need to turn ambition into measurable progress, highlighting shipbuilding, ship repair, digitalisation, technology, skills and the growing participation of women in the maritime workforce. “On this World Maritime Day, I call upon all stakeholders to convert commitment into action and ambition into excellence. Together, let us build a maritime sector that is safe, clean, inclusive and globally competitive, contributing to our vision for 2047.” he said.
MoPSW Secretary Mr Vijay Kumar placed seafarers firmly at the heart of this transformation, calling for reforms that improve safety, welfare, efficiency and dignity while harnessing artificial intelligence, automation and secure digital systems. “From policy to practice means making reforms work on the ground. Our collective responsibility is to translate maritime reforms into better services, stronger institutions, safer ships, cleaner seas and more efficient operations, while keeping seafarer safety and welfare at heart.” he said.
That people-centred approach was echoed by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, who highlighted the damage caused by geopolitical conflicts to shipping and seafarers while stressing that regulations only work when implemented globally. “Regulations will only deliver safer, more resilient and cleaner shipping when they are implemented worldwide. Across all our policies and priorities, one principle must remain constant: seafarers come first, always, and implementation must make a difference when it matters most.” he said.
Mr Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Maritime Administration, emphasised the broader transformation of India’s maritime sector, including reforms in legislation, digitalisation, training, ship recycling and seafarer welfare. “India’s maritime future depends on translating policy into practice, strengthening seafarer safety and welfare, and building through collaboration. We must celebrate our progress while working together to strengthen shipping, shipbuilding, maritime training, digitalisation and recycling for global leadership and excellence.”
The event also showcased the scale of India’s institutional transformation. DGMA officials outlined digitalisation initiatives covering surveys, certification, training, recruitment and placement, examinations and grievance redressal, alongside the expansion of secure digital platforms and AI-enabled services. The Merchant Shipping Act 2025 was presented as a key legislative reform, modernising vessel registration, training, seafarer protection, pollution prevention, audits and maritime emergency response.
A major focus was Mission 20%, India’s ambition to increase its share of the global seafarer workforce from around 12.5% to 20% by 2030. Mr. Mugilrajan Devarajan stressed that achieving that target would require more than expanding training numbers, with competency, certification, employment opportunities, faculty development, anti-fraud measures and greater opportunities for women all essential to building a globally employable workforce.
The seafarer panel brought those concerns directly into the conversation, covering compensation, safe passage, repatriation, realistic regulations, practical training, psychological safety, gender awareness, shore leave, communication and welfare. Participants urged greater involvement of serving seafarers in policymaking and stressed that India’s maritime growth must prioritise quality and welfare alongside numerical expansion.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sudhir Kohakade, bringing the World Maritime Day proceedings to a close. The message from Mumbai was therefore clear: India’s maritime future will not be determined simply by the strength of its laws or the scale of its ambitions, but by how effectively those ambitions are implemented. From the ship’s bridge to the regulator’s office, policy must ultimately become practice—and practice must deliver safer ships, cleaner seas and a stronger future for the people who keep maritime trade moving.
Marex Media