Pratik Bijlani –
The Maritime Trainers Guild (MTG) celebrated its Foundation Day Anniversary on August 3, 2024, with a grand ceremony attended by prominent leaders in the maritime business. MTG, a professional organisation dedicated to the growth and improvement of maritime training and education, has played an important role in assisting trainers, raising training standards, and cultivating a community committed to professional excellence in maritime education.
The seminar, titled “Adapting to Disruptive Changes in Maritime Education and Training,” centred on the future of maritime education, stressing technical advancements like as AI, VR technology, green fuels, and digitalisation. The purpose was to highlight the significance of high-quality maritime education and training in guaranteeing the safety and efficiency of maritime operations around the world.
The event’s Chief Guest, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping, was accompanied by Capt Kamal Chadha, Secretary, MTG who also served as Master of Ceremonies. The event was attended by industry stalwarts such as Capt. Philip Matthew, Director, SIMTF; Capt. Shiv Halbe, CEO, MASSA; Capt. Subhendu Hati, Vice Principal and Head, SIMS; Capt. Prabhat Nigam, President, MTG; Mr. Rabindra Sah, CTO, IRS; Mr. Kishore Sundaresan, Co-Founder, GreenTech MW Pvt. Ltd.; Capt Subhendu Hati, Vice Principal and Head, SIMS; Mr. David Birwadkar, Vice-President, Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd.; Capt. Ruchin Dayal, CEO & President, IIMS; Capt. MC Yadav, Director, FOSMA; Mr Sunil Kumar, Head & CTO, The Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd; Mr. Pawan Kapoor, MD, ISF; Ms. Shilpa B, Surveyor, IRClass; Capt. H. Kumar, Founder and CEO, Seaskills Maritime Academy among others.
Capt Prabhat Nigam, President of MTG, kicked off the event with a welcome address that reflected on MTG’s history and beginnings. He emphasised the guild’s vision and objectives, the substantial contributions of its members, and the role of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in the future of maritime education.
Mr Jagannathan expressed gratitude to MTG for offering a consultative platform for maritime education and training. He gave information on Indian mariners and projected their global rise. He emphasised the Maritime India Vision, which calls for boosting Indian sailors’ global share from 12% to 20%. He outlined strategies for boosting seafarer procurement, education, and training, including more social media participation, career counselling camps, international alliances, and comprehensive training programs. Mr Jagannathan also mentioned government initiatives such as Sagar Mein Yog and Sagar Mein Samman, which aim to improve the lives of seafarers.
Mr Rabindra Sah’s lecture, AI in Maritime Education and Training, focused on using technology and digital advances to improve marine training. He advocated for the employment of 3D technology throughout a ship’s career and expected a comprehensive digital transformation of the sector. Mr Sah, representing IRClass, emphasised the importance of digitalisation in elevating India’s global stature, citing technologies such as VR and AI-driven ship simulators, ship auto-docking, logistics port simulations, and data analytics.
The program included two panel discussions. The first, Developing the Future Ready Curriculum, was moderated by Capt Kishore. The panel discussed the necessity to match maritime education with IMO standards and future technology improvements. Capt Subhendu Hati emphasised, “There are core competencies that are required, and there are complementary competencies that are desirable. My request is that we do not compromise on those must-have competencies.” This remark emphasised the significance of retaining fundamental abilities while adjusting to new technologies.
The second panel discussion, Equipping the Trainers and Assessors, hosted by Mr. David Birwadkar, focused on providing trainers with the resources they need to produce highly qualified seafarers. Capt. H. Kumar emphasised the issues faced by maritime educators, adding, “Seafarers’ occupations do not provide an academic basis; we are skilled at conveying practical knowledge, but there is no adequate training background for faculty. When we start a career in teaching, it can be discouraging to not have any supervision,” encouraging the Director General of Shipping to establish a training cell for faculty growth and support.
MTG’s Foundation Day Anniversary was an important occasion that recognised the guild’s accomplishments, recognised the contributions of its members, and provided the framework for future maritime education and training projects.
Marex Media