Pratik Bijlani –
Anglo-Eastern hosted a landmark SGMF forum titled Multifuel Maritime Industry: Safeguarding the Workforce of Today and the Future on 12 November at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Mumbai, bringing together shipowners, manning agencies, training institutes and regulators for an in-depth dialogue on the human-centred challenges of the multi-fuel transition. The event underscored India’s rising strategic importance as a global crewing, training and green-shipping hub, with Chief Guest Capt Anish Joseph, Dy Nautical Advisor cum Senior DDG (Tech), DG Shipping, leading the discourse.
The session opened with a lamp-lighting ceremony followed by a video address from the Director General of Shipping, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, who highlighted India’s expanding global maritime footprint, driven by the country’s seafarer share rising from 12% to 20%. Emphasizing the need for unified industry action, he stated: “The fuels of the future will not be defined by a single solution, but by a smart blend of transitional, dual-fuel, and green alternatives—and India is preparing its seafarers and its ports to lead this evolution. I appeal to all stakeholders to walk with us on this transformative journey and help shape India’s golden maritime future.”
Capt Joseph followed with a comprehensive presentation aligned with India’s S3–T3–C3 vision, detailing reforms in competency exams, MTI oversight, mental-wellness initiatives and strengthened sustainability frameworks. Underscoring the significance of hosting SGMF in India for the first time, he remarked: “It is a moment of pride for India to host SGMF for their first-ever interaction in the country, and indeed in Asia. We warmly welcome SGMF and look forward to building strong collaboration that will empower our seafarers for the fuels and technologies of tomorrow.”
Anglo-Eastern’s Group Director (Training) Capt Aalok Sharma highlighted the company’s structured approach to preparing seafarers for LNG, ammonia and hydrogen-powered vessels, noting the need to recalibrate operational reflexes, strengthen soft skills, and foster continuous learning supported by advanced simulators and industry partnerships.
Three panel discussions enriched the forum. The first, “Life of a Seafarer,” highlighted the evolving human-element demands of modern vessels. Panellists stressed realistic simulator stressors, immersive learning for cadets, and improved shipboard accommodation for crew wellbeing. The second panel, “The Training Timeline,” examined the rising training burden posed by methanol, ammonia, LNG and hydrogen, calling for global training standards, integrated learning pathways and simplified competency structures. The final panel, “Future Fuels Development in India,” shed light on breakthrough technologies lowering the cost of methanol and ammonia, the nation’s opportunity for major forex savings through green fuels, and methanol’s viability as a transitional marine fuel.
A hands-on workshop reinforced the consensus that fuel-specific competencies, simulator-based learning and uniform global standards are essential for the safe handling of emerging fuels.
The forum closed with strong industry alignment: India is not just preparing for the multi-fuel era—it is positioning itself to help lead it. With rising investments, regulatory reforms and expanding training capability, the country stands poised to anchor the next chapter of global maritime transition.
Marex Media