The CMC Group of Institutions proudly inaugurated its new maritime training campus, CMC Maritime Academy, Kochi, on Thursday, 11th December, marking a significant milestone in India’s maritime education landscape. Located at Bristow Road, Armoury Area, Willingdon Island, Kochi, the academy was formally inaugurated by Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping (DGS), Mumbai, who delivered the Chief Guest Address.
The ceremony began with the traditional ribbon cutting and lighting of the Kuthuvilakku, followed by a campus tour and the inauguration of the new swimming pool training facility, established in line with DGS guidelines. The formal function continued at the Merchant Navy Club, where Mr SI Nathan, Chairman, CMC Group of Institutions, welcomed dignitaries and emphasized that the Kochi campus represents a major step forward in delivering world‑class maritime education and safety training.
The event was graced by distinguished Guests of Honour, Mr. Satish Honnakkatte, Deputy Chairperson, Cochin Port Authority, and Mr. J. Senthil Kumar, Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Kochi, along with Capt. Ajit Kumar Pillai, Principal, CMC Academy Kochi. In their addresses, both Mr. Honnakkatte and Mr. Senthil Kumar commended the CMC Group for its steadfast commitment to maritime education and its significant role in advancing the development of India’s seafarers.
In his address, Mr Honnakkatte highlighted the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ commitment to skill development initiatives nationwide. He noted that Cochin Port Authority has allotted land to CMC Group for 30 years to establish port‑related educational activities, underscoring the Port’s dedication to fostering maritime training infrastructure. He praised the academy’s state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including advanced simulation‑based training, modern classrooms, and a dedicated swimming pool for sea survival training.
Mr Kumar emphasized Kochi’s strategic importance as a maritime hub and reaffirmed the DGS’s commitment to global standards in training. He cited the DGS’s independent evaluation in 2024, which confirmed full compliance with the STCW Convention, and lauded the academy’s adoption of cutting‑edge technologies to prepare cadets for the future of shipping.
Delivering the keynote, Mr Jagannathan urged aspiring seafarers to embrace safety as a daily culture, not just a regulation. He highlighted the rapid growth of India’s maritime sector and the increasing demand for trained mariners, stressing the pivotal role of institutions like CMC in shaping the global maritime workforce through modern training methodologies.
The inaugural ceremony drew wide participation from senior representatives of the Mercantile Marine Department, Cochin Port Authority, Cochin Shipyard Maritime Training Institute, Indian Maritime University, leading shipping companies including Synergy, MSC, and Fleet Management Ltd., as well as professional bodies such as CMMI Kochi Chapter and IMEI Kochi Chapter.
The event concluded with the presentation of Best Performing Staff Awards by the Chief Guest, followed by a Vote of Thanks from Capt Pillai.
Marex Media