The Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) Delhi‑Chapter on 22nd March conducted a technical seminar themed Maritime POT-POURRI! True to the premise of a potpourri, wide-ranging topics were presented and discussed. Mr Amitabh Kumar, IRS, the former Director General of Shipping graced the occasion as Chief Guest and Capt MP Bhasin, Chairman, CMMI was the Guest of Honour.
Welcoming the august gathering Capt Pankaj Sarin, Chairman, CMMI-Delhi Chapter highlighted the Chapter’s activity, which includes not only organising technical seminars on a monthly basis, but also enhancing seafarers’ education in any manner feasible.
Furthermore, Capt Sarin informed about the major initiatives taken in the field of digitization under the able guidance of Capt Bhasin, such as CMMI-APP, CMMI Goodwill Ambassadors, E Library Project, and the most prestigious collaboration with IIM-Mumbai for Executive MBA in Maritime Management, Logistics, and Supply Chain, which can truly open the proverbial ‘lock-gates’ for seafarers wishing to contribute to the maritime industry ‘beyond-the-ship-side’!
In his turn, Mr Kumar shared the role Maritime Administration of India has played, and continues to play, at IMO.
The CMMI Delhi Chapter values the achievements of Indian seafarers; therefore it seemed appropriate to honour a longtime seafarer with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his total commitment to the maritime community. Capt Manvender Singh Kalra received the CMMI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
Capt MS Kalra has a longstanding maritime career spanning over four decades, both at sea and onshore, and has received numerous plaudits for his contributions to the nautical sphere. Capt Kalra, who graduated from the prestigious Mayo College, embarked on his professional career in 1969 by joining TS DUFFERIN. He later joined GESCO, where he remained throughout his sailing career. He got knowledge and experience with OBO, Chemical & Product tankers, and crude oil tankers. Among his many accomplishments, he has developed guides for the process of converting from oil trade to dry cargo (OBO), which have been authorised by DNV. It is also no little effort that Capt Kalra established the Maritime Institute New Delhi, which has been sanctioned by DG Shipping, for post-sea maritime training in a landlocked area of NCR for the benefit of Indian sailors from North India. He took over the institute in 1993, and it is now known as the FOSMA Maritime Training Institute. We are really proud of you, Capt Kalra.
Thereafter the floor was open for the Maritime Potpourri with Capt Bhasin chairing Session – 1.
Capt Saujanya Sinha, Director, Academic Research & Coordination, ARI, spoke about Blue Crime on the Red Sea, referring to the current Houthis attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, which are not only mushrooming into a global maritime security threat, but also exposing a lack of application of the relevant law. He argued that revisions to the SUA Convention, which classifies the current attacks, are required as a step towards marine security in the Red Sea.
Dr (Capt) Inderveer Solanki, Managing Director of Spring Professional Services (P) Ltd; STC Consultant on Waterway Projects – World Bank; Project Director – National Inland Navigation Institute, stated that Opportunities in Inland Water Transport are a specialist and expanding field. IWT is a demanding programme that is appropriate for Merchant Navy officers looking to become entrepreneurs. The IWT sector is multidisciplinary and offers opportunity for small, medium, and big businesses.
Chairing the Session 2 was Capt Kamal Chadha who is a CMMI Warden as well as one of its Ambassadors.
Capt Sanjeev Khanijo, Vice-President – TCI Seaways, recommended in his presentation – Indian Fleet & New Regulations – that new tonnage purchase should be planned based on the remaining economic life of vessels AND by adopting energy-saving technologies.
Capt Tushar Kanti Dhingra, Senior Faculty at ARI, delivered a thought-provoking talk titled LNG Fuel for Ships – A Game Changer! Capt Dhingra highlighted his knowledge and experience in the maritime LNG sector, highlighting how using LNG as fuel on ships will be a game changer for the global maritime business in the future.
As a unique element at its seminars in New Delhi, CMMI-Delhi Chairman Capt Sarin believes that a concise compilation of the seminar should be provided for everyone to take home, mull over, discuss, and disagree on so that we can continue to build on the synthesis.
Capt Khanijo proposed vote of thanks to all the sponsors, Executive Committee members, speakers & the audience for making the seminar a grand success.
The afternoon seminar event at CMMI-Delhi, which culminated in the creation of a festive environment in the late evening, was a first! Nazm Unplugged, a fusion band that blends Sufi, Rock, and Indian classical music set the tone for the Gala Dinner. The evening was designed to be appreciated! There were serious conversations, catching up, gup-shup with the “tadka” of galley news, and high spirits of an evening that turned out to be the pinnacle of a job well done!
Marex Media