In a distinguished ceremony upholding the finest traditions of the maritime service, HIMT College formally marked the passing out of its Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) Batch 4 and B.Sc. Nautical Science Batch 12 on June 13. The milestone valedictory event marked the formal entry of a highly disciplined, technologically proficient, and resilient cohort of future nautical officers into the global merchant marine workforce.
A Distinguished Welcome and Review of Advanced Infrastructure
The Chief Guest, Capt Anish Joseph, Principal Officer-cum-Joint Director General of Shipping (Technical) (I/c) was received with high institutional protocols and traditional honours by the executive leadership team of HIMT, which included Dr Sanjeev S. Vakil, Chief Executive Officer; Mrs Tarangini S Vakil, Director – Finance; Capt Anand Subramanian, Principal, HIMT College; Mr Kirtan Vakil, Director – Business Development; and Mr Tirth Vakil, Director – Operations.
The formal proceedings opened with a crisp, vibrant passing out parade and an inspiring, flawless Guard of Honour presented by the smart and disciplined cadets. The solemnity and precision of the parade were witnessed by a proud gathering of faculty, distinguished maritime industry guests, parents, and well-wishers who assembled to celebrate the transition of these young trainees into professional mariners.
Following the parade, Capt Joseph conducted a comprehensive tour of the institution’s premier infrastructure. A key highlight of his visit was touring and experiencing HIMT’s world-class sports complex facility. Recognizing that physical endurance, teamwork, and athletic discipline are core pillars of a successful seafaring career, Capt. Joseph highly commended the campus’s professional-grade fitness and recreational amenities designed to foster holistic cadet development.
The Chief Guest then transitioned to a detailed review of the trainees’ technical and engineering project installations. Central to this technical tour was an operational immersion into HIMT’s cutting-edge Extended Reality (XR) simulation facilities. Experiencing firsthand the high-fidelity, immersive environments used to train the next generation of seafarers, Capt. Joseph commended the institution’s pioneering deployment of XR tech, remarking: “Looking at the state-of-the-art HIMT campus today, I feel like redoing my own pre-sea course all over again!”
To commemorate the milestone and reinforce environmental stewardship as an institutional core value, the Chief Guest joined the leadership team in a traditional tree plantation ceremony on campus under the national “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative.
Driving Diversity: Empowerment and Sponsorship for Female Cadets
Aligning closely with the global shipping industry’s urgent push for structural inclusivity, a standout highlight of the convocation was the formal distribution of the HIMT Lady Cadets Scholarship, a financial sponsorship specifically dedicated to female cadets.
Championed actively by the board—including Mrs Vakil—this milestone initiative underscores HIMT’s corporate social responsibility and unwavering commitment to dismantling financial barriers. By investing directly in female talent, the college continues to build a supportive, equitable ecosystem that actively bridges the gender gap at sea.
Keynote Address: Six Anchors for an Elite Maritime Career
Delivering a powerful and deeply impactful keynote address, Capt Joseph shifted focus from academic achievements to the harsh, dynamic realities of deep-sea operations. He provided the graduating cohorts with six vital operational and ethical “anchors” designed to guide their trajectories through an evolving maritime landscape:
- Competency is Your Currency. Continuous learning, unyielding skill acquisition, and professional excellence are a mariner’s greatest structural assets.
- No Cargo is Worth a Life. Human life and crew preservation must unconditionally supersede commercial, schedule, and operational pressures.
- Safety is Identity, Not Paperwork. Safety must be lived as an instinctive, ingrained shipboard culture and behaviour, never reduced to a mere administrative checklist.
- Sagar Mein Yog (The 8 Principles of Well-being). A crucial framework emphasizing mental health maintenance, emotional resilience, and holistic wellness while serving onboard.
- DGS Grievance Redressal System. Direct orientation on the official statutory support and regulatory frameworks established to protect and safeguard seafarers.
- Sagar Mein Samman (Empowering Women Seafarers). Upholding diversity, structural equality, professional dignity, and equal opportunity across all ranks on the global fleet.
These words left a lasting impression on the cadets, faculty, and proud parents in attendance.
Commending the Future Leaders of the Ocean
The management, faculty, and staff of HIMT College extend their heartfelt congratulations to the passing out cadets of DNS Batch 4 and B.Sc. Nautical Science Batch 12.
By blending an expansive academic curriculum with industry-leading athletic facilities, high-end XR simulation technology, a progressive stance on maritime diversity, and a deeply rooted culture of safety consciousness, HIMT continues to fortify its position as India’s premier maritime training institution—delivering elite, physically resilient, and safety-first professionals to the global maritime industry.
Marex Media