Pratik Bijlani –
The NMDC Committee commemorated the “Day of the Seafarer” on June 25, under the auspices of the Directorate General of Shipping and the Ministry of Port, Shipping & Waterways, State of India. Established by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2010, this yearly commemoration honours the vital roles that sailors play in international trade and national economies. Held in Veer Savarkar Hall in Mumbai, the event brought attention to the vital role that seafarers play in the difficult and frequently dangerous international transportation of products.
This year’s Day of the Seafarer focused on seafarers’ safety and well-being with the theme “Navigating the Future: Safety First.” Prominent industry heavyweights such as Capt BK Tyagi, CMD of SCI, Capt SM Halbe, CEO of MASSA, and other dignitaries attended the event, which featured Capt Karen Davis, MD of OCIMF, as the primary guest.
Ms Saleha Shaikh, the founder and head of the Women’s Wing, The Maritime Union of India, gave a welcome speech to kick off the session and laid the groundwork for the next talks. Following, Capt. B.K. Tyagi gave a speech thanking the seafarers. He emphasised the value of seafarers and their bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to maintaining a stable world economy. He also talked about the current geopolitical climate in the Gulf of Aden and the Red marine, which has resulted in major hardship for seamen as a result of piracy and marine terrorism. He praised the efforts of OCIMF and DG Shipping and vowed to remain faithful and make every effort to protect the safety of everyone working in the maritime industry.
In a video message, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez expressed his sincere gratitude to all seafarers and emphasised their commitment and indispensable work in preserving the maritime sector. In a separate video message, Honourable Cabinet Minister at MoPSW Mr Sarbananda Sonowal praised the organisers’ work and underlined the Indian government’s support of the marine sector, spearheaded by Shri Narendra Modi.
Mr. TK Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW, recognised the important sacrifices and services made by seafarers while expressing his satisfaction over the occasion. In order to improve the lot of seafarers, he underlined the significance of safety regulations and government programmes like the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and the Maritime India Vision 2030. He emphasised that, with 12% of the world’s sailors being Indian, India is the third-largest supplier of seafarers worldwide. This number is predicted to rise to 20% by 2030.
After this, mariners who performed exceptionally well academically on their competency exams were recognised at a felicitation ceremony. In an effort to lessen the financial burden of their training, Capt SM Halbe, speaking on behalf of MASSA, granted scholarships to women in the maritime industry who have demonstrated academic competence.
Following were presentations by Capt. Anish Joseph on “Ensuring Security of Seafarers,” which covered issues such as piracy and maritime terrorism, and Capt. Manish Kumar on “Rights of the Seafarer,” which emphasised the rights accorded to seafarers and the support networks offered by DG Shipping. During her presentation on “Safety Connect and Casualty Analysis,” Capt. Harinder Singh emphasised the importance of raising public awareness of safety issues and the creation of an online casualty module.
The Director General of Shipping, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, acknowledged the efforts made by the maritime community to ensure the safety, protection, and upskilling of seafarers and expressed his gratitude for this privilege. “There have been lengthy presentations, all in honour of the seafarer—who goes above and beyond, working long hours away from home, making contributions, keeping up supply routes, guaranteeing vital cargo reaches, and being that vital human component that drives the normal global economy,” Mr Jagannathan said.
“Let all seafarers understand that there are moments when each of us on the vessel are not really sure, have an answer, need somebody to talk to, need somebody to think about what the options might be, whether they are the cadet, the captain, or the chief,” said Capt. Karen Davis, sharing her insights.
A cultural show honouring the spirit of mariners and bringing the event to a close was arranged by the Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy and Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies.
Marex Media