Pratik Bijlani – India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has banned the deployment of Indian seafarers holding Certificates of Competency (CoCs) issued by certain Central American countries, including Honduras and Belize, after uncovering widespread fraud in their issuance. The move, announced through DGS Circular No. 31/2025, aims to curb recruitment malpractices and prevent Indian seafarers…
Pratik Bijlani – In a landmark move for India’s maritime sector, the Rajya Sabha on the first day of the monsoon session passed the ‘Bills of Lading, 2025’, paving the way for Presidential assent and the replacement of a 169-year-old colonial law. Introduced by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, the bill…
• How is global shipping trying to decarbonise? What are the green fuels that may be used? Why is it difficult to implement changes in shipping? What does India need to do? Why is the government encouraging green ammonia production in India? What are the challenges?Global shipping is on course towards decarbonisation by 2040-50. This…
Pratik Bijlani – On June 30, AGA Aqua Marine, a Mumbai-based crew management firm, inaugurated its first office at Boomerang in Chandivali, Andheri East. Specializing in sourcing, training, and deploying skilled seafarers globally, the firm is dedicated to enhancing the maritime industry by providing ethical, innovative, and tailored solutions. With a mission to deliver ethical,…
Pratik Bijlani – Japanese shipping major Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) is recalibrating its U.S. services and considering further vessel redeployments as it prepares for the potential impact of higher U.S. tariffs. CEO Takenori Igarashi revealed the company has accounted for a 30-billion-yen ($200 million) hit in its financial forecasts through March 2026, citing pressures on…
Pratik Bijlani – The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has reported a “disturbing surge” in seafarer abandonment cases in 2025, recording a 33% increase over last year’s already record levels. By May, 158 cases affecting over 1,501 seafarers had been logged, compared to 119 cases during the same period in 2024. “Abandonment is a growing,…
These days, artificial intelligence, or AI, is pervasive. However, what is AI exactly? Is it limited to ChatGPT and other chatbots? No! AI is a vast field with a wide variety of systems that assist machines in performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. It’s interesting to note that artificial intelligence is not new—it has…
· The Next Evolution in Offshore Situational Awareness The revolutionary Pathfinder marine radar system is built on Raymarine’s award-winning radar technology and is designed for type-approved CAT 1, CAT 2 and CAT 3 SOLAS vessels. Pathfinder radars deliver trusted radar performance for cargo ships, superyacht, OSV and naval applications. Each system uses Raymarine’s proven solid-state…
