As an ex-Merchant navy Captain, I want to highlight something that’s often overlooked: the backbone of global trade – merchant shipping. Without merchant ships, the world would come to a grinding halt. Think about it: almost everything we use, from food to electronics, relies on shipping. 90% of global trade by volume is carried by…
The coming season sees major operators including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean and AIDA Cruises engaging industry-leading decking company Bolidt for key works across their fleets. As part of MSC Cruises’ refurbishment programme focus to add exclusive, high-end areas on several existing ships, Bolidt recently completed extensive refit works aboard MSC Magnifica, to be followed by…
Pratik Bijlani – The Indian maritime fraternity mourns the passing of Capt JC Anand, a towering figure whose remarkable life and career left an indelible mark on the nation’s shipping industry. Passing away at the age of 104, Capt Anand’s legacy spans over eight decades of dedicated service, defined by vision, resilience, and an unwavering…
For decades, Recruitment and Placement Services License (RPSL) companies have functioned as intermediaries between Indian seafarers and global shipping opportunities. In theory, they exist to facilitate efficient, compliant, and ethical recruitment. In practice, however, the system has become deeply compromised. The scale and persistence of exploitation, fraud, and regulatory evasion by many RPSL agencies raise…
The Chandigarh Chapter of the Institute of Marine Engineers India (IMEI), in collaboration with the Institution of Engineers (India), Punjab & Chandigarh State Centre, the Company of Master Mariners (India), and the Merchant Navy Officers Association, commemorated National Maritime Day on April 4, at Engineer’s Bhawan, Chandigarh. Centered on the theme “Maritime India – Empowering…
Shipping Corporation of India Land and Assets Ltd. (SCILAL), a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd. (part of Synergy Marine Group) to collaborate on maritime capability development, training, and knowledge exchange. The MoU was signed in Mumbai…
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has announced key leadership appointments effective 1 April 2026, as part of its strategic efforts to strengthen organizational capabilities and support its continued growth trajectory. As IRS enters the financial year 2026–27, the organisation is witnessing sustained expansion across its core and emerging service areas. This growth comes alongside a…
Pratik Bijlani – India has announced a sweeping set of 20 maritime reforms aimed at strengthening its shipping sector and significantly reducing logistics costs, marking a major step forward in its long-term maritime ambitions. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, the initiative focuses on enhancing efficiency, boosting domestic capacity, and positioning India…
DP World Cochin has welcomed MSC Ilaria, one of the largest container vessels to call at the port, marking a major milestone for the terminal. The call recorded over 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled – including import, export and transshipment volumes– the highest volume ever achieved in a single vessel operation. This surpasses the…
