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…
The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) is proud to announce that its Chairman and Managing Director, Capt. B. K. Tyagi, has been conferred the prestigious Sagar Samman Varuna Award, the highest recognition in the Indian maritime sector, on the occasion of the 63rd National Maritime Day Celebrations. The Varuna Award, being the highest recognition…
Pratik Bijlani – The 63rd National Maritime Day Celebrations 2026 culminated on April 5 at the Bharat Ratna Mega Common Facilitation Centre in Mumbai, commemorating the historic 1919 voyage of the SS Loyalty—a defining moment that marked India’s entry into global maritime trade. Organized under the aegis of the Directorate General of Shipping, the grand…
The seminar on “Recent Initiatives for the Maritime Sector,” held on April 2, at the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) in Mumbai, formed a key part of the 63rd National Maritime Day celebrations under the aegis of the Directorate General of Shipping. Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and maritime professionals, the session focused on critical…
Mr Sumedh Sonawane, Working President of HBNSU, has issued a strong appeal to the Government of India, highlighting the unprecedented humanitarian and financial challenges faced by lakhs of Indian seafarers due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, particularly disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. In his representation, Mr Sonawane underscored that the maritime…
World Fuel Services, in collaboration with West Coast Clean Fuels, has established a proven methanol bunkering capability available to vessel owners and operators across U.S. ports. The companies successfully completed an over-the-water methanol bunker fuel delivery in South Florida, demonstrating a safe, scalable, and regulatory-compliant solution ready for deployment nationwide. Shipowners and operators evaluating methanol…
Seafarers deserve treatment commensurate with their contribution. Nothing less, nothing more. And yet, that is precisely what they are not getting. As I follow the torrent of commentary surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, something strikes me — something I suspect only an industry insider would notice. Every commentator, across every platform, is rightly…
Pratik Bijlani – The seminar on Recent Initiatives for the Maritime Sector held on April 1 at the Maritime Training Institute (MTI), Mumbai, emerged as a key highlight of the 63rd National Maritime Day celebrations under the aegis of the Directorate General of Shipping. Bringing together policymakers, maritime professionals, and industry stakeholders, the session underscored…