Mumbai, 20 Aug

(HS): Collaboration of Maritime Training Institutes with traditional

universities will open up new employment and career opportunities for

undergraduate and postgraduate students in Maharashtra, said Governor Jishnu

Dev Varma.

Varma was speaking during the inauguration of

the 63rd National Maritime Day function at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai. The

event was organised by the Central Committee of the National Maritime Day Celebration.

Governor Varma said India has a coastline of

over 11,000 kilometres, a strong port system, and a rapidly developing maritime

infrastructure. The country's registered fleet currently consists of 1,617

vessels with a total gross tonnage of over 14.14 million. India has about 100

active seafarers operating on the seas around the world, which includes women

seafarers.

There are 176 maritime training institutes

and over 533 recognised recruitment and placement agencies operating in the

country, which can collaborate with the universities in Maharashtra

Varma said that the maritime sector plays a

vital role in India's economic development and there is a need to lay special

emphasis on skill development, technology, safety and welfare of seafarers to

make the country a global maritime superpower.

The contribution of seafarers to the

development of the maritime sector is highly valued and their safety,

well-being and physical and mental well-being should be a top priority.

The Governor said that the Merchant Shipping

Act, 2025 and the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 are important steps towards

modernizing India's maritime sector. He stated that these laws will strengthen

maritime security as well as promote coastal shipping, connectivity, and

maritime sector development.

Mumbai has been a historic gateway to Indian

shipping and continues to be a major centre of maritime governance, trade and

expertise.

The Governor said that Maharashtra has a huge

development potential in the areas of ports, coastal shipping, shipbuilding,

maritime education and blue economy.

To realise the dream of a developed

India, it is necessary to build a developed maritime sector. A 'developed

India' will be incomplete without a 'developed maritime domain', Varma said.

The concept of a developed India cannot

be realised without a developed maritime sector, the Governor observed.

Director

General of Maritime Administration and Chairman of the Central Committee of

National Maritime Day Celebration Shyam Jagannathan, Additional Director

General Sunil Khopade, Deputy Director General Praveen Patil, Deputy Director

General Dr. Sudhir Kohkade, NMDC Central Committee members, representatives of

seafarers associations and dignitaries from the maritime sector were present.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar