Prisilla Nadar

With an aim to develop an eco-system which will advance meaningful research in maritime industry and popularize Indian research and researchers, the International Maritime Research Confluence (IMRC) organizes symposiums to connect the researchers with companies and the industry looking for solutions and new innovations and to provide a research platform for the researchers, authors, decision-makers, associations, companies, etc. IMRC conducted its second Symposium on a virtual platform from 14th to 17th February.

The IMRC is a 10-year project with biennial symposiums aimed at building a research based ecosystem by bringing the industry and academia together and focusing on attaining and maintaining the Sustainable Development Goals SDG, established by the United Nations in 2015.

Ms Yogyata Kapoor, Convener, welcomed and introduced IMRC and its vision and mission to the virtual audience. She welcomed the Chief Guest of the occasion Mr Jose Matheickal. Chief Technical Advisor International Maritime Organization (IMO). “India is a strong voice in IMO,” said Mr Matheickal. While talking about the event, he said, “It is an important event of Indian Maritime industry as strong voices of the industry joined in for an event.”

He also highlighted the need for new innovations for issues like climate change and decarbonization and also he assured that, soon there will be a solution for everything.

Ms Kapoor then welcomed the key note speakers Dr Malini V Shankar, IAS (Retd) – Vice Chancellor, IMU, Dr Poonam Kapoor – Founder, Inner Search Foundation &Director – ISF Group and Sanjam Gupta – Director, Sitara Shipping Ltd. & Founder, Maritime SheEO. Each of them are great influencers from their own sector. Dr Shankar spoke about the future of training in Indian Maritime Institute. “Digitalization opens value chain technology and this technology will have much bigger role to play in institutes,” she opined. She also shared her concern about not having a proper strategy for online courses and suggested to have a focus and researched strategy and the need of trained faculty for online courses.

Mrs Gupta highlighted diversity in Indian Maritime Industry. She said that to understand the basic information about the women in the industry, they conducted a survey that identified challenges faced by the women onboard. “If we want to develop the industry, let’s give a chance to our ladies,” suggested Mrs Gupta. Dr Poonam Kapoor presented on India’s trade in services: Special Emphasis on Maritime Services.

On 2nd day a Session on Maritime Commerce and Economy chaired by Mr Jagmeet Makkar – Co-founder & Director, SkillsPlus; IME(I) Chair, IMU; Ambassador, Asia BEWA; Board Director GlobalMET; Chairman, ICS-HK and Dr Sanjay Bhavnani – Director and Chief Operating Officer, MMS Maritime was held. Ace personalities of Indian Maritime Industry Ms Vandana Aggarwal – Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India; Ms HK Joshi, CMD, Shipping Corporation of India; Capt SR Patnaik – CEO, International Shipping and Logistics FZE Dubai and Capt Pankaj Kapoor – Indian Law Offices. They discussed to enhance India’s Global Stature & Maritime Cooperation by Developing Indian Controlled Tonnage; Increase India’s insurance capacity for the maritime sector; Set-up Maritime Arbitration body for International maritime disputes. And the second session for the day focused on Technological Advancements and Ship buildings.

3rd day focused on Advanced analytics-based energy efficiency management and judicious implementation of technologies for achieving the targets of GHG emissions by 2030 and 2050 moderated by Mr Pawan Kapoor – MD, ISF Maritime Services & Founder and Trustee, Inner Search Foundation; Dr Anantha Subramanian – Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT Madras.

Any development in technology or digitalization needs human interventions for which the industry needs competent professionals. Chaired by Dr Suresh Bhardwaj, Resident Director & Principal, MASSA Maritime Academy, Chennai, Dr Rajoo Balaji,  Director, IMU Chennai, the speakers discussed on – Making Human Resource Systems for ships more effective and robust, matching numbers and competence requirements with institutes and future industry requirements.

The last day session included discussions about ‘Maritime Operations – Big Data and Predictive Analytics for efficient shipping operations,’ chaired by Mr Punit Oza – Director, Klaveness Asia, Senior Adjunct Fellow at MPA Academy & Maritime Digitalization Playbook Ambassador and Mr Chitta Dash, Former Lloyd’s Register’s Marine Business Manager and session on Ports and Logistics, Major Port Authorities Bill introducing transformation of port trusts and the Landlord Model and the assimilator team included Capt Kapil Dev Bahl – Former Managing Director of Murray Fenton India, Maritime Arbitrator (LLB). Fellow of CMMI, President of the Nautical Institute West and Mr Atul Kulkarni, Independent Management and Strategy Consultant in Infrastructure domain.

With 7 sessions in 4 day event IMRC highlighted 6 problem statements and the quest for sustainable solutions.

IMRC 2022 online Symposium was a great success.

Marex Media