The recent networking event organized by International Maritime Employers’ Council on 14th September 2022 in Mumbai was not only an opportunity for IMEC Members to have access to the who’s who of the Indian shipping Industry, but also to prepare them for the upcoming IBF renewals in 2023.

Since the current IBF agreements expire in December 2023, the meeting was also an opportunity to update Members about all IMEC is doing both in preparation for the upcoming IBF renewals in 2023 and in the recruitment & training sphere. The main takeaway from this event was that IMEC re-stated how important India is to the marine industry as a source of advanced skills.

Commenting on the meeting, Mr. Francesco Gargiulo, CEO of IMEC, said, “The purpose of the meeting was to reconnect with the Indian representatives of our members after a prolonged absence from India due to the pandemic.

“India is a key manpower supply country for the entire shipping industry, while the Indian officers in particular hold the largest share in the IMEC pool. It was important to us to reconnect with our partners in the country and find out from them what IMEC can do to help with educating future talent.”

According to Gargiulo, the Indian Marine Industry has certainly evolved over the last two decades. While pointing out its evolution, he said, “Twenty years ago employers may have come to this country in search of cost-saving opportunities, but nowadays this is no longer the case.

“Indian officers, in particular, are no longer the cheap alternatives. They represent high-quality manpower to the global marine industry.”

Focusing on the need for state-of-the-art Marine education and training in India, he said, “IMEC is keen to help and provide the much-needed education and training systems in India, in the shape of essential training berths on international trading vessels, so that the cadets can gain the necessary practice they need to become the officers of the future.”

Marex Media