New DGS Jagannathan Chalks Out a Future Path for his Office

Pic: Shyam Jagannathan

Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, the newly appointed Director General of Shipping, MoPSW, with experience over 25 years as administrator in Government Services, at a recent event jointly organized by MASSA & FOSMA to welcome  him, acknowledged the warmth and respect bestowed upon him, assuring all of further cooperation and collaboration for the betterment of the Indian maritime sector.

Speaking to Padmesh Prabhune, Consulting Editor, Marex Media on the sidelines of the event, the soft-spoken Shri Jagannathan said, “I am privileged to have joined the institution of IAS, which was institutionalized in the year 1949, and hope I am able to add some value to it.”

He further mentioned that India’s long and contiguous coastline spanning 7,500 km and extensive navigable inland waterways offer an excellent opportunity to tap the environment-friendly water based modal transport, which can well complement rail and road-based cargo movement. “The government of India fully comprehends the criticality of the shipping industry and its contributions.

“In terms of sheer volume, 95% of India’s foreign trade is mainly via seaports and 75% by value is done through maritime transport. Thus there is a major emphasis on the maritime industry”, he noted.

According to Jagannanthan, the Government of India is looking at four specific prongs; the first essentially is port led industry development which is under the Sagarmala programme. The second is coastal & near coastal vessel development, third, developing the Inland waterways, and fourth the DGS Office administration.

As regards seafaring, the industry needs to be focused on these areas: 1. Safety and the overall welfare of seafarers (HQSE); 2. India currently contributes to nearly 8 percent of the global talent pool, we need to increase this to 12 by employing higher numbers of officers and increasing the employment of ratings too.

While acknowledging the existing gap between the administration, cadets/trainees, and MTIs, Jagannathan assured about working a way forward to address this with a grievance cell that would be soon activated and which shall be prompt in resolving the problems.

However he also noted that the maritime training needs to be upgraded with higher transparency and complete end to end non human interference based examination systems, which means they will leverage information technology and e-governance to ensure efficient, quicker and reliable services, without ambivalence.

Stressing on emerging technological advancements, Jagannath said, “We also need to engage in pathbreaking technologies to execute the MARPOL conventions, especially in our approach towards alternate fuels, along with looking forward to reducing the carbon footprint; thus contributing towards the global aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

“These are essentially the frameworks wherein the office of the DG Shipping would work under the specific instructions.”

Speaking about the recent launch of DGNSS and its application, Jagannathan maintained that DGNSS is a terrestrial based enhancement system which corrects the errors and inaccuracies in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) allowing for more accurate positioning information, and will help seafarers in safer navigation to reduce further the risk of collisions, groundings, and accidents in port and harbour areas, thereby leading to more safe and efficient movement of vessels.

“However as the process is driven forward for its successful implementation the thrust would remain on DGCOM, but DGS being the first point of reporting we need to leverage that, and the maritime situational awareness being brought under MMD would be the way forward as they form part of the enforcement machinery of the government in recognition of their domain expertise arising out of their specialized maritime background, familiarity with the updated maritime convention requirements, and most importantly their hands-on association”, he concluded.

–Marex Media