Seafarers worldwide sail for months and enjoy their ride around the world, but once they decide to stop sailing and come ashore, it becomes difficult for them to decide what’s next?

The Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) had organized a webinar “Entrepreneurship by mariners for advocating technology towards market” for all those seafarers to decide their ‘What’s next on 11th March. The idea behind the webinar was to encourage Entrepreneurship among seafarers. CMMI for the first time invited two Master Mariners as speakers who are doing things differently. Capt KV Pradhan, Deputy Master, CMMI welcomed everyone for this unique webinar and introduced the moderator of the session Capt Pankaj Sarin.

Capt Pankaj Sarin welcomed the Guest speaker Capt DC Sekhar, Fellow of CMMI Founder Alpha MERS Ltd and Cat Nikunj Parashar, Founder, Sagar Defence Engineering. “Both the speakers have gone into uncharted waters and navigated through areas where no master mariners have ever ventured before,” said Capt Sarin. Appreciating them, he said, “Innovation is their mantra and changing the mindest is what they have set out to do by inspiring the generation of mariners to think beyond the realm of imagination.” 

Capt Sekhar who has developed solutions to clean rivers and lakes harness ocean wave energy maritime perimeter security systems and many other technologies spoke about river cleanup solutions developed by him.  Whereas Sagar defence Engineering have been recognized by the ministry of electronics as the 10 best startup in the country. Capt Sekhar highlighted their company’s products, how, when and where they have been used in India. Machines developed by Alpha MERS works only by natural water flow, no fuel, no boat or crew. These have been already deployed in 8 Indian Cities. “We keep adapting to our various challenges,” said Capt Sekhar. His company has also won National MSME Innovation excellence awards/runner up from ASSOCHAM from 2015 to 2018.

Capt Nikunj who came ashore and become an entrprenuer by himself has achieved several accolades internationally. He showed types of unmanned surface vehicles built by the company. “We are trying to built more unmanned surface vehicles not to take sailors off the board but to improve the skills sets of our maritime community and get them ready for industrial revolution 4.O.

Failures in life pushed me strong ahead. Enterpreneurship is not that simple, but it is like walking in a tightrope for a work life balance and swallowing your pride when compromising with an investor etc,” stated Capt Nikunj. 

Both speakers shared their struggles and challenges they faced during their process of success. They credited their success to their team members who gave their heart and soul to the growth of the company. 

“Choosing the right people is the most important task for being a successful entrepreneur as success needs teamwork. People like Capt Sekhar and Capt Nikunj should open up more and inspire others to become an entrepreneur,” said Capt BK Jha, Master, CMMI.

Capt Gyanendra Singh, Treasurer, CMMI proposed the vote of thanks.  

Marex Media