Making Seafarers Future-Ready
- Pratik Bijlani
The 2nd edi on of ATPI–Marex Global Crewing & Training Summit & Kash Awards 2026, held at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Delhi Airport, New Delhi on 13th February, brought together senior mari me leaders, policymakers, trainers, regulators, shipowners, managers and seafarer advocates to deliberate on the most pressing issues shaping the future of global shipping. Convened in the na onal capital, the summit reinforced the growing recogni on that India's mari me ambi ons hinge on thestrength,skillsandwellbeingofitshumancapital.
From shipmanning and training reform to digital transforma on, decarbonisa on, mental health and gender diversity, the conversa ons were candid, forward-looking and solu on-driven. With more than 200 global mari me decision-makers in a endance—including shipowners, charterers, traders, brokers, government officials, training ins tutes, vessel operators, ship managers, captains and manning companies the summit underscored the collec ve responsibility to make seafarers futureready
Delivering the welcome address, Capt. Kamal Chadha, Managing DirectorofMarexMedia,setthetonebyemphasizingcollabora on and seafarer-centric transforma on under the theme “Making Seafarers Future-Ready” He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue toward partnerships that strengthen training ecosystems andsustainableworkforcedevelopment.
Capt.RajeshTandon,DeputyChairmanoftheBoardofAdvisorsand CEO of FOSMA, outlined India's mari me manpower ambi ons, highligh ng significant government investment plans and the goal of increasing India's share of global seafarers from 12% to 20%. He drew a en on to bo lenecks in onboard training slots and called for innova ve solu ons such as dedicated cadet training ships and structured trainer development programs Stressing the importance of data-driven feedback systems and early career awareness at the school level, he advocated building a resilient and future-focusedmari metalentpipeline.
Guest of Honour Mr Amitabh Kumar, Former Director General of
Shipping, lauded India's 17% annual growth in seafarer numbers while urging a strategic shi to meet Mari me India Vision targets of500,000seafarers.Heemphasizeddiversifica onbeyondtankers into gas, bulk and cruise segments, segment-specific training including hospitality skills, and greater use of simulators to address sea- meconstraints.Hisfour-pointfocus—digitalandAIreadiness, green fuel preparedness, regulatory adaptability, and gender diversity—framedtheroadmapforagloballycompe vemari me workforce.
Guest of Honour Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid, Deputy Consul General at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, highlighted Norway–India coopera on in mari me training and seafarer welfare under the TEPA agreement. He underscored the growing presence of Indian seafarers in the global fleet and emphasized shared commitments to gender equality, alterna ve fuels and sustainableinnova on.
Chief Guest Dr Shishir Shrotriya, Coordinator at the Centre for Mari meEconomyandConnec vity(CMEC),describedthesummit as a defining moment for mari me manpower development. He stated, “The ATPI–Marex Global Crewing & Training Summit & Kash Awards 2026 in New Delhi is more than a conference—it is a collec ve call to ac on. By bringing together policymakers, global shipowners, training ins tu ons and seafarers, the summit reinforces a shared commitment to making mari me manpower future-ready while celebra ng excellence across the industry” Emphasizingahuman-centricapproachamidrapiddecarbonisa on and digitalisa on, he called for advanced training in cybersecurity, alterna ve fuels, IMDG and IGF Codes, and Polar compliance, alongsidecurriculumreformandfacultyupskilling.
AvideomessagefromProf MaximoQ.MejiaoftheWorldMari me University reinforced the need to revise the STCW framework to address cyber risks, mental wellbeing and alterna ve fuels, urging experien alandtechnology-enabledlearning.Capt.SarabjitButalia echoed these concerns, stressing that without genuine industry investment, research and empathy toward seafarers' reali es, progress toward 2040-ready competencies would remain fragmented.
Panel discussions provided granular insight into industry expecta ons. The first panel, moderated by Capt. S.M. Halbe, examined shipowners' perspec ves on evolving competence requirements. Par cipants emphasized technological agility, resilience,adaptabilityandstrongerso skills,withrecogni onthat futureseafarersmustbedigitallyawareyetnotdigitallydependent. The second panel, moderated by Capt. Yashoverman Sharma, debatedwhetherIndianseafarersarefuture-ready,concludingthat systemic investment, cultural change and structured cadet developmentareessen altocloseskillgaps.
The third panel focused on fostering a culture of wellbeing,
highligh ngmentalhealth,leadershipempathy,data-drivenhealth assessments and shared responsibility between ship and shore. Discussions acknowledged genera onal shi s, where younger seafarers priori ze workplace culture and wellbeing alongside remunera on The fourth panel, “Mari me Careers from Classroom to Ship & Beyond,” explored strengthening awareness through school outreach, alignment with the Na onal Educa on Policy 2020, and clearer career pathways from seafaring to boardroomleadership.
Mr Shyam Jagannathan outlined India's ambi on under Mari me India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, emphasizing green shipping, digital governance and safety-first culture. A special session by Captain Jaisimha Sharma on financial literacy reminded seafarers of the importance of disciplined inves ng and long-term wealth crea on, reinforcing holis c wellbeing beyond professional growth.
The summit also witnessed the launch of two significant books in the presence of Mr Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways: Navikrit – Rebirth of India's Mari me Consciousness by Adv Manisha Tiwari and Blue Bharat: India's Voyage to a Resilient Ocean Economy by Capt. Gajanan Karanjikar, further enriching discourse on India's mari me resurgence and BlueEconomyvision.
In his keynote address, Mr Thakur highlighted transforma ve growth across inland waterways, shipbuilding and the Blue Economy He declared, “Under the visionary leadership of our Hon'ble Prime Minister, India's mari me sector has witnessed unprecedented growth from expanding inland waterways to strengthening shipbuilding and advancing the Blue Economy With strategic projects like Galathea Bay, we are determined to harness
the true poten al of the Indian Ocean and propel India toward becomingaleadingglobalmari meandeconomicpowerby2047.” He underscored the expansion of inland waterways from three to 111 since 2014 and emphasized the strategic importance of GalatheaBayPortintheAndaman&NicobarIslands.
The event also featured the pres gious Kash Awards ceremony, honouring excellence across crewing, training, welfare, leadership, innova on and mari me services. Awards such as Kash Bhushan, Kash Ratna and Kash Vibhushan recognized dis nguished individuals and organiza ons for their outstanding contribu ons, reinforcing pride and purpose within the global mari me community
TheproceedingsconcludedwithasummarypresentedbyMrDavid Birwadkar, followed by a gracious vote of thanks delivered by Ms Delphine Es beiro. The evening drew to a close with cocktails and dinner, providing an excellent opportunity for networking and fosteringdeeperindustrycollabora on.
Together, the ATPI–Marex Global Crewing & Training Summit & Kash Awards 2026 reaffirmed that India's mari me ascent is inseparable from its investment in people. By aligning policy, industry, educa on and welfare under a unified vision, the summit chartedaclearcoursetowardasafer,smarterandmoresustainable futureforglobalshipping—withIndianseafarersatitshelm.
Marex Media
KASHTI 2026 AWARD WINNERS
Kashti Ratna (Jewel of Shipping)
1. Mr. S. Divakar - For Exemplary Leadership in the Dredging Sector
2. Capt. Daljeet Mehta - For Lifetime Achievement in the Maritime Industry
3. Mr. Naresh Nanda - For Lifetime Achievement in Maritime Education & Training
4. Dr. Vijay Belani - For Excellence in Maritime Medical Services
5. Dr. K. R. S. Kanwar - As a Guardian of Seafarers' Health
6. Capt. Percy Master - For Lifetime Achievement in the Maritime & Logistics Industry
7. Capt. Indresh Kharbanda - For Lifetime Achievement in the Maritime Industry
Kashti Vibhushan (Treasure of Shipping)
1. Mr. Johan Smith - For Excellence in Maritime Welfare & Social Service
2. Mrs. Aishwarya Pilankar Gupta - For Excellence in Ship Management
3. Dr. Mahendra Sharma - For Excellence in Maritime Skills Development
4.Mr. Warren Pinto - For Excellence in Maritime Banking & Finance
5. Dr. Inderveer Solanki - For Excellence in Inland Waterways
6. Capt. Ruchin Dayal - For Excellence in Maritime Services
7. Capt. Dhruv Sawhney - For Excellence in Maritime Innovation
8. Capt. Gajanan Karanjikar - For Maritime Literature
9. Dr. Deepti Mankad - For Maritime Author
10. Capt. Yashoverman Sharma - For Excellence in Maritime Leadership
11. Capt. Jagdeep Kahlon - For Excellence in Crew Management
12. Dr.Rajesh Ramachandran - For Excellence in Maritime Education and Training
13. Capt Aniket Pradhan - For Excellence in Ship Manning
Kashti Bhushan (Gem of Shipping)
1. Mr. Rohit Agarwal - For Maritime Author
2. Mr. Rubal Mansal - For Excellence in Ship Recycling
3. Mr. Manoj Yadav - For Excellence in Maritime Welfare & Social Service
4. Dr. Nayana Nandakumar - For Industry Impact in Shipping & Logistics
5. Mr. Nandlal Aher - For Excellence in Maritime Offshore Services
6. Dr. Deepa Rajesh - For Excellence in Maritime Academics
