As Events and Conferences on Shipping Go, Indian Maritime Summit was a star studded and very effective platform for some serious discussion on 6th of February, 2008. Organized by Confederation of Indian Industry and Participation from Top Notch Decision Makers in Government, Indian Port, Shipping, Manning , Shipbuilding and Logistics, Engineering as well as KPMG, ICICI Bank and not to speak of Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Presence of Danish Maritime Association, Indian Maritime Summit did emerge as a very effective platform to raise awareness about Shipping Issues among General Media and Policy Makers and to exchange notes and ideas among fellow Marine community.

The inaugural session of the Summit was addressed by Ms. Kiran Dhingra, Director General of Shipping, Government of India. She said that "with the growing Indian economy, we have to ensure that Indian Maritime industry does not become a factor restricting India's growth". The strategy of the Directorate would be to build capacity of ports and at the same time ensure connectivity with the hinterland. Taking into account all the capacity expansions being planned in the private and public sectors, total port capacity is expected to increase to 2000 million tones by 2012.

At the same session, Mr. S.S. Hussain, Chiarman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust said that huge efforts to build capacities and strengthen hinterland connectivity are being undertaken. A total of 36 projects throughout India costing about Rs 5,000 crores are being undertaken.

Mr. S. Hajara, Chairman, CII National Committee on Shipping and Maritime and Chairman and Managing Director, the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., in his welcome address said that "if the phenomenal growth of the Indian economy is to be sustained, the Indian Maritime Sector has to be strengthened".

Mr. Mitropoulos also talked about how India has become a leading supplier of sea going manpower. Today, Indian seafarers are renowned all over the world for their quality, competence, dedication and loyalty. They are liked, trusted and respected. India has a long tradition of maritime training and given the important role of Indian seafarers, the need is to ensure that standards of manning, operation and management of ships is high.

Rear Admiral Ajit Tiwari, Chairman & MD, Hindustan Shipyard Limited said that the Indian shipbuilding industry, which currently has a market share of 1%, is likely to make its presence felt globally.

Also present at the inaugural session were Mr. K.V. Kamath, Vice President, CII and Managing Director & CEO, ICICI Bank Limited and Mr. Banmali Agrawala, Deputy Chairman, CII (WR) and Managing Director, Wartsila India Limited. "We are about to see disruptive change in the Indian shipping industry", said Mr. Kamath, as he talked about how international trade is expected to triple in the coming 4-5 years. Enumerating the challenges faced by the maritime industry, Mr. Kamath specified that a massive expansion of port infrastructure was inevitable and that there were a few issues to be tackled like training manpower.


Why It was important

Presence of Cream of Indian Shipping with Decision Makers and Emerging Trendsetters in audience ensured that Topics discussed and Solutions Offered will surely set the trend for Growth of Indian Marine Sector and Policies in years to come.

List of Speakers
Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary General IMO
Ms. Kiran Dhingra, DG Shipping, Govt Of India
Mr S. Hazra, Chairman & MD SCI
Mr. K.V. Kamath, CEO ICICI Bank, Vice President CII
Mr. S.S. Hussain, Chairman, JNPT
Mr. Banmali Agarwala, MD, Wartsila India
Mr. Atul Agarwal, MD Mercator Lines Ltd, Vice President INSA
Mr. Torben Janholt, Chairman, Danish Ship Owners Association
Mr. Sudhir Shrivastava, CEO, Maharashtra Maritime Board
Mr. Jorgen Hammer Hensen, DG, Danish Maritime Authority
Mr. Krishna B Kotak, MD, JM Baxi & Co.
Mr. R. Ravi Kumar, VP, Vishakha Container Terminal Ltd
Capt S. S. Naphde, Jaisu Shipping, Ex Nautical Advisor
Mr. S.K. Shahi, Chairman & MD SKS Logistics Ltd.
Mr. Peter Bjerregaard, MD, Danish Shipowners Association
Mr. U. C. Grover, Director (T&OS), SCI
Mr. Julian M Bevis, OM, Maersk India Ltd.
Capt Sriram Ravi Chander, COO, Visakha Container Terminal Ltd.
Rear Admiral Ajit Tiwari, Chairman & MD, Hindustan Shipyard Limited
Mr. Anil Devli, Executive Director, Shreyas Shipping & Logistics
Capt Sandeep Mehta, CEO, Adani Group- Mundra Port and SEZ Ltd.
Mr Jayesh Bhatt, COO, Marg- Karikal Port Pvt Ltd.
Mr. J.K. Dhar, Principal, LBSCAMSR
Mr. Phillip Littlejohn, MD, Gujarat Pipavav Port Ltd.
Mr. Arvind Mahajan, ED, KPMG
Mr. DT Joseph, Adviser Ministry Of Shipping, RT & Highways

It is Not Phunny : Fly on The Mike

All the participants talked of creating awareness in Media about importance of Shipping.
Ever since Adani Group IPO and Adanis being counted among the Top Ten Richest People of India,
mainstream media swarms to shipping summits. Same was the case with Maritime Summit 2008.
CII Indian Maritime Summit saw a lot of main Stream Media like CNN IBN, NDTV, Zee News.
Some of the announcements that made national news was Maruti Tying Up with Mundra to export
vehicles and automobiles and IMO Secretary General Statement praising Indian Seafarers to be
the best in the world and Indian & IMO sharing similar history of birth and growth in stature.


What Was Discussed in Nutshell

What Was Discussed in Nutshell

Summit saw thought provoking, proactive presentations and discussions aimed at ensuring Growth of Indian Shipping Sector. Here is the brief summary of discussions. Full Text of Recommendations and some of the Presentations can be Viewed on Our Websites, www.themarineworld.com and www.marinersnetwork.com

The Emerging Maritime Landscape Growth and Opportunities in Indian
Port Sector
Trends in Maritime Development and
Maharashtra Maritime Board
Activities
Certainty of Change
Mr K. B. Kotak, Managing Director, J. M. Baxi & Co

“Leading Financial Institutions have assessed Capital Investment in the range of Rs.200,000 Cr in the next 5 years on the east Coast of India. East Coast of India will be the New Nodal Hub of Maritime and Development Activity and will be New Eldorado of Indian Shipping”

Ø Danish and Indian Maritime Relations
Mr. Torben Janholt, President & CEO, J Lauritzen, Chairman, Danish Shipowners' Association, said “, We need to constantly Remind public and policy makers that shipping has always Vital in expansion and solidification of Civilization and how it creates so many direct and indirect jobs.

Coastal Shipping Committee and Its Recommendations

Capt SS Naphde,” Need of the hour to Give Infrastructure status to Indian Coastal Shipping and Dredging Vessels. Indian Government should to exercise its privilege of forming Separate Legislation for these ships. We should get Leeway of lenient yardsticks in manning and ISM Provisions, Concessional rates on wharfage, Port dues and taxes.

Climate Changes

As MARPOL Amendments on Air Pollution loom Large, Shipowners and stakeholders need to remind policy makers that shipping is the most environment friendly mode of transport

Growth of Containerization and Indian Shipping Infrastructure
ManPower Situation :

Shipping is shining but can non availability of Manpower put cogs in the wheel. The specific and general solutions offered were creating more berths onboard ships for Cadets and Trainees, Creating awareness about importance of shipping in Media far and wide, Increasing Training Capacity and Value Addition in Education, Setting Up Maritime Universities ( Not One but More)

Upcoming Port Development and Power Plant Activity at Karaikal Tamilnadu

Vibrant Maritime Activity in Gujrat: Emergence of Mundra: a Maritime Masterpeice
March of Mundra to add Coal Berth for Suez Max and dedicated Car Export facility, Adani Groups Plans to set up a Maritime and Logistics Education Centre. Port Piapavav plans to dredge the Port to 14.5 Meters to accommodate bigger vessels

Summary of Recommendations
KPMG, consultant to some of the Biggest corporations and governments of the world, summed up the recommendation given to the government from Confederation of Indian Industries and Maritime Stakeholders

Full Text of Recommendations and some of the Presentations can be Viewed on Our Websites, www.themarineworld.com and www.marinersnetwork.com