Capt Arun Karkare, director, Sai Techno Consultants, has many achievements to his credit. Having sailed and piloted vessels for decades, he launched his own consulting venture, which has many feathers in its cap within a short span of its existence. Capt Karkare talks about his vision for India’s maritime sector, and the policy lacunae that needs to be rectified. Excerpts:

Please tell us about your career path?
Capt. Karkare: I was first interviewed in January 1956 for apprenticeship as a cadet by the current chairman of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) Capt Anand, who was the then captain - superintendent of Scindia Steamship Company Ltd, Mumbai. I had just returned from France, where my father was on a diplomatic assignment.
I was selected in the interview as a Cadet and I joined SS Jal Ganga in the dry dock at Kolkatta port. Thus began my sea career on 13th February 1956. I sailed happily, purposefully and with grace of God managed to cut out a niche for myself in the company. In due course I was promoted to Chief officer in the year 1968.Unfortunately company did not have enough ships to promote senior Chief officers to Master’s rank . I waited for my command till June 1971 and finally gave up the wait and chose to come ashore in favor being with my young family.
On 1st June 1971, I joined Mumbai Port Trust as a pilot and thus started the phase of my shore life which lasted for 21 long years. During this period again I managed to cut out a special place in the organization and managed to do outstanding work out of which some can be mentioned as my achievements. As a pilot I was well known for my pilotage skills and ship handling qualities. I was always assigned difficult shipping operations whenever the need rose as I enjoyed the confidence of my Deputy Conservators who were my bosses.
The most outstanding moment came in the shape of an opportunity when I was nominated by the then port Chairman M. Ramamurthy as port representative on the famous laser marine show put up by France and India at Mumbai chowpaty in February 1989 for which I was awarded a special medal and citation by the then president of France Mr. Mittrand. This should have got me Government of India’s appreciation medal too. But due to failure on part of port administration in recommending my name in time, it did not happen. However, I value whatever came in my way.
In September 1993, on very personal grounds and family needs I decided to resign from port job and went back to sea for two years and fulfilled the family commitment. In 1994 I left sea job and chose to return ashore. I joined IMS Ship Management where I served for about 7 years till 2001. During my days with IMS Ship Management, I managed to elevate company above manning activities and introduced new business of operations and manning of port crafts, LPG storage and dredging activities. The first private sector LPG storage facility was put up at Porbander by a joint venture company the then known as IMS Petrogas which was my brain child from start to finish. In September 2001, I decided to float my own consultancy company named after Shri Shiridi Sai Baba the great saint of Maharashtra and India. The company is aptly named as “SAI TECHNO CONSULTANTS”. With grace of God our sweat and blood efforts has paid off and for last 10 years of its existence the company has made great strides and achieved national and International fame in the field of maritime consultancy especially in the port sector.
Sai techno Consultants has been associate consultants with globally renowned companies such as KPMG, McKinsey, Deloitte and Tata Consultancy. We are on consultancy panels of Tamil Nadu Maritime Board, Tata Power Company, DRDO of Government of India, Gujarat Maritime Board, Maharashtra Maritime Board and ports of Dhamra, Kattuppali , Jaigad and Pipavav. The company is actively involved in development of various port projects in the country.
It has developed pilotage training programs on simulation technology with ARI Delhi.

Why is India lagging behind other countries like China?
Capt. Karkare: Let me tell you we don't lack knowledge. What we lack is motivation and planning. All institutions start with big plans but somewhere down the line these plans don't come through. We are either discouraged or we have negative thoughts. All visionaries have one thing in common. They dream big, and dream is key to success. India has huge requirements in marine profession in the coming years. For example, we need good tug masters, tug engineers dredging masters and specialized engineers to operate dredgers. Our dredging needs in coming years is estimated at Rs 20,000 crore. Unfortunately our dredging needs are fulfilled by Europeans or Chinese.

What is required to develop our inland waterways network?
Capt. Karkare: Our inland water policy has been on backburner. It is a low key approach. The authorities have not realised the importance of inland waterways. The authorities have neglected inland waters. When Sethusamudram project was conceived, I was the only person who voiced negative opinion. Similarly when Rewas port was being thought of, I informed Maharashtra Maritme Board that this was a paper scheme and so it has been for 15 years. Now there is a new sea water Act which replaces the original Act. This will help to revive coastal trade and shipping.

What changes do you perceive in the attitude of your generation and that of today's generation?
Capt. Karkare: Today's young man who chooses a sea job is not a traditional sailor. He chooses a sea job mainly for making quick money. He sees that the sailing profession is the best platform to make the largest amount of money in the shortest possible time. He is not going to spend his lifetime at sea. The real sea going boys can be found in the coastal belt of India and not in the metros and inland based towns.