Maritime Matrix Today December 2022

Pride Hotels to expand its footprint to 100 hotels by 2030

Pride Hotel Group which presently has 51 properties nationally has embarked on an ambitious expansion plan to open 100 hotels by 2030. Once the new hotels are operational, Pride Group will have 100 properties with over 10,000 keys spread across various geographical regions, primarily in tier 1 and tier 2 markets. The focus is on an asset-light model for expansion with a major slice of the portfolio managed directly by the company. Most of the new properties will be located in popular leisure destinations with great tourism potential.

Announcing the developments Mr. SP Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Pride Hotels Limited, said “Subsequent to the challenges due

to the pandemic in the past two years we are now witnessing exponential growth. Our group has serviced to more than 53 global national citizens since 1987. We plan to expand our footprint nationally by doubling our portfolio to 100 hotels by 2030. With the market gaining rapid momentum we will soon come back to expansion mode for our flagship properties. The Pride Group performed exceedingly well in 2021-2022 compared to 20202021. The ADR and occupancy have gone up from 43% to 65% for the current year 2022-2023. We are expecting to clock a turnover of Rs. 250 crores this fiscal year”.

Pride Hotel Group has been a trusted brand for 36 years and earned a total revenue of Rs.3300 crores.

Pride Hotel Nagpur

It has a presence in around 51 great locations with 5,075 rooms, 102 restaurants, 134 banquets, lawns, and conference halls. Currently, Pride Hotels Limited operates and manages a chain of hotels under the brand name “Pride Plaza Hotel” an Indian Luxury Collection, “Pride Hotel” which are conveniently centrally located business hotels, “Pride Resorts” at mesmerizing destinations, MidMarket segment hotels for every business “Pride Biznotels” and a fresh concept of Premium luxury serviced apartment stays “Pride Suites”. All four brands are well appreciated and frequented by corporate clients, domestic and foreign tourists. Pride Hotel is a homegrown brand that resonates with true Indian hospitality. The group’s vision is to establish Pride Hotels as the best Indian Hospitality chain.

Current locations are New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Jaipur, Indore, Ranakpur, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Mussoorie, Puri, Gangtok, Anand, Alkapuri, Manjusar (Vadodara), Sasan Gir, Somnath, Bhopal and Haldwani. Upcoming locations are Rishikesh, Agra, Nainital, Jim Corbett, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Daman, Aatapi, Haldwani, Surendranagar, Dwaraka, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Neemrana, Mysore, Gurugram, Rajkot, Aurangabad, Halol, Lucknow, Varanasi, Rudraprayag, Kanpur, Bangalore and Greater Noida among others.

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SP Jain

Twists and Turns

The Maritime Standard Tanker Conference 2022, which took place on November 16th at The Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, was marked by a broad consensus that prospects for the tanker shipping sector are as optimistic as they have been for many years. There was agreement amongst the high level speakers that TMS assembled for the event that tanker market

fundamentals have greatly improved and, together with geopolitical events, are driving a significant and sustained rise in freight rates which seems likely to continue. Tonne-miles demand continues to grow as a result of the dislocation of Russian oil shipments, even if overall demand is down, and tanker newbuilding levels are at an all-time low.

The 2022 TMS Tanker Conference, which featured a packed programme of expert presentations and lively panel discussions, was structured around the theme “Reshaping the Market – Tanker Shipping Post-pandemic.” Indeed, despite the overall optimism, speakers agreed there are still a host of challenges as tanker shipping tries to chart course back from the pandemic which has left an indelible impact on economies and societies around the world and which will shape the future of shipping in all sectors, including tankers, for some time to come.

Opening the conference, TMS Editor, Clive Woodbridge, said, “Despite the return of some good times for tanker owners and operators, there is much more uncertainty and volatility in markets than everyone would like. Unpredictability makes everyone nervous. Nonetheless, despite what the world has been through over the past few years, the outlook for tanker shipping is really optimistic and this conference is timely as it represents a chance to discuss and help formulate strategies that can capitalise on these positive trends and deliver a sustained return to stability and profitability - as well as a reduced impact on environmental issues.”

The opening session, on ‘Recalibrating tanker shipping after the pandemic’ was led off by a keynote speech from Capt. Abdulkareem Al Masabi, CEO of ADNOC Logistics and Services. Other speakers in this all-important session, which set the tone for the day-long proceedings, included Dr. Ibrahim Al Nadhairi, CEO of ASYAD Shipping & Drydock Services; Essam Khoori, Executive Director, DP World; Nikos Michas, Global Tanker Segment Director, Lloyd’s Register; Navin Kumar, Director Maritime Research, Drewry Shipping Consultants; and Friedrich Portner, Chief Commercial Officer, Maritime Cluster, AD Ports Group. Key themes highlighted included the likely sustained nature of the increase in tonne-miles demand; newbuilding constraints; the need for infrastructure investment to support a transition to alternative fuels; the implications of slow steaming as an industry strategy; and the impact of IMO environmental regulations.

Session 2, chaired by Nijoe Joseph, Partner, Stephenson Harwood, looked at how tanker shipping is facing up to environmental challenges. A lively and wide ranging session featured papers from Pawan Sahni, Business Development Director, DNV; Simon Bonnet, Chief Maritime Officer, IRI/ The Marshall Islands Registry; Anders Ostergaard, Group CEO, Monjasa; Chris Peters, CEO, Tristar Maritime Logistics; Rajiv Agarwal, Operating Partner (Infrastructure) Essar & Managing Director, Essar Ports; and Franck Kayser, Chief Operating Officer of ASYAD Shipping Company. They were joined as a panellist by Amir Mosadeghi, CEO, Islamic P&I Club. One of the key conclusions of this group was that there was no ‘one size fits all’ alternative fuel choice and that there was likely to be a broad divergence according to the vessel type and size and trade lane.

The final session kept attendees in their seats to the end, with a wide ranging session on support services and how they can help shape the future of tanker shipping. Moderated by Ali Shehab, Global Director of Special Projects and Services, DNV, panellists included Meera Kumar, President and CEO of Diablo Global; Katherine Yakunchenkova, General Manager, Al Safina Security; Jamil Al Ali, Head of Regional and Commercial Development, Middle East, Bureau Veritas; Vishavdeep Gautam, CEO, Fast Freight DMCC and Ramee Rashid, Director, Seamaster Maritime.

Clive Woodbridge concluded: “It was a really stimulating and thought provoking conference that was very upbeat in its assessment of the market. The next 12 months are certain to be interesting for tanker shipping, with plenty of twists and turns, but there seems little chance of any significant deterioration in what is a very positive scenario right now.”

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Digitisation will lead to better cross-border logistics management

With an aim to understand the changing digital penetration and awareness in the shipping and logistics industry among MSMEs in EXIM fraternity, Freightwalla, India’s leading digital freight forwarding digitise platform, released a survey report titled ‘MSME Digital India Shipping 2022’. The report highlighted that about 84% of respondents believe digitization will improve supply chain management efficiency.

The Indian shipping industry has experienced tremendous volatility over the past couple of years, adversely influencing international trade by causing multiple problems, such as equipment shortages, shipment delays, and inefficient dealing with cargo movements. To overcome these problems, approximately 59% of respondents said that digitisation is integral to addressing the challenges in the industry.

Interestingly, as per the report, while complete digitisation in the supply chain and logistics industry was preferred by the majority of participants, in contrast, about 57% also stated that along with the digitised interface, they would also prefer some human intervention in grievance redressal.

According to the survey findings, over 70% of MSMEs intend to ship goods using digital freight forwarding compared to 30% who prefer traditional counterparts. This survey was conducted among 440 businesses dealing in export and import from India. The surveyors included exporters, importers, and service providers.

As the global supply chain is evolving at a never-before rate with increased technological penetration and technical advances, there has been an increased need for a holistic focus on end-to-end digitisation and service integration in the industry. The findings of the report and the recent National Logistics Policy both showcase the importance of digitisation for the efficient crossborder movement of goods.

In a multicultural country like India, having a wide variety of linguistic barriers, it was surprising that only 10% of the total cohort felt the need for local language support from the service providers. The far larger number unanimously chose their comfort language of operations as English.

The report also highlighted that most businesses witnessed a significant rise in customer satisfaction followed by a growth in revenue and a reduction in costs. Even as the world is racing back towards post-pandemic normalcy, container and equipment shortage was the most faced challenge, followed by excessive paperwork and lack of real-time tracking, as the key challenges faced by the EXIM community in the past year.

Even after the constant efforts of the government to strengthen internet penetration and digital education to the last mile users, 32% were unaware of digital freight forwarding as a service. In comparison, 14% complained of a lack of internet access.

Commenting on the release, Mr. Sanjay Bhatia, Cofounder & CEO of Freightwalla, said, “Logistical industry in India has always been traditionally driven. However, the ushering of the digitisation wave and the introduction of technology in this sector globally disrupted the industry. This survey emphasised understanding stakeholders’ views on digital awareness and adoption.

It showcases how the mindset of Indian logistical players and manufacturers is changing towards embracing technology, even in rural areas, as they are willing to unlearn conventional practices while upskilling themselves with the latest technology. We are excited by such enthusiasm we have witnessed for digitisation and strongly believe that this is the unveiling of the new era of Atmanhirbhar and Digital Bharat.

To further strengthen this sentiment and build India’s image as the logistical hub of the world, we welcome our Prime Minister’s efforts through PMGS-NMP(PM GatiShakti National Master Plan) and National Logistics Policy. These initiatives would be a giant leap in creating a truly inclusive and integrated logistical ecosystem.”

Freightwalla, as a digital service provider, aims to bring transparency and visibility to the shipping and logistics sector, modernise the operations across the supply chain and contribute to the government’s ease of doing business in India. To provide end-to-end digitised services catering to all freight needs and help the industry with realtime tracking and predictive analysis, Freightwalla launched AI-powered Tracking as a Service in 2021. Agencies

National Logistics Policy to reduce the overdependence on roads

The National Logistics Policy (NLP), launched by the Government of India in September, aims to promote the seamless movement of goods, overcome transport-related challenges, encourage digitisation and significantly reduce logistics time and cost. The policy is aimed at reducing India’s logistics cost considerably and bringing its percentage of GDP in line with the developed economies. Reduced logistics costs shall help improve India’s competitiveness, both in the domestic and export markets, by improving efficiency across all sectors.

Commenting further, Mr. Suprio Banerjee, VicePresident & Sector Head, ICRA Limited, said, “The Introduction of NLP is a long-term positive for the Indian logistics industry, given its overall focus on attaining better integration of different modes of transport, which in turn shall lead to faster turnaround and higher efficiency. It is also expected to lower the cost of logistics by reducing the overdependence on the road sector, thereby reducing congestion and ensuring better asset utilisation. Implementation challenges, however, are expected as multiple agencies, stakeholders, and physical entities are involved, which will require proper coordination for the successful implementation of the policy. The implementation will also entail heavy capital investments to be policy-compliant. The benefits of the policy should also be evaluated against its compliance costs. Nonetheless, the long-term benefits of the policy will outweigh the short-term challenges.”

The salient features of the NLP include setting key targets, which include a reduction in the logistics cost in India to be comparable to global benchmarks by 2030 and be among the top 25 countries by 2030 (currently ranked at 44) in the logistics performance index rankings as also creating a data-driven decision support mechanism for an efficient logistics ecosystem. The policy will be implemented through an eight-pronged Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan (CLAP) encompassing the full spectrum of the sector. The NLP also focuses on the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), a single-window platform for all transportation services, and a new digital platform, Ease of Logistics Services (E-logs), for a quick resolution of issues raised by the industry, reducing costs, preventing time leakages and ensuring better efficiency.

The policy will also help in generating employment and better skills, along with making medium and small enterprises more competitive. It will lead to the higher formalisation of the industry and reduce fragmentation in the sector. This is expected to enhance the efficiency of last-mile connectivity and reduce the over-dependence on roads.

Aim for Quality

The Academy of Maritime Education and Training (AMET), Deemed to be University, established in India in the year 2007, conducted its 12th Annual Convocation on 5th December 2022 at Anna Centenary Library Auditorium.

Col. Dr. G. Thiruvasagam, the ViceChancellor of the University introduced the Chief Guest and other dignitaries. He also welcomed the participants and presented the Annual Report.

Some of the most noteworthy outcomes that he stated were – AMET has implemented the Fully Flexible Choice Based Credit System (FFCBCS) from this academic year which includes reduction in number of credits, inclusion of one semester industrial project and three to six months mandatory internship programs suitably in the curriculum. Other features are, introducing Industry specific credit courses in the pre-final year, industry oriented value added courses for curriculum enrichment, Introduction of Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship and Startups courses in the curriculum, MOOC courses mandatory for students / mapping of courses to its equivalent core or elective courses, introducing Foreign language/ Tamil/Hindi for better employability and Implementation of Student centric and activity based learning in the campus for the holistic development of the students. AMET is keen in implementing National Educational Policy 2020 by introducing mandatory MOOC courses for all students, Academic Credit Bank, Registering all students in DigiLocker portal, Online examination and evaluation system, Skill based training programme, Dual degree and Join degree, Twinning

Degree and additional degree programme in collaboration with Indian and foreign Higher Educational Institutions etc., the University signed MoU’s and LOI for academic collaborations like Students exchange and Faculty exchange programs with Edge Hill University, United Kingdom, James Cook University (Singapore Campus) and INTI International University, Malaysia. Collaborations with another 11 Universities across the globe are in the progress. AMET stands SECOND in the PIMET Ranking of IAMU in Research Category during 2021-22. Further, a Certificate of Appreciation has been received from International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) for evaluating research proposals in 2022.

AMET is establishing an Off-Campus, by acquiring a 150 acres of land at Thenpattinam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu which is 40 mins drive from here, and on this same East Coast Road towards Pondicherry. The Government of Tamil Nadu has given approval for the construction of various infrastructure and the construction works are in the final stage. This new campus of AMET is going to be an exclusive Maritime Knowledge Park for providing state of the art facilities for the internationally renowned shipping companies who are going to have academic, training and research collaborations with AMET. These buildings will accommodate the infrastructure such as Classrooms, Laboratories, Workshops, Computer Facilities, Auditorium, Seminar Halls, Canteen and Dining Halls, Swimming Pool, Hostels, Play Grounds etc. The new campus will be in the name AMET Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) which will provide quality and meritorious training to the Maritime Students who are going to be the future leaders of the shipping sector.

Dr J Ramachandran, the Founder-Chancellor of the University, presided over the Convocation and conducted the graduation ceremony.

Shri. Kishore Rajvanshy, Co-Founder and Managing Director, M/s Fleet Management Limited, A Caravel Group Company graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) and Citation in recognition of his meritorious service and rich contribution to the Maritime Sector by the Chancellor.

A felicitation address was delivered by Dr. Rajesh Ramachandran, the Pro-Chancellor of AMET. He urged the graduands to continue with lifelong learning and practicing which would always keep them updated and assist them in their careers and give them a better life style. He also advised them to carry the value of education received at AMET and to implement it in their workplaces.

Shri. Kishore Rajvanshy delivered the Convocation address in which he shared his Maritime experience and pointed out success mantras for future dreamers “Today as you seek to make your own castles, I can share that there are so many careers within shipping. From constructing a ship, surveying a ship, commissioning, fixing ships, or even running and insuring a ship. The challenges and therefrom the opportunities that arise are endless! Yes! There is no shortcut to success.

Having a vision is essential: it should be a vision that is subject to adjustment in the face of a changing environment. Goals, on the other hand, remain constant, as does the work needed to achieve them. Finally, stay excited and aim for quality. Excitement will ensure that your day will never be tedious and with quality comes growth.”

The Chancellor distributed degrees to 1033 Graduates following which he also administered the Pledge, conferred the Degrees and signed the Register of Graduates. Finally, he announced the Dissolution of the Convocation and the National Anthem was rendered.

Team Matrix

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ICS focuses on Dry Cargo Trade in India

The ICS – East India Branch celebrated its 27thAnnual Day on Saturday, 10th December at the Madras Gymkhana Club. Chief Guest for the event was Ms. V. Rama Mathew, IRS, Member, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs. Ms Rama Mathew, IRS spoke on Customs as a facilitator and enforcement authority for the shipping industry. She delved on digitalisation, faceless assessments and various trade friendly practices including Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme and its advantages.

Shri MVS Choudary, IRS, Chief Commissioner of Customs and Shri Prasad, IRS, Commissioner of Customs graced the occasion.

The Chief Guest and Guest of Honour distributed Membership certificates to Capt. R.S.Kishore Kumar, Mrs. Naveen Selvakumar and Capt. Sridharma Sastha, who all had successfully completed the professional qualifying examinations (PQE) of the Institute. HIMT Toppers award was presented to Capt. R.S. Kishore Kumar MICS. Mrs. Naveen Selvakumar MICS and Capt. Byju Mannil MICS took prizes in individual subjects. Capt. R.S.Kishore Kumar MICS also did the ICS EI Branch proud by receiving the ‘Shipwright Prize’ from ICS London.

The Annual Day celebrations was preceded with a Technical Seminar on the theme “Commercial Perspectives in Shipping — Focus on Dry Cargo Trade in India”. Speakers included:

• Mr. Krishna Kumar, Senior Vice President, MSC India, who spoke on Container Shipping vis a vis Global and Indian trade,

• Mr. Manas Bose, Executive Director, (Logistics & Infrastructure), SAIL, Kolkata, who provided insights on the India Steel Sector from the Charterers perspective &

• Capt. Suresh Amirapu FICS, Advisor, PSA India, who illustrated the National logistics policy from the perspective of the Indian Maritime Industry.

As a finale to the seminar, a panel discussion on UNCTAD - Review of Maritime Transport Report 2022 was conducted.

Moderated by Capt. K.G. Ramakrishnan, FICS, Director Benline Agencies, the panellists discussed issues viz., freight rates and transport cost, KPIs for ports and shipping fleet, consolidation and competition in container shipping, trade facilitation, legal issues and regulatory developments.

The expert panel comprised:

• Mr. K.C. Shiva Manohar, FICS, Director, Shiva Chartering Pte Ltd,

• Mr. Punit Oza, FICS, CEO, WIZ Bulk Pte Ltd. Singapore,

• Mr. M. Jagannath, FICS, Director, Nau Pte Ltd. Singapore &

• Mr. J. Krishnan, Partner, S. Natesa Iyer Logistics LLP, Chennai.

Attendees included Fellows and Members of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, members of the Maritime Fraternity and students and faculty of the Indian Maritime University and Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training. The event concluded with fellowship and dinner.

Resolute and Robust

The Maritime Standard Awards 2022, which took place on November 15th, marked a successful return to the iconic ballroom at The Atlantis on The Palm, Dubai, in a ceremony full of the usual glitz and glamour. More than 900 attendees, the highest number yet, packed out the event, making it the biggest Awards ceremony for the maritime sector in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent and one of the best attended anywhere worldwide. Guests were treated to first class entertainment including a traditional Omani band and dancers, as well as a top-quality gala dinner.

This was the ninth staging of the Awards and in common with all the others it was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman Emirates Airline and Group, who has supported the event from the very beginning. The keynote speech was given by Abdulla Bin Damithan of CEO of DP World UAE, who said, “TMS kept going right through the Covid 19 pandemic, flying the industry flag. Throughout all the trials and tribulations of the past few years they have

remained resolute and robust in supporting our industry and we should all be grateful for that. Congratulations and well-done Trevor and the TMS team!”

The entire proceedings were kept running smoothly by the master of ceremonies, former England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, who shared some amusing anecdotes from his record-breaking career, and was supported by well-known local presenter, Rania Ali.

The evening witnessed the presentation of 28 different awards, covering different aspects of the maritime industry, as well as special awards for individual achievement.

Managing director of TMS Trevor Pereira, said, “It was wonderful to be back home in the Atlantis and to be so well supported on our return. The whole event was a triumph from start to finish and we look forward to an even bigger and better one to mark our tenth anniversary in 2023.”

60 years and counting

The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) Chairman Mr Shankar Shinde conveys his sincere thanks to all the 28 Member Associations and more than 6500 members of FFFAI from across the country for their active contribution and support to the 60 years’ journey of the Federation. He also conveys his gratitude to other trade associations, chambers of commerce, logistics industry stakeholders, Customs Authority and different Ministries of the

Government of India for their kind support to FFFAI during the last 60 years. FFFAI completed 60 years of its inception on December 2, 2022. This year the Foundation Day celebration programme was organised in Mumbai. The Federation will organise the Diamond Jubilee celebration programme early 2023.

“It is a proud privilege for me to thank you all on the occasion of celebrating the Foundation Day of FFFAI on December 2, 2022, completing the 60

FFFAI Chairman Mr Shankar Shinde and Immediate Past Chairman Mr AV Vijayakumar lighting the inauguration lamp of the Foundation Day celebration. Also present on the dais are Chairman Elect Mr Dushyant Mulani; Vice Chairmen Mr Amit Kamat, Mr S. Nataraja & Mr Sudeep Dey and Hony Secretary Mr Vinod Sharma.

years of its inception. At the Outset let me take this opportunity once again to congratulate each member and leaders of FFFAI for being part of this 60 years successful journey,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion in presence of other OBs and EC members attended the event from across the country Mr Shinde said that FFFAI is now well recognised by the government of India as well as the society at large as a vital entity of the end-to-end logistics/supply chain industry. “Our collective wisdom, hard work and strong organisational strength of FFFAI supported by 28 Member Associations from across India have been the key forces behind the recognition through various initiatives, policy announcements, and of late, by the National Logistics Policy announced by the Government of India,” he said.

He also underscored the contribution of past leaders of FFFAI in strengthening the Federation. “I take this opportunity to convey our sincere gratitude and homage to all the past leaders of FFFAI, many of whom left us for their heavenly abode. Presently we are standing on a solid ground as our leaders

have built strong pillars in institutionalising the Federation to achieve greater heights,” the FFFAI chairman added.

He pointed out that taking cue from the predecessors the present leadership of FFFAI is constantly monitoring and analysing the entire ecosystem of the logistics industry in consultation with domain experts. “Accordingly, at present our focus is to up skill the domain knowledge with effective utilisation of emerging technologies. Our training arm IIFF is leaving no stone unturned in this regard. In addition, FFFAI has strengthened its Women and Youth Wings to woo women and young entrepreneurs to this highly potential and vibrant sector,” he added.

At the same time, FFFAI is in constant dialogue with the Government, other Trade Associations/ Chambers of Commerce and logistics industry stakeholders for creating a collective force for this sunrise sector.

Mr Shinde further pointed out that in pursuance of its aims and objectives, the FFFAI plays a

Mr Shankar Shinde, Chairman FFFAI addressing the members at the Foundation Day Celebration

constructive role in maintaining a constant rapport with the Customs, Port Trusts, Airport Authorities, Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Central Warehousing Corporation, Central Excise, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), etc. to make its own contribution in the formulation of Policy and administrative measures and simplification of various procedures. For this constructive role, the Federation has been accorded official recognition and is represented on several official, semi-official forums of various central ministries like Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other Trade Bodies.

Being a national apex body of Custom Brokers, FFFAI is being invited by the Ministry of Finance to give presentation on the Union pre-budget for formulating the policy structure in direct and indirect tax. FFFAI comments are invited for the SCOPE Session, CCG meeting held by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Directorate General of Export Promotion. FFFAI is only logistic association to be part of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation which is chaired by Cabinet Secretary.

FFFAI was entrusted with execution of INSTC Project by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and TIR Convention project through Ministry of External Affairs which was very successful.

FFFAI launched its own training and education wing in the name of Indian Institute of Freight Forwarders (IIFF) on 7th January, 2005 by the hands of Mr. Issa Baluch – President of FIATA and Mr. P. K. Srivastava – then CMD of Shipping Corporation of India. IIFF is the only institute in SAARC region to conducts Diploma course in Freight Forwarding which is approved by FIATA.

FFFAI has also strengthened its international networking and intervention in different international issues through IFCBA (International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations) and FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders). FFFAI’s outreach holding important positions provided its members an opportunity to expand their horizon with support from these International associations.

“It is evident from facts and pertinent to highlight that the recognition to FFFAI comes from the business integrity and working together with Customs department, Government of India as partners in facilitating EXIM trade. This creates a greater sense of responsibility to the Nation and Fraternity we belong to for an opportunity to serve through FFFAI Platform,” Mr Shinde pointed out.

The FFFAI Chairman appreciated the support from CBIC Team for their continued proactive initiatives to keep the logistics wheel movement through contactless, paperless online initiatives which helped a lot, the transformation from manual to digital was commendable and in true spirit of facilitation measures.

Mr Shinde highly appreciated the recent initiatives of the Government of India viz CBLMS, ‘PM Gati Shakti’, ‘LEADS Report’, LPPT, ‘Faceless Assessment’, ‘Turant Customs’, ‘SWIFT’, ‘DPD’, AEO, etc aiming towards fast cargo clearance, Ease of Doing Business and improvement of Logistics Performance Index of the country as per world standard.

Sharing details on the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Association the FFFAI Chairman informed the event will be held during early 2023. Detailed programmes would be intimated very soon, which would be a fascinating one. “On behalf of the Office Bearers and Executive Members of FFFAI I appeal to all FFFAI members to make serious efforts to make the Diamond Jubilee a historic event and FFFAI a force to be reckoned with. I also appeal to all to further strengthen the Federation by increasing its membership for the larger interest of the ex-im trade as well as logistics industry in the country,” Mr Shinde concluded.

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Do you desire to be an inspirational Leader?

Globalization and consumerism have created a fierce competition due to proportionate increase in supply and demand, at this stage the companies are discovering that they cannot survive unless they steer a different course which calls for redefining the role of a manager and understanding the mechanism of creating right attitudes. Managers are change agents within their organizations and are responsible for shaping up their team with right guidance.

To be a successful manager, one needs to be an effective leader. The difference between a manager and a leader is that manager manages work and supervise the activities while a leader stands in the front and pulls the people along with him and make them enablers to work. The manager enables things to be done right, while a leader does the right things

through inspiration. Hence today in the fast-paced environment, the organization requires leaders’ not just managers.

What Makes an Effective Leader?

Good leaders often possess a combination of various “leadership qualities,” such as creativity, motivation, vision, and empathy. However, the most successful leaders are able to adapt to the needs of different situations, employing their diverse set

“A leader is one who never reacts, but observes, understands, analyses, and then acts decisively.”

of leadership skills in order to achieve their goals.

When creating a successful workplace, leadership qualities are essential. This article will discuss few must have leadership qualities to improve their ability to lead and to be successful.

Visionary – Visionary leadership is characterized by a keen understanding of the future and the ability to see opportunities where others do not. Visionary as a Leadership Quality for Workplace Success can provide the impetus for success in any organization.

Innovative – This is a very important quality that a leader should possess to be able to sustain with the changing scenarios. Innovation ensures that his team is coming up with various ideas and those ideas are put best to use. This leads to creative and committed work force leading to higher productivity.

Self-confidence – A self-confident leader can build trust and inspire their team to reach greater heights. This professional attribute in a leader also empowers them to make rational decision and take risks. A leader who lacks this quality can neither be self-driven nor can encourage or motivate their team.

Problem Solving – The ability to find, analyse, diagnose and resolve conflicts is critical for success. This quality enables the leaders to weigh the situation from all angels and conclude on the best possible solution for the team and for the organisation. Problem – solving skills also enables the leaders improve their organisation skills.

Integrity – Truth is the only way to move ahead. Integrity is the foundation of good leadership. A good leader motivates with their values without compromising. They refrain from false commitment and taking shortcuts or do any act over personal gain. Leaders with high on integrity are reliable and trustworthy.

Active listening – This is a quality which can help build trust, resolve conflict and promote healthy collaboration. Leaders who actively listen to their people create an environment where the team feels valued and heard. Active listening involves engaging with the speaker, being aware of the body language, making eye contact and other nonverbal cues. It involves not only clarifying information but also reflecting.

Accountability – Accountability fosters a culture of continuous improvement. When an individual is held accountable for their action it gives them

a sense of responsibility and ownership for their work, they are more likely to take action to the best interest of the organisation rather than themselves.

Positivity – A leader sets the tone for the rest of the team. A good leader avoids negativism by focusing on growth opportunities when discussing challenges and changes with the team. They tend to give more positives than negatives when discussing individual employee performance. The positive team creates a positive work environment hence it is essential for a leader to communicate with their team with enthusiasm and excitement.

Passionate – Without a passionate drive an organisation can lose focus and fall behind its competitors. Having a passionate dedication to ones work is essential for a leader. A leader must be passionate about their work to inspire their team and drive results.

To conclude, successful leaders are the powerhouse behind their organizations. They are the visionaries charged with steering their brand through the market. They must know when to seize opportunities and how to rally employees to work hard toward their company’s goals through their leadership skills. It may seem like some people are just gifted with these skills, but the truth is most leadership traits can be learned and sharpened with time and practice. This can be done by taking a proactive approach to learning and transform themselves into a beacon of motivation for people to spark energy and excitement. Such a leader becomes an inspirational leader.

The Author Neetu Jaiswal, Founder & CEO Nevoxel Consulting Nevoxel is a HR specialist firm that provides a comprehensive HR solutions for shore based maritime. We help maritime organisations with hiring solutions and also support them with organisation capability development and workforce transformation.

Now ask a question to yourself. Are you an inspirational leader, and if not, do you desire to be one?

KBB and Eminox offers insights to minimise emissions from internal combustion engines

Turbocharger manufacturer, Kompressorenbau Bannewitz (KBB) and emissions control specialist, Eminox have extended their recent technological collaboration to develop a white paper publication, ‘From turbo-to-tailpipe - minimising

David Phillips, Engineering Director, Eminox Dr Roman Drozdowski, Managing Director, KBB

emissions from internal combustion engines in a net zero emissions future’, that acts as an advisory to any ship operator looking to reduce engine emissions.

As part of the maritime industry’s commitment to achieving a zero carbon future, marine diesel engines are subject to IMO Tier I and Tier II regulations. Additionally, every vessel entering specific emission control areas (ECAs), including the Baltic Sea, North Sea and North American ECAs must meet much stricter IMO Tier III targets, with tighter nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions requirements. For vessels to be compliant when operating on European inland waterways, Stage V regulations apply, with stringent particulate matter (PM) emissions compliance. Future legislation, including an update to the EU Stage V regulations and new IMO Tier IV regulations, are expected to set dramatically lower NOx and PM emissions targets from the early 2030s.

The flood of legislative requirements for gaseous emission reduction in the past decade has encouraged the industry’s transition to cleaner fuels. However, while alternative energy sources such as batteries and wind power can be adopted, mediumspeed diesel, gas, and dual fuel engines will remain to be the de facto for marine propulsion and auxiliary power units.

The new white paper entitled, ‘From turbo-totailpipe - minimising emissions from internal combustion engines in a net zero emissions future’, published by KBB and Eminox gives ship operators a vital tool when navigating emissions reductions from internal combustions engines. The paper examines key regulations and timelines and explores how recent innovation in fully integrated exhaust management solutions can enable

operators to achieve more stringent emission control targets.

In 2021, KBB and Eminox launched a codeveloped, fully integrated emissions control solution that provides marine engine manufacturers with the technology needed to deliver clean marine diesel engines. The KBB Eminox solution is optimised for specific engines which increases performance efficiency and the effectiveness of emissions reduction.

Aimed at medium speed engines over 1MW power, the new solution brings together KBB’s expertise in marine turbocharging and air handling with Eminox’s proven EMx exhaust aftertreatment system (EATS) technology.

“The time is now for marine operators and engine manufacturers to accelerate their emissions reduction journey. This white paper provides everything they need to know to do that, and we can provide an in-house solution for all their needs.” Dr Roman Drozdowski, Managing Director, KBB.

“Diesel engines are the backbone of the marine industry, making it vital to optimise their performance to lower emissions as we move to a zero carbon future. However, how do we ensure that these engines are generating less emissions? Our emissions control solution is a technology that is available now to fully address all emissions requirements, now and in the future.” said David Phillips, Engineering Director, Eminox.

Agencies

Does anyone share the burden of seaworthiness with Shipowner?

The aspect of seaworthiness is one that has been followed since the early history of overseas trade . It served two purposes then, one, that it incentivized ship owners to ensure that their vessels were fit to carry goods over the course of the voyage. It also assured traders/shippers that their goods would make it through the voyage since the ship was fit to travel, incentivising shippers to trade more frequently, thus helping in the expansion of international trade . In today’s world, seaworthiness has just as important a place in the shipping industry and has grown in complexity as international trade has boomed over the last centuries . The legal sphere that governs seaworthiness has also recently begun to understand the concept fully . It was only after modern contract laws took shape that seaworthiness was given to be an obligation. However, certain legal decisions made over the course of time have gone on to shape the common law’s lens of seaworthiness to beyond its period of existence. The warranty of seaworthiness places upon the shipowner adequate responsibility in ensuring the vessel is fit, which ends once the voyage begins. However, courts have sought to overextend the period of liability of the shipowner due to seaworthiness beyond its prescribed warranty period . This paper argues that by doing so, courts have essentially shifted the brunt of the liability to shipowners, turning the concept of seaworthiness to be more-shipper oriented, creating a strain on the legal relationship between the ship owner and the shipper..

Rulings on seaworthiness

The first instance of mishap with dealing with the aspect of seaworthiness took place in lyon v mells , where it was stated that seaworthiness become implied in a charter party as an absolute obligation of the shipowner. This increased the rigidity of the principle “so as to align the concept of seaworthiness with that of the realm” . This absolute obligation was derived from the absoluteness of the obligations taken up by terrestrial transport vehicles, and by doing so, reduced the station of a ship owner to that of a carrier who owed a large duty of care towards the shipper to maintain and present a fit vessel, capable of carrying the goods through the voyage . It is important to note that there was only no real evidence of seaworthiness being an absolute duty of care having to be taken up by the shipowners and was mostly thought to be a minor obligation that was not completely necessary. However, this ruling changed the nature of seaworthiness into an implied obligation

with a high standard of duty of care that the ship owners owed to the shippers or the charterer. This led to ship owners migrating towards finding ways to limit their liability, prompting the legal faculty to explore the idea of limitation of liability in certain exceptional situations. While conventions such as the Hague rules does not place an absolute undertaking upon the ship owner and merely that he must exercise “due diligence”, it is not so clear or straightforward . The ambit of due diligence has been interpreted to mean due diligence to avoid any dangers, seen or unforeseen. For example, it was ruled that even if the ship owner is not at fault and who is actually at fault is a manufacturer of the steel or the various components of the vessel, courts have in the past expected ship owners to make sure that even the components that make up the vessel , even if they were not the ones who constructed it, must be inspected and due diligence must be adopted to ensure that the ship is truly fit to carry those specific goods that it is required to carry in the voyage .

In the case of Union of India v N.V Reederji Amsterdam , the aspect of due diligence was expanded further. It was ruled that due diligence must extend to ship owners even if there are latent defects in the vessel after it was handed over by the old owner . Due diligence must therefore be exercised by the ship owner or those who he employs. In any case, the same ruling also stated that the ship owner, not the constructor would be held liable as once the person who the ship owner employs finish his duty, the absolute obligation of due diligence then passes on to the ship owner, who must then inspect the vessel for latent defects , even if it is not their fault if any latent defects prop up. While the reason for due

diligence to be passed on to the ship owner is so it is then easier for the shipper to sue for damages as he may only include the ship owner as a necessary party, it is not completely just to accord so much responsibility to the ship owner so as to make it difficult for him to provide a seaworthy vessel to ship owners . These court rulings while helpful to shippers, make it almost a continuous obligation of the ship owner, even though it is well known that the warranty of seaworthiness ends once the voyage begins. This complexity in upholding the obligation of due diligence only increases when you consider that technology associated with shipping has become more sophisticated, and therefore the obligation on the ship owner increases further to having to maintain and observe latent defects in equipment aboard the ship, which further increases the cost of management since the ship owner would not like to risk being sued for damages by the shipper or charterer .

In fiumama v bunge , their lordships determined that a presumption of unseaworthiness could be assumed by the courts in certain circumstances where evidence was scant or unavailable . While this presumption of unseaworthiness helps courts come to faster decisions more efficiently, it does not do anything to pacify the fact that in these uncertain times, a ship owner is being made liable for damages where he may not be at fault . This exception was made only on the basis of presumptions based on facts and other presumptions on other grounds cannot be counted towards presuming a vessel is unseaworthy. However, it places a heavy responsibility on the ship-owner to have to control and keep the vessel fit , and to try to go as far as to prevent his vessel from succumbing to factors beyond his control, giving a leeway to shippers to 1) claim for damages where the ship-owner may not be at fault, and 2) narrow the scope for ship owners to claim seaworthiness where actual due diligence was exercised by them .

The balance of responsibilities between the shipper and ship owner must always be structured in such a way that it allows the ship owner and the shipper to be incentivised to continue their course of duty and to maintain the stability of the trade industry . Over the years, countless rulings have sought to shift this responsibility heavily towards the ship owner where it becomes difficult for the ship owner to remain afloat or be incentivized to continue being in the industry altogether . Placing a brunt of responsibility on the ship owner with recourses that are difficult, especially considering the fact that an aspect of presumption plays a role in the determination of seaworthiness of the vessel makes it very likely that the ship owner will have to instil a strict obligation to the shipper lest he gets sued for damages, irrespective of whether it is his fault or not . While admiralty courts understand that there is an ease on the shipper to find the ship owner directly responsible instead of needlessly complicating the situation by having to find the actual guilty party, it puts ship owners under a disproportionate amount of legal scrutiny than how shippers or charterers are looked at .

Notes:

1 “Admiralty: Actions against Shipowners for Loss of Cargo: Burden of Proof of Seaworthiness” (1943) 41 Michigan Law Review 693 2 Id 3 Shah BS, “SEAWORTHINESS — A COMPARATIVE SURVEY” (1966) 8 Malaya Law Review

4 Id 5 Id 6 Lyon v. Mells, (1804) 5 East 428

7 Id

8 Admiralty: Actions against Shipowners for Loss of Cargo: Burden of Proof of Seaworthiness” (1943) 41 Michigan Law Review 693

9 Id 10 [1963] UKHL J1015-1 11 Id 12 [1963] UKHL J1015-1 13 Id

14 Admiralty: Actions against Shipowners for Loss of Cargo: Burden of Proof of Seaworthiness” (1943) 41 Michigan Law Review 693

15 Yiannopoulos AN, “The Unification of Private Maritime Law by International Conventions” (1965) 30 Law and Contemporary Problems 370 16

17 [1930] 2 K.B. 47 18 Id 19 Shah BS, “SEAWORTHINESS — A COMPARATIVE SURVEY” (1966) 8 Malaya Law Review 20 Id 21 Id

22 Yiannopoulos AN, “The Unification of Private Maritime Law by International Conventions” (1965) 30 Law and Contemporary Problems 370 23 Id

24 [1963] UKHL J1015-1

25 Shah BS, “SEAWORTHINESS — A COMPARATIVE SURVEY” (1966) 8 Malaya Law Review

For the purposes of this paper, any court that has admiralty jurisdiction, whether English, American or Indian, will generally be referred to as “admiralty court”

The Co-Authors

Advocate Capt Rahul Varma

Founder, Ally Maritime and Legal Services and Ship Recycling Specialist

Shreyas Acharya

Intern, Ally Maritime and Legal Services

AMTOI ESG COUNCIL aims to mainstream ESG across all stakeholders

ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) in India has slow-brewed from sporadic boardroom discussions to ground and policy-level changes - due to the exponentially increasing risks we are experiencing as our planet warms beyond 1.5-2 degrees. The pressure to decarbonize and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is mounting in all sectors.

Therefore, being environmentally conscious has no longer remained just a matter of choice. It’s become the need of the hour.

Hence, AMTOI has taken the initiative to form the AMTOI ESG COUNCIL, firstly to create awareness about the importance and cost-effectiveness of adopting green measures and secondly, to identify the challenges, adopt solutions and design an effective implementation plan.

The aim is to mainstream ESG - not just across AMTOI members - but across all stakeholders in the supply chain.

An AMTOI ESG Council Logo has been specially designed wherein each colour has a specific significance and the font sizes are intentionally 12:14:16 – so as to give emphasis on the 3 different aspects of the path towards protection of our Environment.

EMC (Environmental Management Centre) founded by Dr Prasad Modak – will be our knowledge partner and will assist us in all our endeavours.

For ESG to be truly embedded and practiced in spirit, all stakeholders have to work collaboratively to protect further damage to our environment.

Creating a Legacy

Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA India) completed a decade of making women more prominent in the maritime industry on 07th December 2022. Believing that gender diversity is key in providing a sustainable future for the shipping industry internationally, WISTA India continues to create a legacy of excellent leaders by its camaraderie, mentoring and knowledge sharing.

Being a member of this illustrious association, gives me a sense of pride to be amongst the elite. I joined WISTA India, just 2 years ago and it has kindle a spark that I want to do so much more than just my routine responsibilities.

Join me, Miss Delphine Estibeiro of Marex Media, as I unveil the genesis of WISTA India, its future plans, and motivation it has given to its members.

Step out of the Shadows

Entering this profession by default as a post graduate management trainee has been both challenging and rewarding at the same time. And having completed 18 years in the shipping and logistics sector, as a Sales, Business Development & Operations professional; today, Mrs Summiit Cheema runs her own sourcing and logistics firm called Dycecorp. She also heads the prestigious association for women WISTA India – as its President. Living with her dashing husband in Delhi, she is a music enthusiast who plays the synthesizer on occasions. Being a firm believer in the cause of mental health, Summiit went on to pursue a healing modality called Access Consciousness, which she now teach on weekends.

In an engrossing conversation Summiit explicitly expressed her experience and future plans for WISTA India.

Agent of Change

Being an office bearer of WISTA India, is like being an agent of change for women in the maritime sector, encouraging their potential to take greater leadership roles in the industry and reach higher levels of responsibility in their profession.

We, the Board of WISTA India essentially aim towards some very pertinent objectives, and my role also is towards meeting those objectives. What support do women need from the industry? Is the maritime industry programmed towards gender bias in the future as well? Are there enough female voices in the maritime sector? Having said that I think WISTA plays an important role in inviting women to be role models, so that young girls are encouraged to join this industry. While gender bias does exist in the industry, I personally believe bias is not always based on gender, it is also about whether or not you are good at your job. Performance is a key criteria that decides one’s career growth and that determines whether or not women get selected into leadership positions.

Networking with inspiring women not just in India, but all over the world. So many of them have shared their professional success stories -on sea and ashore, alike. This opens up my world to more possibilities, I start to see, through their stories of strength and resilience that if they can do it, so can I and so can all the women in the industry, who are determined to rise. And the ultimate goal is to support and inspire our members to grow in their profession through networking, mentoring, knowledge sharing and camaraderie.

Biggest hope, and growth expectation for next 10 years…

On taking the baton of Presidentship of WISTA India, my wish was to increase its footprint through 2 key elements (aside from business networking) – Learning & Development, and Social Outreach/ wellbeing. This can be done through collaborations with likeminded organisations that share the essence of women welfare and prosperity. In the last 2 years (even during the pandemic), we have conducted events that focused on Physical and Mental wellbeing of members and also Knowledge Sessions from subject matter experts coming from various domainsSales , Finance etc.

My wish is to now step up this momentum. We have completed 10 years in India, which is a huge milestone in itself. The next 10 years, I wish we grow from 100 members’ to1000 members at least- impacting each member in this journey.

Message to the members of WISTA India…

Be bold, be brave and resilient. There is a world of opportunities for every woman who is willing to step out of the shadows and be seen. Long term alliances and relationships are built on trust which requires relentless efforts and actions to stay relevant and ahead of the market in this industry.

Drive the change

As founder member and President Emeritus of WISTA India, Ms Sanjam Sahi Gupta is an advocate for diversity in the maritime industry. She’s a gender expert who Consults with the with the IMO and the first Indian from the Private sector on the Executive Board of the World Maritime University to be appointed on her own

merit

Sanjam walks down memory lane to enlighten us on the inspiration behind WISTA India.

Genesis of WISTA India

It all began in 2001, as young professionals, Sumi Sahi Dutt, my sister and I attended a conference where the speaker addressed the gathering as Gentlemen despite there being a few ladies. This, coupled with a few more funny instances where I was “talked down” to mademe google women in shipping, I did and voila, there was the WISTA website.

Unfortunately, we needed 10 ladies to begin, and despite the Chairpersons of both port trusts being women at that time, other women didn’t agree to come forward.

Then again in 2012, we decided to have another go and the timing was right. We launched and had 83 members in the first year itself! Today it’s a support network for women in shipping and adds tremendous value to women in maritime in India. After heading for five years when I stepped down as President, I was honoured with the title of President Emeritus.

Today we have a great team of ladies with President Sumiit Sharma at the helm. I have seen my dad do so much for the industry and help young people enter the industry. He does it quietly without garnering attention.

This inspired me to also drive change and make a difference. Today I am in a unique and privileged position where people listen to my ideas and opinions and I don’t want to waste this opportunity.

Biggest Accomplishments

WISTA has given the women in maritime a voice, and a platform. The biggest accomplishment is when members say they have benefitted, when members excel in their careers, when members get opportunities to rise. The WISTA network is extremely strong and the strength lies in each member supporting each other. Hearing members’ stories of how WISTA helped their work and even beyond that helped in mentoring garnering personal relationships giving much needed support when it is needed.

Lessons learnt

The lessons learnt have been many but the biggest lesson learnt is to believe in ourselves, take support from our mentors and most of all stand up for each other. The essence of WISTA is sisterhood – supporting each other and enabling business relations between members. WISTA is different from other organisations as it helps foster business relations between members apart from personal relationships.

Your message…

While there is no substitute for hard work, you need to believe in yourself, be open to learning and always listen to your instincts. Always be open to new experiences, rise up to challenges and open yourself to the unknown, I have had some incredible opportunities that has often pushed me beyond my comfort zone, and always helping me to grow as a person. Make plans but know that plans will change, as change is the only constant in life. By being willing to try ‘something’ new you could end up ‘somewhere’ unexpected and better. Realise that the journey is the destination. Enjoy this journey. Never stop learning. You will never have all the answers, you will always be a student. Embrace the opportunity to learn every day, from each experience and from everyone you come in contact with. There will be some good, some bad, but with each experience you will learn something new.

Members Speak Oldest Members

Founder Member Sumi Sahi Dutt - Director of Sitara Shipping

WISTA India was a dream Sanjam and I had which has become a reality and unfolded in a wonderful way. We have not just made friends from shipping across the globe but have also benefited in our business contacts also. We are humbled to have completed 10 years in India and look forward to strengthening it in the years ahead so that the younger generation can reap the benefit of what we set up.

Vinita Venkatesh - Director of Ocean2Door

As a charter member of WISTA India, it is truly gratifying for me to see how successful WISTA India has been. We are now a recognised body representing an important segment of shipping professionals.

The single element responsible for WISTA India’s sterling growth is Sanjam Sahi Gupta. Her relentless passion and perseverance have kept WISTA India members buoyant and engaged. Her personal career achievements have also added to the prestige of WISTA India.

Going forward, it would be great to see the following:

• The vast shipping expertise available within WISTA India being called up to contribute inputs at various industry events

• Government of India taking cognisance of WISTA India as the representative body of experts of women in shipping and inviting WISTA representation on relevant government committees

• Commercial shipping companies engage WISTA India in an advisory capacity to promote gender diversity in their organisations

5 Years + Members

Pankhuri Poddar - Business Development Specialist of Fortrec Chemicals & Petroluem Pte Ltd

Because of WISTA, I have renewed confidence and faith in my own abilities. In this evolving world, it gives me opportunities (educational and otherwise) and open avenues that are unthinkable and allow me to rediscover myself. I continue to get introduced to a very strong and a powerful network of individuals and professionals (nationally and internationally) who motivate me to work harder and get out of my comfort zone. It is a great platform to improve and promote gender equality and women participation in the maritime industry. Last but not the least, I have found a lifelong mentor and friend in Sanjam. She continues to champion the cause of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity - through WISTA and now even through Maritime SheEO. I look forward to a lifelong association with WISTA.

Jhilam Chatterjee - Seafarer, Engineer

I have been a member of WISTA India since inception and felt that it is not just some organisation for women but an awesome platform full of amazing women professionals across the maritime industry. During my WISTA association, I have met some wonderful friends, got inspiration from other members and felt thoroughly impressed by the positivity WISTA spreads.

WISTA offers a collaborative environment, facilitates friendly impactful interactions amongst members globally and provides a strong support system of peer groups. Besides there are members who are established maritime professionals and junior members get the privilege of receiving mentorship and valuable career advice.

Mrs Nafeesa A Moloobhoy, Managing Director, A. S. Moloobhoy Group of Companies

Wista India is a very inclusive and warm organisation with Sanjam actively involved in every aspect of it.

It encourages participation of women from the Marine industry at every level one and every field and gives them a common platform to which they can address their worries, queries, challenges and also share their joy and achievements. It’s a great networking opportunity for Indian women in the Maritime sector.

I’m grateful to be part of Wista India and look forward to contributing more, time permitting to helping women unleash their true potential and reach the pinnacle of the career. In return I too learn so much from these very dynamic women and the interaction is inspiring indeed.

Newest Members

Nirmala Shelke - Asst. Fleet Personnel Manager of Bernhard Schulte Ship Management

I am really impressed with how passionate these ladies are in WISTA, staying energetic all the time and an inspiration to many. Each member in this community is a very strong and resilient person who is able to handle just about everything. Ms. Sanjam Sahi Gupta is one of them who is a great role model for everyone who looks up to her.

WISTA have a truly infectious personality that makes a positive impact on everyone around

I am really happy that I got an opportunity to associate with WISTA and the personalities in it have an innate ability to

I am having wonderful experiences in this journey so far and looking forward to having further more inspiring & energetic experiences in the future.

I have been a new member at WISTA just a year ago and I feel so proud to be a part of this group. WISTA India is an active group and with networking and knowledge sharing by each woman is great and it’s so inspiring to hear the success stories of women in maritime. WISTA has an unparalleled reach, unique collective insight and a vivid ambition to make a difference to empower women. It’s good to see women working at all levels in Maritime and Logistics. Some are women entrepreneurs and some are employers and employees. I am also a faculty member of EXIM trade and wherever I go as a speaker I try to pull more women into the WISTA India family.

I expect more benefits from WISTA by having more programs online/offline on various aspects of the shipping industry and gender diversity.

With more efforts there can still be added more women members in wista family across India so that the diversified experience of other women can be used and benefits to all. Barriers to women working in the maritime sector are being addressed, although much more needs to be done.

I am glad to be in this nest where I am hugely benefited professionally and personally I got a circle of friends. Thank you.

Mrs. Apurva Mehta (Pohonerkar), Advocate, APM Legal, LL.M., Admiralty Laws, Tulane University, USA

I am a new member of WISTA India, although I have known about WISTA and even attended a few WISTA events in the USA. I see the vast opportunities provided by WISTA, not just in the field of networking within the industry, but also for promoting the financial, mental, and physical well-being of members, and it makes me proud to be a member of WISTA India. WISTA India has introduced me to stakeholders from different sectors within the shipping community and opened opportunities for business development. The platform provided by WISTA is unique and the support available within the organization will definitely help in progressing in my career and the industry.

Manisha Thakkar - Vice President of Trialliance Global Solutions India Pvt Ltd

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