World Maritime Day 2024 (Celebrates with Seminar on ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First)’

The School of Maritime Studies (SOMS) at The Neotia University (TNU) organized a successful seminar on campus to celebrate World Maritime Day (WMD), aligning with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) theme for 2024, “Navigating the Future: Safety First!.” The event brought together maritime industry leaders, professionals, and students to discuss the future of maritime safety and technological advancements. The seminar was graced by the presence of eminent personalities including Mr. Vikrant Rai (Principal Officer cum Joint Director General of Shipping), Mr. Karan Paul (Chairman of Apeejay Surendra Group), Mr. P.J. Agrawal (Pro-Chancellor of TNU), Prof. (Dr.) Biswajit Ghosh (Vice-Chancellor of TNU), and Capt. Debashish Basu (MD and Founder of Navguide Solutions Pvt. Ltd.), alongside many representatives from the maritime industry and alumni of SOMS. Dr. Biswajit Ghosh delivered the opening speech, stressing the importance of integrating innovative technologies and adhering to safety to ensure a secure and sustainable future in maritime operations. He emphasized the pivotal role maritime safety plays in fostering global trade and economic stability. Mr. P. P. Saha reinforced the event’s theme, underlining the significance of adopting advanced technologies and regulatory frameworks to meet the evolving safety challenges in global maritime operations during his keynote address, In a compelling speech, Chief Guest Mr. Vikrant Rai shared insights from his extensive career, offering valuable knowledge and experience to the audience, ranging from regulatory policies to real- life challenges faced by the shipping industry. Guest of Honour Mr. Karan Paul shared the company’s commitment to driving India’s shipping industry towards global prominence. His insights into the business and strategies to boost Indian shipping competitiveness were widely appreciated by the participants. A significant highlight of the event was the presentation by 3 rd year marine engineering cadets, Mr. Pratyay Sarkar and Mr. Tamal Ch. Dey, who delivered an insightful presentation on “Advancement in Maritime Technology in Hull Manufacturing.” Their in-depth analysis of modern innovations and practical applications in hull manufacturing was well-received by the audience. Special speaker Capt. Debashish Basu enriched the session with real-life experiences related to the  seminar’s theme. His insights into maritime operations and challenges highlighted the need for continuous adaptation and resilience in a fast-changing maritime landscape. The event concluded with the distribution of certificates and medals to cadets in recognition of their academic excellence and value-added performance over the past year. The awards were presented by Capt.Diptesh Bhattacharya (HoD-BNS), and Capt. Subhrajit Chakraborty (faculty-BNS). The seminar was conducted by Mr. Atanu Roy (HoD-MRE), who ensured smooth proceedings with his engaging footnotes after every presentation, elevating the seminar to a high level of learning and enriching interaction.
The event was a great success, leaving attendees with valuable insights into future maritime safety and the role of cutting-edge technologies in ensuring a safer and more sustainable maritime industry.