Maha Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari inaugurates Merchant Navy Week

Mumbai, April 1: Seeking blessings for the weeklong celebrations of Merchant Navy Week, the delegation of Central National Maritime Day Celebrations Committee (NMDC) headed by Amitabh Kumar, Director General of Shipping and Chairman NMDC (Central) Committee visited Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari for Flag Pinning Ceremony.

 

 

This development comes to commemorate the beginning of Merchant Navy Week starting from March 31 to April 5 at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. Amitabh Kumar felicitated the Governor by pinning the first miniature flag on his wearing apparel.

 

While interacting with the delegates, Koshyari elaborated on the vast maritime history of India and stressed the importance of the merchant navy for maintaining the supply chain in India during the challenging Covid time too.

 

 

The governor expressed his deep concerns for maritime education in India and the safety and security of the Seafarers at sea. He gave his greetings and best wishes to the NMDC (Central) Committee, all the stakeholders of the maritime industry, and Seafarers for the celebration of the Merchant Navy week ahead.

 

Kumar informed, "Since 1964, National Maritime Day is celebrated on 5th April as on this day in 1919, the first Indian Steamship “S.S. LOYALTY” of M/s. Scindia Steam, Navigation Co. Ltd., Mumbai, ventured into International Water on her maiden voyage from Mumbai to London (UK)."

 

 

"This year Merchant Navy Week will be celebrated to highlight the role and to promote the development of the Shipping Industry in all its aspects by diffusion of knowledge and information to the public and to recognize the services of seafarers and services of any other persons connected in promotion and development of National shipping Industry and other allied matters."

 

Kumar also gave a detailed account of the merchant marine infrastructure of India and various recent developments and progress made in the maritime sector. He informed that various functions like webinars on the ‘Sustainable Shipping beyond covid 19’& ‘Maritime History of India’ will be organized on 1st and 3rd April respectively. The grand finale event will be celebrated on 5th April 2021. During this celebration, various awards will be conferred on the meritorious Persons and Institutions in the Maritime sector.