National Maritime Day was observed by the Institution of Engineers (India)
Rourkela: National Maritime Day was observed by Institution of Engineers , India Rourkela Local Centre, at the A.N. Patel Memorial Seminar Hall, located in the Rourkela Local Centre Building, NIT Campus, Rourkela. The event was conducted in a hybrid mode, both online and offline, on the topic “Go, Float Away My Boat.” The speaker for the occasion was Dr. Bikash Ranjan Mishra, Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, NIT Rourkela. The programme was coordinated by the Honorary Secretary, Er. Himansu Satapathy. The meeting was chaired by Past Honorary Secretary, Prof. Rama Chandra Pradhan, who delivered the welcome address. The Honorary Secretary briefly introduced the speaker and invited Dr. Mishra to deliver his lecture.
In his presentation, Dr. Mishra highlighted that India’s maritime economy is undergoing a structural transformation, evolving from a support service into a strategic engine for achieving the nation’s vision of becoming a $30-trillion economy by 2047. He noted that the maritime sector currently handles 95% of India’s trade by volume and 70% by value. Tracing India’s maritime heritage, he referred to its origins over 4,500 years ago in the Indus Valley Civilisation, including the world’s first tidal dock at Lothal (circa 2300 BC). He further explained that maritime growth had long been constrained by outdated colonial-era laws, limited infrastructure, and a predominant focus on defence-oriented shipbuilding. However, economic liberalisation in 1991 marked a turning point, increasing reliance on seaborne trade and repositioning maritime routes as vital economic corridors. Dr. Mishra emphasized that India is currently experiencing rapid advancements in maritime infrastructure and policy reforms. Over the past decade, port capacity has nearly doubled, vessel turnaround time has reduced from 93 hours to 48 hours, and cargo movement on national waterways has increased more than sevenfold. He also discussed recent legislative reforms, including the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 and the Indian Ports Act, 2025, aimed at replacing outdated regulations and enhancing ease of doing business. He elaborated on the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which outlines India’s ambition to emerge as a global maritime leader. Key objectives include substantial investment in infrastructure, promotion of green shipping, development of maritime clusters, achieving carbon-neutral major ports by 2030, introducing green-fuel-powered inland vessels, and strengthening India’s position as a leading global supplier of seafarers. Additionally, the vision aims to place India among the top shipbuilding nations by 2030.
The presentation was followed by an engaging interactive session involving industrialists and academicians. Subsequently, Prof. Pradhan presented a certificate of merit and a memento to Dr. Mishra in recognition of his insightful contribution. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by the Honorary Secretary, Er. Himansu Satapathy. A total of 23 members and guests participated in the event, both online and offline.
Reported by Kunja Bihari Rout
