Staying ahead of the competition

India has taken steps to increase the skills of Indian seafarers and to keep up with the changing job landscape

Based on statistics in the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), India is the third biggest supplier of officers in the maritime industry. To keep up with the demands of the future of the maritime industry, India has built and inaugurated another Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding (CEMS) in port city Visakhapatnam, India. The CEMS’ first campus in Mumbai was established in 2017.

Constant improvements and adjustments are needed
Seafarers in India would be able to upgrade themselves before or between jobs at the new CEMS campus, which is conveniently located in the port city. The CEMS was developed to help bridge the skills gap, and to upskill and reskill the current workforce. The centre would help seafarers get updated on the latest trends, technologies and keep up with the industry’s transition towards Industry 4.0.

“I am pleased to see this laudable initiative take shape under the Skill India program initiated by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. CEMS will provide opportunities for the youth to enhance their skills thereby improving employability and be industry-ready,” Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, was confident that the new facility would increase the competitive edge of Indian seafarers.

CEMS Chairman Arun Sharma also shared that the Centre would keep a close eye on industry trends and get feedback from students on what skills they need to acquire as time goes by, “We will work closely with the students to enhance their employability and engage with industry to understand their skilling requirements.”