PM inagurates Merchant Navy Week celebrations

New Delhi, Mar 30: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the 43rd Merchant Navy Week, wishing the seafarers and entire shipping fraternity a bright and successful future.

Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T.R. Baalu pinned the first miniature merchant navy flag on the apparel of the Prime Minister.

Merchant Navy Week, celebrated throughout the country every year, culminates into National Maritime Day on April 5, which commemorates the sailing of first Indian vessel 'SS Loyalty' on its maiden voyage on this day in 1919 from Mumbai to London.

The principal objective of the Merchant Navy Week and National Maritime Day Celebrations is to create awareness among the countrymen about the Indian shipping industry and to underline its vital role in bolstering the country's economy.

The activities of shipping industry and the requirements of seafarers are highlighted during the week-long celebrations through t media which include special features in newspapers, seminars, brochures/souvenirs, Radio/TV programmes, workshops and exhibitions.

Mr A K Mohapatra, Secretary (Shipping), Mr G S Sahni, Director General of Shipping, Mr Susheel Kumar, Joint Secretary (Shipping), Mr Yudhisthir Kahatau, President, Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA), Capt R Y Barve, President, Foreign Owners' Representative and Ship Managers' Association (FOSMA), Capt S Jayaram, President, Maritime Association of Shipowners' Association and Mr Abdul Gani Sereng, General Secretary, National Union of Seafarers (NUSI) also attended the event.

UNI