Baalu seeks early report on updating of maritime studies equipment

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T.R. Baalu today called for an early report on the state of equipment being used by various centres of the Indian Institute of Maritime Studies to ensure that the level of education was of world standards.

Addressing the fourth annual general meeting of the Indian Institute of Maritime Studies here, Mr Baalu also asked the authorities to urgently address the problem of shortage of seafarers.

''The Indian Maritime community should rise to the occasion and strive to make the country's maritime education and training amongst the best in the world,'' he said.

The minister exuded hope that with the setting up of the Indian Maritime University, maritime education would get a boost with a platform for research, innovation and a place for higher education in specific fields of the shipping industry.

He said the proposed university would cater to the large demand of the shipping industry in times to come. ''We should aim at overall growth of the shipping industry while we also aim for aggressive marketing of Indian seafarers on foreign flag ships.'' Referring to the shortage of faculty in the four institutes of the maritime studies, Mr Baalu said immediate steps should be taken to remedy the situation to keep up the standards of the faculty and the infrastructure. He assured his ministry's assistance in this regard.

Commending the role of Indian seafarers, officers and seamen, the minister said they had done yeomen service to the Indian shipping in particular and international shipping in general.

He said Indian seafarers were employed in most of the shipping companies worldwide. ''They stand fifth in the world on manning international ships and are close to coming to the top in the world on manning shore establishments like management and ship owning companies,'' he added.

Mr Baalu said Indian seafarers were preferred the world over because of their strong academic background, excellent English language skills, high entry-level standards with well-founded social values like harmonious living and traditional respect for environment.

UNI