Indians now comprise 10% of all seafarers globally after steep rise over last decade

India had 1,699 women seafarers in 2014, and their count increased to 10,440 in 2023, reflecting an increase of 514 per cent in the registered women Indian seafarers, said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s former foreign secretary.

Citing how the count of active Indian seafarers grew from 117,090 in 2014 to nearly 300,000 at present, Shringla highlighted the immense potential that India possesses in the maritime domain.

Shringla was addressing the ninth convocation of the government-run Indian Maritime University (IMU) at its Headquarters in Chennai as the chief guest. The IMU is dedicated to providing education and training in various areas of maritime studies, including navigation, marine engineering, maritime law, and marine management.

The event marked the successful graduation of 1,974 students, which included four doctoral scholars (PhD) and one MS (by research) scholar. The convocation was presided over by Dr Malini V Shankar, IAS (Retd.), vice chancellor of IMU, who conferred degrees to the graduates and delivered the presidential address.

According to data from the Directorate General of Shipping, GOI, India is the third-largest provider of seafarers worldwide, following China and the Philippines. Indian seafarers constitute nearly 10 per cent of the global maritime workforce, Shringla stated.

“We have been a maritime nation for centuries. Today, by revitalising our legacy of seafaring, shipping, we are reclaiming our rightful place in the maritime domain,” Shringla said. 

The veteran diplomat also highlighted the impact of conflicts and how they affected nations near and far, in the present-day interconnected world. Referring to the first year anniversary of the Hamas attacks against Israel, he said that in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks in 2023, the Houthi rebels began to harass merchant vessels sailing via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. 

“India exports a lot of West Asia, so we face a problem because of this. There has been around 50 per cent volume reduction in cargo flowing through the Suez Canal, shipping costs have gone up 15-20 per cent, and exports to Europe have dropped by 21 per cent. Conflicts anywhere can impact those who depend on the maritime economy, as 80 per cent of international trade passes through the sea route,” Shringla added. 

He also mentioned the role of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard in patrolling, securing the seas, combating piracy, and performing the role of net security providers and first responders in the Indian Ocean region.

Sidharth MP

The author is Chennai-based reporter with Wion

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