05/08/2026
Shri Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), delivered the inaugural address as the Chief Guest at DOSTAS 2026 – International Maritime Seminar in Kochi on 5th August 2026, highlighting India's maritime transformation agenda and the Government's comprehensive efforts to strengthen the maritime sector, with a special focus on shipbuilding and ship repair.
Commencing his address with an overview of Maritime Security Incidents Across Key High-Risk Regions in 2026, underscoring the importance of resilience, preparedness, and secure maritime trade routes amidst an evolving global geopolitical environment. He highlighted that maritime security remains fundamental to sustaining global trade, safeguarding seafarers, and ensuring uninterrupted maritime operations.
A key highlight of the address was the Government of India's comprehensive push to revitalise the shipbuilding and ship repair ecosystem through targeted policy interventions, financial incentives, maritime financing initiatives, cluster development, demand aggregation, and major legislative reforms. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing India's shipbuilding capacity, creating a robust maritime manufacturing ecosystem, promoting indigenous capabilities, and establishing India as a preferred global destination for shipbuilding, ship repair and maritime services.
The inaugural address also focused on the transformation of the Directorate General of Shipping into the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), maritime digitalisation through platforms such as e-Samudra and e-Navik, green shipping and decarbonisation initiatives, coastal shipping promotion, maritime training, seafarer welfare, ship recycling, and international maritime cooperation. These efforts collectively underscore India's commitment to creating a resilient, innovation-driven and globally integrated maritime ecosystem.
In a compelling call to action for the maritime sector, DGMA emphasized that India is currently presented with a rare opportunity where the conditions for maritime growth are exceptionally favourable. Drawing on the analogy of shaping iron at its hottest, he highlighted that the convergence of policy support, investments, reforms, demand creation, technological advancements, and national focus provides an unprecedented platform for transformative growth.
