The board of Indian Maritime Centre (IMC), has elected Devki Nandan as Chairman and Shankar Shinde as Vice Chairman during its first meeting on Monday.
Capt Sankalp Shukla will serve as Secretary, while Capt Vikas Vij takes on the role of Treasurer for the IMC.
R Ravi Kumar, Secretary General of the Indian Private Ports and Terminals Association (IPPTA), has been appointed as the acting CEO of the Indian Maritime Centre, according to a statement.
The board also approved the membership applications of the Association of Container Train Operators (ACTO) and the Indian Register of Shipping (IR Class) as members of the IMC.
The IMC Board comprises Devki Nandan, President of the IPPTA; Shankar Shinde, Immediate Past Chairman of the Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations in India (FFFAI); Capt Vikas Vij, President of the ICC Shipping Association (ICCSA); Capt Sankalp Shukla, Chairman of the Foreign Owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA); Arjun Ashok Chowgule, President of the Shipyards Association of India (SAI); Maneesh Pradhan, Chairman of the Maritime Association of Shipowners, Ship Managers and Agents (MASSA); and Rahul Modi, President of the Coastal Container Transporters Association (CCTA).
The IMC is expected to play a crucial role in shaping a unified maritime policy across various subsectors, focusing on creating an integrated Indian maritime ecosystem. It will also represent the Indian maritime sector at international forums such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), build global relationships, enhance visibility, and establish a strong brand for the Indian maritime industry. Additionally, the IMC aims to act as a think tank for the Indian maritime sector.
The board also acknowledged Bhushan Kumar, former Joint Secretary (Sagar Mala) in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, for his pivotal role in the formation of the IMC.
After assuming the role of IMC Chairman, Devki Nandan said, “We are committed to promoting, developing, and facilitating both domestic and international maritime trade, fostering economic growth in India and globally. The coming years are promising for the Indian maritime sector, with significant investments underway in cutting-edge technology, capacity building, and adopting international best practices.”
He added, “We pledge our full support to the government in developing and implementing maritime policies aligned with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kal Vision 2047, aiming to position India as a global growth engine. As an industry, we have a great responsibility to shape the future meaningfully and effectively. This apex body will help the government and all subsectors adopt uniform policies, making this sector a global role model.”
The IMC has extended invitations to all trade associations, major ports, coastal state governments, state maritime boards, organizations, companies, institutions, maritime professionals, and other stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in maritime trade, to join the Centre in pursuit of its objectives through collective efforts.
