Margao: Goan marine officers and students were given a rare opportunity to gain first-hand exposure to global maritime practices and training at the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) India Conference held in Goa on Sunday.
The event provided local professionals a platform to upgrade their skills, network with industry leaders and prepare for new opportunities opening in the sector.
The conference was convened under the presidency of Capt Ruchin C Dayal, president, IIMS-UK and CEO of eDOT Solutions, and was supported by the Goa Maritime Officers Association (GMOA), the Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) Goa Chapter, the Institute of Marine Engineers (IMEI) Goa Branch, and the Maritime Trainers Guild (MTG).
Mariners, surveyors, insurers, shipowners, students and other professionals attended the conference.
GMOA founder member and chief engineer Bhaskar Rivonkar said, “It is important for professionals in the field like chief engineers, master engineer, marine engineers and even deck officers to know the industry, how it works and to network with the right people.”
Stating that, in Goa, exposure in this sector is limited, he said that the conference provided them a great opportunity to learn about the maritime landscape as well as the IIMS and how they work.
He added that it is great to get first-hand exposure, and to know what is happening in the world so as to be ready for the future.
“There are opportunities opening up with different economies and we are in a way prepared for this career and how to develop and grow. It also gives us an opportunity to understand the need and importance for upgrading our skills. Events like this helps us to know the business of this industry and how we can use it to develop ourselves and grow professionally,” said Rivonkar.
Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS-UK, highlighted one of the industry’s most pressing concerns—fatalities in enclosed spaces.
“No one should go to work and not come back home because of death due to enclosed spaces,” he said.
He also drew attention to the risks of lithium-ion battery fires, LPG safety on small boats, the challenges of remote surveying, and the opportunities and threats posed by AI.
Emphasising that innovation must drive productivity, he announced the launch of a new on-demand training portal for marine surveyors, developed in collaboration with eDOT Solutions.
Capt Zarir S Irani of Constellation Marine Services LLC, Dubai, spoke on the need for ethics in marine surveying.
Describing a “huge trust deficit” in the sector, he called for independent and objective outlooks, accurate representation, avoidance of conflicts of interest and a commitment to professional development. “Ethics build trust,” he added.
