FUTURE SKILLS MARITIME (FSM) 2024 Global Conference & Networking Meet

DG Shipping Shri Shyam Jagannathan IAS addressing the conference

Captain Shive Halbe,CEO, MASSA is being felicitated and honoured

Captain Arun Mehta, MD, OSM Thome is being felicitated and honoured

Successful Completion of the Future Skills Maritime (FSM) Conference 2024

The Future Skills Maritime (FSM) Conference, held for the second time in Goa, marked its fourth edition as a resounding success, bringing together maritime professionals, industry experts, and stakeholders from across the globe. The event, organized by The Naval Connection (TNC), was a statement of commitment towards fostering innovation, sustainability, and excellence in the maritime sector.

The conference commenced with a heartfelt World Peace Prayer, acknowledging the challenges faced by seafarers, including the recent Red Sea crisis. Capt. Shoukat Mukherjee, Founder & CEO of The Naval Connection, extended a warm welcome to all attendees, expressing gratitude to partners and sponsors for their unwavering support. The inauguration ceremony witnessed esteemed guests of honor, including Capt. Venzy Viegas, Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad, Mr. Deepak Shetty I.R.S.(Retd.), Prof. Dr. Sunita Karad, Capt. Sankalp Shukla, Capt. Rajesh Tandon, Capt. Girish Phadnis, Capt. Karan Kochhar, Capt. Tushar Pradhan, and Capt. Shiv Halbe.

Keynote addresses by Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad highlighted the importance of holistic education and combating corruption in the maritime industry. Mr Deepak Shetty spoke of the rising influence of the Maritime Anti Corruption Network (MACN) in battling corruption and how more and more seafarers are benefitting from the same.

Capt. Venzy Viegas emphasized legislative efforts to resolve seafarers' issues, while the video message from Hon. Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant reaffirmed the government's support for the shipping industry.

The conference featured insightful sessions on autonomous learning, maritime legislation, diversity, and renewable energy integration, among others. Engaging panel discussions and fireside chats facilitated knowledge exchange and brainstorming on key industry trends and challenges.
The event also celebrated the achievements of industry stalwarts and organizations committed to excellence in maritime education, recruitment, and CSR initiatives.

The following individuals and organizations were felicitated by MIT ADT, MANET and TNC during the conference:

Felicitations and Awards:
- Capt. Venzy Viegas (Guest of Honor), Hon. Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Benaulim Constituency, Goa
- Mr. Shyam Jagannathan (IAS) (Guest of Honor), Director General of Shipping
- Capt. Sankalp Shukla (Guest of Honor), MD, Bernhard Schulte Crew Service Center India, Chairman FOSMA
- Capt. (Dr) Rajesh Tandon (Guest of Honor), CEO, FOSMA
- Capt. Girish Phadnis (Guest of Honor), Chairman, MASSA
- Capt. Arun Mehta (Special Guest), Managing Director, OSM Thome, India
- Capt. Mohan Naik (Special Guest), Managing Director, Dynacom Tankers Management Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Rob Gale (Special Guest), Head of Training, The International Maritime Employers Council
- Mr. Deepak Shetty I.R.S.(Retd.) (Special Guest), Senior Advisor (India), MACN, Former Secretary to the Government of India and Director General of Shipping
- Capt. Shiv Halbe (Special Guest), CEO, Maritime Association of Shipowners Shipmanagers and Agents (MASSA)

Additionally the following were honoured with the MIT ADT MANET Awards

1. Capt. Pankaj Nayak - Head - Training, d’Amico Ship Ishima India Pvt Ltd (Best Recruiting Associate)

2. Capt. Chinna Ruparaju - General Manager, International Maritime Training Centre (Best Recruiting Associate)

3. Capt. Kunal Katyal - Global Head of Marine Personnel & General Manager, Wilhelmsen Ship Management (Best Recruiting Associate)

4. Capt. Anshul Rajvanshi - MD, Synergy Maritime Recruitment Services Private Limited (CSR-Leadership)

5. Capt. Vivek Bhandarkar - Bhandarkar Publications (MANET's Prime Media Partner)

6. Capt. Kamal Chadha - Managing Director, Marex Media Pvt Ltd (MANET's Prime Media Partner)

7. Capt. Manoj Gandhi - General Manager and Fleet Personnel Director, Seaspan Crew Management India Pvt Ltd (Excellence in Maritime Industry)

8. Capt. (Dr) Shashank Jahagirdar - MTM Ship Management as Country Head & Managing Director (Maritime Persona of the Year)

9. Capt. Karan Kochhar - Managing Director, Maersk (MANET's Best Associate for Women Empowerment and Recruitment)

10. Capt. Vipan Talwar - Industry Stalwart and Mentor (Lifetime Achievement)

These individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions and achievements in the maritime industry

Capt. Vipan Talwar delivered an emotional speech, reflecting on his illustrious career, family, and commitments, leaving a lasting impact on attendees.

As FSM 2024 concluded, Capt. Shoukat Mukherjee expressed his gratitude to all partners, sponsors, and attendees, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the success of the event. He highlighted the engaging panel discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions, which underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of the maritime industry.

Attendees enjoyed a memorable poolside engagement dinner, featuring cultural performances and lively entertainment. The evening provided a relaxed setting for networking and camaraderie, strengthening bonds within the maritime community.

The conference also incorporated a beachside activity, where participants engaged in team-building exercises such as Tug of War and Passing the Hollah, fostering teamwork and collaboration in a scenic setting.

Says Capt. Shoukat Mukherjee, CEO of The Naval Connection (TNC):

"FSM 2024 has been an incredible journey of collaboration, innovation, and inspiration. We are immensely grateful to all our partners, sponsors, and attendees for their unwavering support. Together, we are charting a course towards a sustainable and dynamic maritime industry, driven by passion and excellence. We shall return next year with renewed vigour and exciting new additions"

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