Set Sail on a Voyage of Discovery with Maritime Day
Indian National Maritime Day is celebrated every year on April 5th. This day commemorates the maiden voyage of the SS Loyalty, which marked the beginning of Indian shipping history. It was on this day in 1919 that the Loyalty left Mumbai (then Bombay) for London, becoming the first Indian ship to sail to the UK.
The Indian National Maritime Day is celebrated to honor the invaluable contribution of the maritime sector towards the economic growth and development of the country. It serves as a reminder of the importance of the sea and its resources in shaping the destiny of our nation.
India is a peninsula with vast coastline of over 7,516.6 km. The country has 12 major and 205 minor ports, which play a vital role in the country's trade and commerce. The maritime industry has contributed significantly to the country's GDP and has generated employment opportunities for millions of people.
Indian National Maritime Day is also a day to commemorate the sacrifices made by the seafarers who have risked their lives to keep the country’s maritime trade running. Many of these seafarers have lost their lives at sea or have suffered injuries while carrying out their duties. On this day, several events are organized to honor their bravery and dedication.
The theme of Indian National Maritime Day changes every year. In 2021, the theme was “Sustainable Shipping Beyond IMO 2020”. The aim was to promote the use of cleaner fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The theme emphasized the need for the shipping industry to be more sustainable and eco-friendly.
The Indian National Maritime Day celebrations usually include various programs such as seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and cultural events. These events provide a platform for experts to discuss the latest trends, technologies, and innovations in the maritime sector.
The Indian government has taken several measures to develop the maritime industry and make it more competitive on a global level. The Sagarmala Project, launched in 2015, is one such initiative. This project aims to develop India’s coastline and the associated infrastructure to promote port-led development. By developing the coastal regions, the project is expected to generate employment opportunities, attract investments, and promote economic growth.
The Indian government also launched the Maritime India Vision 2030 in 2016. This is a roadmap for the development of the maritime sector in India. The vision aims to increase India’s share in global shipbuilding to 5%, increase domestic water transport to 10% of the modal mix, and increase the share of Indian seafarers globally to 9%.
The Indian National Maritime Day is a celebration of India's maritime history and culture, which honors the bravery of seafarers who put their lives on the line to keep the country's maritime trade afloat. Additionally, it recognizes the crucial role of the maritime industry in contributing to the economic growth and development of the nation. The occasion serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing sustainable and environmentally friendly shipping practices and infrastructure to ensure the continued growth of the maritime sector in the future.
Girish Linganna
Aerospace & Defence Analyst
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Hundreds pay homage to lorry driver Arjun, killed in Karnataka landslide
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): Hundreds of people queued for hours to pay their last respects to Kerala lorry driver Arjun when his mortal remains were brought to his native village Kannadikkal in this district on Saturday morning.
Arjun, along with his vehicle, went missing in a river following a massive landslide that had rocked Shirur village in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka in July.
The body of the deceased youth and his lorry were recovered on Wednesday from the river, more than two months after the disaster, through a massive search mission.
Emotional scenes were witnessed as the ambulance carrying the mortal remains of the youth entered Kannadikkal village, with his friends, neighbours, and fellow drivers bursting into tears.
As the motorcade passed through the area, many people waiting on both sides of the road were visibly struggling to hold back their tears.
People from all walks of life gathered at Arjun's house when his body was placed there for public homage.
"We believed till some days back that Arjun was alive and might be under treatment somewhere and he would come back...and never expected that his return would be in this form," a teary-eyed woman, who is Arjun's neighbour, said.
Forest Minister A K Saseendran, Lok Sabha MP M K Raghavan, MLA K K Rema were among other officials who visited the house of Arjun to pay their last respects.
An emotional Saseendran said he had never seen such a huge crowd coming to bid a tearful adieu to a person in recent times.
Raghavan said the entire state and its people had stood together to find Arjun and the 71-days-long rescue mission was rare in the history of the country.
He also thanked the Karnataka government for their support to recover the mortal remains of the missing lorry driver.
The July 16 landslide on National Highway 66 claimed the lives of eight people in Shirur village in Uttara Kannada district.
With the recovery of Arjun's body, the death toll had gone up to nine, authorities said.
The search operations, started soon after the landslide, were halted on July 28 due to adverse weather conditions, high river currents and other factors.
