National Maritime Day in India

National Maritime Day of India is celebrated on the 5th day of April each year. We celebrated the first Indian National Maritime Day in the year 1964. In this article, we will gain knowledge about how this day is celebrated, why National Maritime Day in India is celebrated, who is honoured on this day, the objective behind the celebration of this day. 

We will also share interesting insights on this day. Our prime reason to introduce this content is to make the students aware of this day which will boost their general knowledge in a better manner.

Why was Maritime Day in India celebrated? 

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Indian National Maritime Day or National Ocean Day of India is celebrated every year on the 5th of April to honour the maiden voyage of our first Indian flag merchant vessel named 'S.S. LOYALTY' from Mumbai port to London, on 5th of April in the year 1919. This was a history created in the navigation of India. This was an act worth commemorating, as the maiden voyage sailed from India to Britain during British rule. Despite the sea route being controlled by the Britishers, the Indians sailed through this channel. 

In the year 1964, this day was first honoured in order to spread awareness about intercontinental commerce and the economy worldwide.

National Maritime Day of India – How was it celebrated in 2019?

In the year 2019, the 56th edition of the National Maritime Day was celebrated. The theme for the year was “Indian Ocean-An Ocean of opportunity". The day was to celebrate and support the global economy being the most well-organized, safe and sound environment. A global economy is a responsive approach towards the transporting of goods from one country to another country in the world.

What was the History Behind National Maritime Day in India? 

Maritime History in India

The maritime history in India can be traced back to the period of the 3rd millennium BCE. At that time Indian inhabitants from the Indus Valley started the maritime trade contact with Mesopotamia. The Vedic records say, that the Indian traders or the merchants initially traded with Arabia and far eastern countries. 

Naval Department in Maurya Dynasty

Studying the Maurya Dynasty, one can find a definite ‘naval department’ which was constructed to supervise the ships in their trade. Many Indian goods reached via these ships to the Romans. Gradually, the trade between India and Greco-Roman increased in pace and thus, spices were mainly imported from India to the Western World, with the passing of silk and other luxurious fibre. 

Rise of Indian Shipping

This legacy of Maritime history has continued. This eventually gave rise to Indian shipping which started its voyage on April 5th, 1919, on a concrete basis to do trade. The SS Loyalty was manufactured by The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. this ship sailed from the port of Mumbai to the United Kingdom.

Member of IMO

In the year 1959, India became a member of the International Maritime Organisation (abbreviated as IMO). This organization is responsible for the maritime protection and prevention of pollution to the oceans from sailing ships.

National Maritime Day Awards

An award ceremony is organised on this auspicious day to recognize all the efforts done by the people for the Indian Maritime Sector. The Varuna Award is awarded, which consists of a statue of Lord Varuna and a scroll is also attached with it that honours their long and extraordinary contribution in each voyage. 

Recently in the News – 58th Celebration of Indian Maritime Day

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In April we celebrated the 58th Maritime Day. The theme for the 2021 celebration was ‘Sustainable Shipping beyond Covid-19’. The occasion was celebrated to encourage and support the merchant shipping industry of India. We know the shipping industry contributes a lot to our economy, hence their contribution is always honoured. 

The trade data says, 90% of India’s international trade is done by the Indian shipping industry in terms of volume, while in terms of value, 77% is carried via the sea.

What are the Other Initiatives taken?

Other Initiatives taken by the Ocean Industry of India are as follows: 

• Sagarmala Initiative:

The Sagarmala Programme was finally approved by the Union Cabinet in the year 2015. This initiative aims at the holistic port infrastructure with the development coming along. The 7,516-km long coastline is uplifted by modernisation, mechanisation and through the growth of computerisation.

• Project Unnati:

Next in the year 2014, the shipping ministry launched a project called Project Unnati in which the efficiency of shipping equipment was minutely studied and every activity was scrutinised to identify the pitfalls or any mistakes.

• Blue Economy Policy:

This policy highlights the economy as the ten crore folds for the national growth. This policy was initiated to mark and focus on several key sectors to achieve the holistic growth of India’s economy.

International Maritime Organization (abbreviated as IMO)

India is a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). IMO is a specialized unit of the country UN. IMO is a global standard-setting authority that takes up the responsibility to improvise the safety and security of the international shipping community all over the world. 

Maritime India Vision for the Year 2030

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Maritime Vision for the year 2030 is a ten-year blueprint that was released by the Prime Minister of India at the Maritime India Summit in the year 2021.

What are the Initiatives taken in this Vision? 

This vision will take into power the Sagarmala initiative which will aim to boost the waterways. 

1. It will provide more activities to the Indian economy by focusing more on cruise tourism in India.  

2. Other policies and development projects which are initiated are mentioned below:

• The Maritime Development Fund:

A sum of Rs. The 25,000-crore fund is contributed here. This fund attempts to cover the low cost, long-tenure of financing the sector with the Centre contributing approximate Rs. 2,500 crores over the next seven years.

• Port Regulatory Authority:

There will be an organization of pan-India port authority under the new Indian Ports Act (this will replace the backdated Indian Ports Act of the year 1908). This enables the oversight across major and non-major ports, which will enhance the institutional coverage for ports and will provide the structured growth of the ports sector in order to boost investor confidence.

• Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid Project:

This project aims to develop the regional connectivity between India and these countries - Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan.

• Riverine Development Fund:

This fund will cover all the low cost, long-term financing of the inland vessels which will support the Riverine Development Fund (abbreviated as RDF). This fund will further cover the tonnage tax scheme (this tax is applicable to all the ocean-going ships) and the vessel’s expenses to enhance the availability of these vessels on time.

• Charging rational port charges:

This was initiated to bring more transparency to the system. It will make the industry more competitive, by doing away with all the hidden charges that are levied by the ship liners which bring in more transparency.

• Promoting the Water Transport:

This will discharge the urban transport system from congestion. It will create an alternative mode of transport.   

Did you Know?

• In 2021, the 56th edition of National Maritime Day is celebrated. 

• The Directorate General of Shipping reads data that says that India has 43 shipping companies that own 1,401 ships also with 12.69 million gross tonnes. 

• Last year, the Central Committee of the National Maritime instituted the highest award which recognizes the persons for their sustained and outstanding contributions. This award is called the 'Varuna Award'.

• This award-giving ceremony is held in Mumbai.

• The Scindia Steam navigation company consists of four Gujarati businessmen - Walchand Hirachand, Narottam Morarjee, Kilachand Devchand and Lallubhai Samaldas.

• Walchand Hirachand was the Chairman of Scindia Steam Navigation. He was also the first president of the Indian National Shipowners Association (abbreviated as INSA).