Capt. Somesh Batra, a Master Mariner and distinguished business leader who holds multiple key leadership roles, was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Auditorium of the Shipping Corporation of India on 18th July 2025.  As a former ship Captain with Shipping Corporation of India, he has commanded a wide range of vessels, including modern container vessels. Capt. Batra’s journey in the maritime industry spans decades of leadership, innovation, and service. 

This Lifetime Achievement Award is initiated by Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping (NMIS), an autonomous body registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act. It is a premier maritime education institution established in 1969.  NIMS is the first institute in India to offer maritime training in the Commercial Sector.  The award was presented to Capt. Somesh Batra by Shri Sameer Kumar Khare - IAS, Chairman of the National Maritime Board, during the 45th Convocation & Prize Distribution Ceremony held at the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd., Mumbai.  It was graced by Capt. Rahul Bhargava, Chairman of NMIS, and Dr. Surjit Dhingra, Director of NMIS.

Capt. Batra is a Postgraduate in Shipping Management from Plymouth, UK.  Currently, he serves as the Chairman of several leading companies, namely M/s. Yang Ming India Pvt. Ltd.(YMI), M/s. Marine Container Services (I) Pvt. Ltd.(MCS), M/s. Bay Container Terminal Pvt. Ltd. (BCT), M/s. Tristar Containers Ltd. 

He is the Founder Director of Seahorse Group of Companies.  He is the Vice Chairman of the World Trade Centre, Mumbai and the Chairman of World Trade Centre, Bhubaneswar.  He also serves as a member of the Board of World Trade Centre, Goa and Jaipur. His transition from sea to shore saw him take on pivotal roles in shipping and logistics, culminating in his leadership at Yang Ming Line (India) and Seahorse Group, which he co-founded with Capt. Avinash Batra, Director - Yang Ming Line (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Under his visionary leadership, Seahorse Group Agencies, Yang Ming Line (India) Pvt. Ltd., Marine Container Services (India) Pvt. Ltd., and Bay Container (India) Pvt. Ltd. have emerged as pillars of India’s maritime logistics ecosystem.

Capt. Batra has been instrumental in shaping industry standards and mentoring future maritime professionals. His philanthropic spirit is equally commendable. He was honoured with a Certificate of Recognition as a 'Corona Warrior' by the Governor of Maharashtra (India), H.E. Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, for his outstanding service during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

In addition to his corporate and philanthropic achievements, Capt. Batra serves as the Honorary Consul of Portugal of Maharashtra, fostering diplomatic, cultural, and economic ties between India and Portugal. His exemplary service in this role was recognised with the Best Consul of the Year 2025 award by the Honorary Consular Corps Diplomatique (HCCD) – India, a prestigious accolade that highlights his commitment to international cooperation and goodwill.

Capt. Batra accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award with the greatest pleasure, delight and humility. He began his speech with a humorous note, saying such honours are given to those who are retired and thinking about heading off to the Himalayas; however in his case, he is neither tired nor retired. He thanked NMIS and the organisers for giving him this opportunity and honouring him with this prestigious award. He expressed his gratitude to his family, staff and friends and thanked them for their unwavering support. He congratulated all those students who received certificates and were bestowed with the fellowship award and urged them to think boldly, plan wisely and anticipate the future as their future begins now. He advised them to pursue excellence in all that they do and reminded them that optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

As we celebrate this well-deserved honour, we extend our Heartiest congratulations to Capt. Somesh Batra.  His visionary leadership, philanthropic endeavours, and unwavering commitment to the maritime industry continue to inspire generations.