MUMBAI : The Directorate General of Shipping of India celebrated its 70th Foundation Day on 3rd September, 2019. 

Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya launch the celebrations at an event in Mumbai.

The Directorate General of Shipping, India deals with implementation of shipping policy and legislation so as to ensure the safety of life and ships at sea, prevention of marine pollution, promotion of maritime education and training in co-ordination with the International Maritime Organization.

The special occasion will be dedicated to reflecting on the journey and contributions of the Directorate to the shipping sector in India since its inception in 1949 to the present day, and to chart out its future course towards boosting  safe, secure and pollution free shipping.

The Directorate has taken several initiatives in the past to ease the working of the Shipping industry. 

These include revamping of old Acts, easing of norms for Coastal Shipping, quality training and employment of seafarers and complete revamp of e-Governance modules.

There have been reforms in Training and Seafarer’s welfare systems, introduction of  e- migrant and ISPL module in e-governance system ensuring maritime administration to be in the loop. The steps taken in the recent years have had significant impact on seafarers' employment whose numbers have gone up substantially touching a figure of 2,08,000.

The Ship registration in India has gone up by around 200 in the last 4 years and coastal traffic is expected to rise significantly. These initiatives are a part of the much larger ‘Sagarmala Project’ envisaged by the Government.