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Recently, Mumbai hosted a key session by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), focusing on the Gulf Crisis and its impact on global maritime trade. Senior officials and industry stakeholders, including Shri Vijay Kumar of MoPSW, discussed operational strategies, safety for Indian seafarers, and strengthening domestic maritime capabilities in response to geopolitical challenges.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has launched the Yacht Unlimited Certificate of Competency (CoC) for Deck Officers, allowing them to serve as Chief Mate or Master on yachts over 3,000 gross tonnage. This initiative streamlines career advancement while ensuring adherence to international maritime standards.
Hapag-Lloyd has launched the Shefarer initiative, in collaboration with Jebsen PTC, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, and Marlow Navigation, to enhance gender diversity in maritime careers. The program aims to inspire women to join the sector, ensuring at least 20% of future cadet intakes are female, while also improving onboard facilities for women.
The Directorate General of Shipping has launched a 24×7 Grievance Redressal Mechanism to support India’s maritime community. This initiative offers seafarers and their families access to assistance via toll-free helplines, WhatsApp, and email, ensuring swift responses to operational and emergency concerns, reinforcing the commitment to their welfare.
Professor Momoko Kitada received the International Maritime Organization’s Gender Equality Award on May 18, 2026, during a ceremony in London. In her acceptance speech, she highlighted education’s crucial role in women’s economic stability and advocated for active engagement in gender equality. Her work promotes diversity and inclusion in maritime education.
The Zero Emissions Ship Technology Association (ZESTA) has launched the Global Liquid Hydrogen Alliance, promoting pure green hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for maritime shipping. Following the MEPC 84 meeting, the initiative aims to bridge the deployment gap through enhanced technical evidence and a verifiable framework for liquid hydrogen technology.
This year’s IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, on May 18, focuses on achieving gender equality in the maritime industry. The theme, “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence,” highlights the need for actionable steps to improve the lives of women, including seafarers and shore-based professionals.
The Indian government has appointed SBI Ventures as the fund manager for the ₹20,000-crore Maritime Investment Fund (MIF). This initiative aims to attract capital for the maritime sector. SBI Ventures, managing around ₹30,000 crores in assets, will oversee investments, enhancing funding opportunities within the industry significantly.
The Indian Embassy in Spain confirmed the evacuation of two Indian crew members from the MV Hondius amid a hantavirus outbreak. Both are asymptomatic and in good health, now quarantined in the Netherlands. The ship, previously anchored in the Canary Islands, carried around 150 individuals during the incident.
A deceased Dutch ornithologist has been identified as the first case in a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius. The ship has docked in Tenerife, allowing passengers to disembark for medical evaluation. WHO Director-General Tedros reassured the public about the outbreak, emphasizing no imminent risk of a new pandemic.
Countries are mobilizing to evacuate citizens from the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which is anchoring near Tenerife due to a hantavirus outbreak. While three of eight affected individuals have died, the World Health Organization deems the health risk low and urges monitoring for 42 days post-exposure. Evacuations will prioritize safety.
The primary concern for the 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz is not food or water, but fear of missile strikes. This constant threat, coupled with isolation and anxiety, has severely impacted their mental health. Captains report living under psychological strain, as feelings of helplessness pervade their days.
Approximately 1,500 ships and 20,000 crew members are stranded in the Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global shipping. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting the blockade’s severe implications for international trade and energy security.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, reported that 11 Indian ships have successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz, while 13 remain in the Persian Gulf. He addressed concerns about Iranian vessels using alternative routes and emphasized ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe passage of remaining ships.
The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) has launched a comprehensive mapping of crew welfare and safety data to better understand maritime risks linked to human factors. Funded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the initiative reveals fragmented data usage, misclassification of fatigue as human error, and a lack of shared Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
