DRAVIDAM, Bangalore, in collaboration with curator Jaya Mani, presents “Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route,” featuring artists Gunjan Jain and Suresh Muthukulam. This exhibition explores historical maritime connections between South India and Southeast Asia, highlighting the cultural exchanges influenced by the Pallava dynasty and the Chola Empire from the 3rd to 15th century CE.
The Directorate General Shipping has introduced the Standard Operating Process (SOP) for the security of mechanized sailing ships, also known as Dhows, in 2025. This SOP includes new measures such as Isro-NotAlarms transmitters and AIS class transponders to enhance tracking and surveillance. The aim is to uphold maritime traditions while addressing modern security challenges.
The 12 major ports owned by the Indian government experienced a 4.34% increase in cargo handling in the fiscal year 2024-2025, totaling 854.858 million tonnes. Strong performances in containers, finished fertiliser, and miscellaneous cargo drove this growth, with Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority leading in container volumes.
Indian maritime veteran Vijay D Chafekar has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre in Singapore. With 37 years of experience, he aims to continue efforts in curbing piracy and sea robbery incidents in Asia through effective information sharing.
Shivdev, a 58-year-old Indian captain and retired Navy officer, has gone missing after slipping into the Mediterranean Sea off Egypt. The incident occurred on February 15 while he was aboard the Vessel Onyx. His family is urgently seeking assistance from authorities, as search efforts have yielded no results.
The firefight on the Maersk Frankfurt continues into its second day, with the Indian Coast Guard providing assistance. The containership is stopped south of Karwar, India, with one seafarer missing. Despite efforts, the fire has not spread. Additional resources have been deployed to control the blaze, highlighting the dangers of container fires in the industry.
More than two months after detaining a Vietnamese-owned bulker and its crew in one of India’s largest cocaine seizures, a court has set terms for the release of the ship. The Debi (37,196 dwt) has been held along with its crew of 21 Vietnamese citizens approximately three miles off Paradip Port in northeast India since early December when the drugs were discovered despite reports of depression and frustration among the crew. The court has ordered the ship owner to post a $12 million bond and provide a $1.2 million bank guarantee before the vessel is released. Earlier reports were that the crew was living aboard the ship waiting for the court. The Indian customs authority had initially detained the crew for interviews after they discovered 22 kg of cocaine with a street value of $26 million hidden aboard the bulker. The media had written that the Indian authorities confiscated the crew’s cellphones and computers leaving them virtually isolated and unable to contact family at home in Vietnam. The vessel’s third engineer jumped into the harbor and was taken to a hospital with injuries to his hand. Media reports called it a possible suicide attempt. The initial investigation indicated that the cocaine was intercepted with India not the intended destination. The authorities believed it was going to be removed from the ship only when it reached Europe.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has formed a task force to establish the Indian Maritime Centre, aiming to enhance the global reputation of the Indian maritime sector. The task force will provide policy direction and is supported by the Indian Ports Association. The IMC will be a world-class facility.
