Major world trade is carried through oceans and waterways. Maritime Sector plays a vital role in the economic development of any maritime country. India comprises a significant size maritime sector with 13 major and 175+ non major ports situated alongside 7500 km long coastline and a vast network of navigable waterways. Maritime Sector in India comprises of Ports, Inland Waterways, Shipping, Logistics, Ship Building, Ship Repairing, Shipping Breaking, Marine Tourism, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Renewable Ocean Energy, Offshore hydrocarbons and Seabed Mineral, Marine Biotechnology, etc. Maritime Economy, which is also referred to as Blue Economy, includes all the economic aspects linked to sea and waterways.
Maritime Economy aspires to lead countries towards sustainable and inclusive growth and provide ample employment opportunities through maritime economic activities. It includes international shipping, coastal shipping, sustainable harnessing of ocean resources; developing appropriate port infrastructure; effective and optimum utilization of marine resources; marine aquaculture, deep sea/long line fishing and biotechnology; applying advanced technology in all the facets of maritime, etc. Given the potential to support and grow small and medium sized manufacturing businesses, the shipbuilding industry in India has a natural advantage by virtue of its lower cost of labor and availability of skills.
Centre for Maritime Economy at Gujarat Maritime University is a pioneering initiative that marks a significant milestone in maritime education in India. This unique centre will carry out research and extension activities in the broad domain of blue economy including but not limited to aspects of shipping, ports and logistics.
Strengthening the maritime economy of India is a key part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the centre would also contribute to other national missions through the wealth of knowledge generated and disseminated by it. Hence establishment of the centre would be appropriately aligned with the UGC guidelines wherein it is envisaged that Research promotion activities should be aligned with the mandates of various National Missions, SDGs leading to a Self-Reliant India.
The Centre for Maritime Economy is distinguished by its holistic approach ensuring a balanced integration of theoretical knowledge and practical application.
The centre will support the university’s endeavour to provide quality education by giving real life perspective to its MBA students. This centre will develop connections with leaders from trade, industry, academics and will provide backing to the curriculum and help students and faculty members get better understanding of challenges, issues and trends in economy and industry in real time. To bridge the gap between academia and industry, the Centre for Maritime Economy actively involves our extensive Corporate and Alumni Network. This collaboration ensures that our students are exposed to real-world challenges and industry best practices. The Centre offers numerous opportunities for students to engage with industry professionals through: Executive Guest Lectures: Prominent figures from the maritime sector share their insights and experiences, offering students invaluable perspectives on current trends and future directions. Seminars and Workshops: These interactive sessions allow students to delve deeper into specific topics, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development. Company Visits: Organised visits to leading maritime companies and ports provide students with first hand exposure to industry operations and practices.
The Centre envisages to provide a platform for interaction, dialogue and collaboration among Educational/Research Institutions, Industry and Government. The Centre envisages to actively contribute to the maritime economy of the country by conducting breakthrough and application research and capacity building to help economy, businesses, governments and educational institutions.
The activities of the “Centre for Maritime Economy”, would be monitored by the Parton and Head of the Centre.
| Designation | Name | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Patron | Prof. Dr. S. Shanthakumar | Provost, Gujarat Maritime University Read Profile |
| Head of the Centre | Dr. Dharmesh S. Raval | Director (I/C) – School of Maritime Management Read Profile |
| Centre Member | 1) Dr. Chirag Patel | Assistant Professor – School of Maritime Management Read Profile |
| Centre Member | 2) Dr. Mayuri Neve | Asst. Professor, School of Maritime Management Read Profile |
| Advisory Board Members | – | Selected senior industry practitioners, maritime experts, researchers and others will be invited on board. |
| Volunteers | – | Current and past students of GMU are contributing as volunteers. |
Email: [email protected]
Head, Centre for Maritime Economy,
Gujarat Maritime University,
At GNLU Campus,
Attalika Avenue Knowledge Corridor,
Koba, Gandhinagar
Gujarat – 382426