On the occasion of the inauguration of 48th National Maritime Week, the Union Minister of Shipping Mr GK Vasan pinned the first Merchant Navy Flag on the wearing apparel of prime minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh.
The week long celebrations will be held in all the major ports, Mercantile Marine Departments, marine related educational institutes and other fraternity and will culminate with the main function on April 5th 2011 at Mumbai. The National Maritime Day is celebrated every year on April 5th. National maritime celebrations are organized to commemorate the voyage of the first Indian Ship SS Loyalty from Mumbai to London on April 5th 1919. The theme for this year is Indian Coast Line-A New Opportunity.
The focus of the celebrations has been to highlight the role and promote development of the Shipping Industry in all its aspects, by dissemination of information through publications, meetings, seminars, symposia, workshops, exhibitions and competitions, etc.
The principal objective of celebrating the Day is to enable the public to know more intimately about the activities of the Indian Shipping Industry and the important role it plays in the economy of the country. The need for shipping industry and the requirement of seafarers are highlighted in various ways on this occasion. Shipping has been rightly called as 'Silent Service' as most of the shipping activity takes place away from the land and along with country's sea borders, ie at the ports. In the vast sub continent of India, the public at large has very limited opportunities to observe for themselves the yeoman service rendered by the Indian Shipping industry for the promotion of the economic well being of the country.
The observance of the National Maritime Day has, therefore served a long felt need in bringing the people closer to the shipping industry and enabling them to participate in the celebrations; so that they can share the sense of pride and achievement at the rapid strides made by the Indian Shipping during the last five decades since the attainment of independence.
