Chennai:
Shipping Ministry is in discussion with the International
Maritime Organisation to set up a regional branch of World Maritime University (WMU)
in India, according to Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan.
Speaking during the fourth University Day celebrations of
the Indian Maritime University, Vasan said he discussed the possibility of
establishing the regional branch of WMU when secretary general of International
Maritime Organisation Koji Sekimizu called on him last month.
“During the discussion we also took up with him the need
for closer cooperation between Indian Maritime University and WMU at Malmo,
Sweden and International Maritime Legal Institute, Malta. We would be following
up all these initiatives to bring world class maritime education to our
country,” the minister said.
The minister said the Union government has sanctioned an
amount of Rs 282.25 crore Indian Maritime University’s Chennai headquarters and
its other campuses. “Of this amount, Rs 272.3 crore has been set apart for
infrastructure development and Rs 6.92 crore for recurring expenditure,” he
added.
He also said the construction Indian Maritime University
building at Semmanchery off Old Mahabalipuram Road in Chennai is making steady
progress. It is likely the building will be inaugurated on January 1, 2013.
Vasan, who launched the new logo as well as redesigned
IMU website, said the expected total strength of students studying regular
courses at IMU is likely to go up substantially by 2018-19 and the ministry is
planning to maintain a healthy student-teacher ratio.
He also said the ministry of shipping has also formulated
the Maritime Agenda 2020 to give a strategic roadmap for the sector. “This
vision document aims to increase the share of Indian seafarers in the world
market from 7 per cent to 9 per cent by 2015.
The minister also launched the new logo and redesigned
IMU website during the occasion. IMU chancellor Dr V Krishnamoorthy, IMU vice
chancellor Prof G Raghuram and first vice-chancellor IMU and campus director,
Chennai Dr P Vijayan were present on the occasion
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