MSC to set up seafarer training academy in Mumbai as India eyes global demand for skilled seafarers

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has agreed to set up a major seafarer training academy in Mumbai, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said during his visit to Japan, as he called for similar partnerships with Japanese shipping companies and training institutes.

Goyal pointed to India’s nearly 250,000 seafarers currently serving on ships worldwide, describing them as “hardworking,” “skilled” and “talented.” He said MSC alone had indicated capacity to absorb workers at a scale reflecting massive global demand for Indian seafarers, and called for similar collaborations with Japanese shipping companies and training institutes to build on this momentum.

Goyal said such collaborations spanning semiconductors, human resources, food processing and shipping represented significant opportunities for Japanese companies to participate in India’s growth story in the years ahead.

The announcement comes as India continues to expand its maritime skill development ecosystem. The Directorate General of Shipping has approved 171 Maritime Training Institutes across the country, with employment opportunities for seafarers on Indian and foreign ships tied to training, assessment and certification in line with the International Maritime Organization’s STCW Convention. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, candidates are also being trained in various logistics and maritime-related job roles as part of the government’s broader push to prepare India’s workforce for opportunities in the sector.