Fleet Management Limited and the International Maritime Institute (IMI) participated in India Maritime Week and the Maritime SheEo Conference to promote collective action towards building a diverse and future-ready maritime workforce.
Commitment to Inclusion and Talent Development
India aims to contribute 20 percent of the global seafaring workforce by 2030, with a national focus on increasing female representation in technical maritime roles to 12 percent. This ambition is supported by a sevenfold growth in Indian women seafarers between 2015 and 2024.
As the Diversity Sponsor of the Maritime SheEo Conference, Fleet Management leads by example. The organisation has championed gender inclusion through mentorship, leadership dialogue and workshop sessions at the conference. Highlights included a Fleet sponsored discussion zone, hands on mentorship for over 50 cadets and a TEDx style talk by Second Engineer Sarmistha Roy, inspiring women to pursue maritime careers with confidence.
Inclusion is embedded in Fleet’s Encompass Strategy, overseen by a DEI Steering Committee and a Women’s Network. Practical enablers include gender aware shipboard training, dedicated counsellors, peer support groups, women specific overalls/PPE kits and partnerships with WISTA and the All Aboard Alliance.
In 2024, Fleet Management promoted its first two women Masters, Captain Deepthi Singh and Captain Neelam Pandey, with the former felicitated by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports and Shipping, Government of India, at a recent ministerial event.
IMI complements these efforts with a 50 percent tuition scholarship for women cadets, as well as a robust training ecosystem that supports classroom to commission pathways.
Maritime SheEO: Day One Highlights
IMI cadets made a strong impression on Day One of Indian Maritime Week, with their team reaching the semi-finals in a competitive student debate tournament. They also took part in a mentorship zone, engaging with experienced professionals from across the maritime industry.
Fleet representatives, including Ms Sarmistha Roy and Ms Shilpa Bali, mentored more than 50 cadets, addressing questions that ranged from harassment reporting to mental health, career progression and mobility. Ms Roy is a second Engineer, and Ms Bali is a Maritime trainer with Fleet Management Training Institute, as well as being a former seafarer herself. Among those present were IMI, and Fleet Management’s cadets.
In their discussions, our women representatives emphasised Fleet’s zero tolerance policy on discrimination, confidential reporting channels and access to dedicated counsellors. They learned about inclusive facilities, and flexible career paths across ship types and shore roles, supported by structured upskilling and mentorship.
In a session called ‘SheEo Stories’, Ms Roy took to the stage to deliver a TEDx style presentation on her career journey. She spotlighted the stigma and fears she needed to overcome, highlights from her journey with Fleet Management, and her hopes to see more women seafarers taking to the sea. Ms. Roy ended with a message of encouragement for young seafarers and emphasised the importance of mastering fundamentals and continuous learning.
Maritime SheEO: Day Two Dialogues
Captain Somasundar Nair, Executive Director of Fleet Personnel Department (FPD), participated in a leadership panel to highlight industry initiatives to improve safety and representation for women at sea. He discussed merit-based captain promotions, building a future ready talent pipeline and opening leadership pathways for women. He also paid tribute to women leaders across Fleet’s Newbuilding and corporate functions.
Fleet Management officers and IMI cadets joined a session led by The Honourable Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy. The discussion focused on gender balance, safety and talent retention.
The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognising institutions and organisations forging the way in increasing inclusion and diversity in the maritime sector. IMI was presented the Diversified Maritime Training Institute Award, reflecting its scholarship support, advanced training infrastructure and strong placement outcomes.
Strengthening Partnerships at India Maritime Week 2025
India Maritime Week brought together leading voices in shipping and education, with the International Maritime Institute (IMI) and Fleet Management Limited in strong attendence. The IMI exhibition booth attracted a vibrant mix of students and industry professionals eager to explore career pathways and maritime innovation. Showcasing state-of-the-art training facilities and the promise of rewarding careers in the merchant navy, the exhibit generated significant interest, particularly among female students inspired by opportunities to build successful futures at sea.
“India Maritime Week was opportunity to showcase The Caravel Group’s investments in maritime talent development, innovation and excellence to support the development of the industry – both now and for the future,”
said Captain Nair.
As the industry evolves, Fleet remains steadfast in commitment to building a diverse, future ready maritime workforce through mentorship, innovation and strategic partnerships.
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