Capt. Anish Joseph, Deputy Nautical Adviser and Senior Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), participated in the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA)–organised Middle East and India Regional Meeting held in Mumbai on 3 February 2026.
The regional meeting brought together key stakeholders from the offshore and marine construction industry for wide-ranging discussions on critical industry themes. Key focus areas included fuel consumption monitoring and performance optimisation, promotion of gender diversity within the maritime sector, and diving training practices in the Indian Navy, reflecting the evolving operational, social, and capability priorities of the industry.
During the event, Capt. Anish Joseph delivered a detailed presentation on “Offshore Oil and Gas Development and Safety in India”, emphasising the importance of establishing a coherent and robust offshore safety framework aligned with international best practices. He underscored the need for a structured, risk-based regulatory regime to support the sustainable growth of India’s offshore oil and gas sector.
Capt. Joseph highlighted the significance of continued engagement and collaboration between IMCA and the Directorate General of Shipping, particularly in the areas of technical guidance, safety intelligence sharing, and offshore incident data exchange. Such collaboration, he noted, would play a crucial role in strengthening offshore safety governance and enhancing industry compliance.
The presentation also outlined the Directorate General of Shipping’s ongoing initiatives to engage a specialised consultancy firm to develop comprehensive safety, training, and competency standards for India’s offshore industry. These initiatives aim to enhance operational safety, build workforce capability, and ensure regulatory coherence in line with globally accepted standards.
The IMCA Middle East and India Regional Meeting served as an important platform for dialogue between regulators, industry leaders, and technical experts, reinforcing India’s commitment to advancing offshore safety, inclusivity, and operational excellence.