The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), Madras Branch, commemorated its 30th Anniversary Celebrations & Awards Night on Friday, 23 January 2026, at Hotel Turyaa, OMR, Chennai, bringing together maritime professionals, policymakers, academicians, and students from across the sector. The day-long event was organised around the theme “Role of the Maritime Industry in a Circular Economy.”
The celebrations commenced with a Technical Session, graced by Rear Admiral Satish Shenai, NM, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Area (FOTNA), as the Guest of Honour. The session featured two panel discussions addressing sustainability, decarbonisation, and the evolving competencies required in the maritime industry.
The first panel discussion, “Decarbonising at Sea: Onboard Carbon Capture and the Maritime Path to SDG 14,” was moderated by Capt. K. G. Ramakrishnan, FICS, Past Chairman, ICS Madras Branch. Speakers Dr. Ravi Raj Atrey, Country Lead – Ocean Centres India, UN Global Compact Network India, and Mr. Manikandan S., Chair, Blue Economy Expert Committee, Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SICCI), explored emerging technologies, regulatory frameworks, and industry pathways for sustainable ocean practices.
The second panel discussion, “Beyond Traditional Training: Preparing Maritime Professionals for a Net-Zero, Digitised Future,” was moderated by Capt. John Prasad Menezes, FICS, Past Chairman, ICS Madras Branch. The panel comprised Capt. Suresh Bhardwaj, Resident Director & Principal, MASSA Maritime Academy; Capt. Sundeep Inkurthy, Founder & CEO, Smartseas.AI; and Mr. Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, Head of Product Management, FrontM Ltd (UK). Discussions focused on digital transformation, future-oriented maritime education, and the skillsets required for a decarbonising shipping industry.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Arathi Narayanan, FICS, Chairperson, ICS Madras Branch, said the 30-year journey of the Branch reflects the Institute’s sustained commitment to education, professional development, and knowledge sharing within the maritime community.
The Anniversary Celebrations & Awards Night was graced by Dr. Malini V. Shankar, IAS (Retd.), Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University, as the Chief Guest. The evening recognised academic excellence, professional milestones, and long-standing contributions to the growth of the ICS Madras Branch.
The Presidential Address was delivered by Mr. Punit Oza, FICS, Global President, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, who shared global perspectives on shipping markets, innovation, and maritime leadership.
The event was led by the Office Bearers of the ICS Madras Branch:
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Ms. Arathi Narayanan, FICS – Chairperson
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Capt. L. K. Lalit Kumar, FICS – Vice Chairman
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Mr. Nilesh Kumar Sinha, MICS – Honorary Secretary
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Mr. Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, MICS – Honorary Treasurer
Student awards, membership presentations, and the felicitation of past chairpersons and contributors were key highlights of the evening. The celebrations concluded with networking and dinner, reinforcing the Institute’s emphasis on professional excellence, collaboration, and future-ready maritime leadership.
