The Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) showcased its extensive technical expertise and industry engagement at INMARCO 2026, held in Mumbai from October 27 to 29, with senior professionals participating as speakers, panellists, moderators and technical paper presenters across several key sessions.
Held under the theme “Maritime Landscape 2030 – Opportunities and Challenges”, the three-day conference brought together stakeholders from the maritime industry, government, academia and the technology ecosystem to deliberate on emerging trends and the future direction of the sector.
IRS’s participation spanned critical areas including shipbuilding, ship design, maritime safety, alternative fuels, autonomous vessels, digitalisation, decarbonisation, ports and maritime resilience. Mr. Arun Sharma, Chairman of the Advisory Board of INMARCO 2026, provided strategic guidance to the conference, strengthening its role as a platform for dialogue on India’s maritime ambitions.
A major development during the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IRS and Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI) to strengthen cooperation in shipbuilding. The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between the two organisations and reinforces IRS’s engagement with India’s expanding domestic shipbuilding ecosystem.
The conference also witnessed the release of three significant IRS publications. The report “Five Decades of Building Maritime India – Indian Register of Shipping: Contribution, Capability and Global Reach” documents the organisation’s journey and its contribution to India’s maritime development, covering maritime safety, shipbuilding, defence, technology, decarbonisation and skill development.
IRS also unveiled “The Green Odyssey”, a publication examining the maritime industry’s transition towards a lower-carbon future, with insights into alternative fuels, energy efficiency and emerging technologies. The latest edition of “Touch of Class”, the organisation’s corporate magazine, was also released, offering insights into IRS’s activities, technical capabilities and engagement with the maritime community.
Speaking at the event, Mr. P K Mishra, Managing Director, IRS, said, “INMARCO provides an important platform for the Indian maritime industry to discuss not only where the industry is today, but where it needs to be in 2030 and beyond. IRS’s extensive participation reflects our commitment to bringing technical knowledge, practical experience and a forward-looking perspective to these conversations.”
IRS professionals contributed to discussions on technological advancements in ship design, autonomous ships, digitalisation, nuclear and hydrogen-based fuels, maritime strategy, ship decarbonisation, safety and risk mitigation, the future of seafarers and shore connection systems.
The organisation also presented several technical papers addressing emerging challenges and technological developments in the sector. These included nuclear technology applications in maritime, CFD-driven assessment of wind-assisted propulsion systems, root-cause identification and risk mitigation in maritime safety, seafarers’ attitudes towards working on nuclear-fuelled vessels, and shore connection systems on ships.
Through its technical contributions, industry collaboration and knowledge publications, IRS’s participation at INMARCO 2026 highlighted its continuing role in supporting India’s maritime capabilities and advancing the industry’s transition towards a safer, more sustainable and technologically advanced future.