The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) successfully hosted a high-level pre-event to the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 titled “AI in Ports and Maritime Operations: Practice, Policy and Future”, bringing together senior policymakers, port authorities, technology leaders, and academic experts to deliberate on the role of artificial intelligence in India’s maritime ecosystem.
Aligned with the national vision for technology-led growth articulated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the event focused on translating AI concepts into real-world port operations while addressing policy and governance dimensions.
In his virtual opening address, Shri Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, highlighted the strategic importance of AI in enhancing efficiency, safety, and global competitiveness of Indian ports. He reiterated that the maritime sector remains a key pillar in India’s growth trajectory, a priority consistently emphasised by Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, particularly in advancing innovation-driven and sustainable port infrastructure.
The programme was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the lamp by Shri Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority. Welcoming the gathering, he stressed the need to move beyond conceptual discussions towards deployment-led innovation grounded in live port operations. The inauguration was joined by Dr P. Raveendran, IRTS, Principal Advisor, VOCPA; Shri Sandeep Kumar, IRSSE, Executive Director, RailTel (IoT); Shri P. Kavin Maharaj, IOFS, Chief Vigilance Officer, VOC Port; Shri Probal Mitra, Financial Adviser and Chief Accounts Officer, VOCPA; and Dr Manish Tiwari, Director, Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP).
A defining highlight of the pre-event was the live demonstration of operational AI use cases currently deployed at VOC Port, offering participants first-hand insight into applied AI within an active port environment. The session on AI in Policy and Practice featured presentations by the VOC Port Authority, Mr Ankush Sabharwal, CEO, CoRover AI; Shri Sandeep Kumar, Executive Director, RailTel; representatives from Central Electronics Limited; and Mr Varun, Partner, Grant Thornton. Discussions covered AI-enabled decision support systems, IoT-driven monitoring, conversational AI, security technologies, integration with legacy systems, measurable outcomes, and governance frameworks for AI-assisted decision-making.
The session on the Future of Maritime Tech Infrastructure brought together Dr P. Raveendran, Mr Aditya Khakse (Hyperloop), Mr Ashwin Padmanabha (DBGT), Mr Bhaskar Choudhuri (PwC India), and Mr Dhaval Joshi (Sahana Systems). Panelists examined emerging technologies such as Digital Twins, AI-powered sensors, blockchain-enabled systems, automated berth optimisation, and the regulatory choices shaping next-generation ports.
The concluding panel on Human–AI Synergy, moderated by Dr Manish Tiwari, featured Dr Nandakrishnan S L (Indian Maritime University), Dr Kumaran Raju (IIT Madras), Mr Prajith Nair (Docker Vision), and Mr Gaurav Saxena (PwC India). The discussion focused on workforce preparedness, reskilling, and the critical role of human oversight in ensuring safety, data integrity, and operational resilience.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks, reaffirming VOC Port Authority’s commitment to serving as a national testbed for responsible, scalable, and human-centric AI adoption in maritime operations. Building on this momentum, VOC Port Authority will host a key panel titled “AI-Powered Ports: Reimagining Efficiency and Operations” at the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 on 17 February at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The deliberations from the pre-event are expected to inform wider national discussions at the Summit, reinforcing India’s vision for smart, secure, and future-ready port infrastructure.
