The Future Skills Maritime (FSM) Global Conference stands as one of India’s largest hybrid maritime conferences and networking forums, where thousands of industry leaders, seafarers, policymakers, and training experts come together over two impactful days to exchange ideas, set industry benchmarks, and discuss the future of maritime training, skill development, and workforce transformation.
FSM began its transformative journey in 2020 as a virtual platform that transcended borders, bringing together delegates from over 40 countries. In 2022, it further expanded its digital presence, fostering international collaboration to build a future-ready maritime workforce. The true milestone came in 2023, when FSM successfully transitioned to a physical and hybrid event in Goa, inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister of Goa. This landmark edition marked the first time the event anchored itself in Goa’s stunning locale, setting a new benchmark for in-person industry engagement.
In 2024, FSM celebrated its 5th anniversary at the beautiful Bogmallo Beach Resort, Goa, as it continued to evolve, enabling industry thought leadership and creating an unrivalled platform for knowledge sharing. The success of FSM is a testimony to its mission of empowering the maritime workforce with the right skills, promoting sustainable practices, and driving excellence in seafaring.
This year, FSM 2026 returns with renewed energy and ambition, hosted at the prestigious Holiday Inn Resort Goa by IHG, located at Mobor Beach, Cavelossim, Goa. Set against the pristine sands of Goa’s coastline, the event promises to be a grand affair where industry pioneers will converge to share insights, explore innovations in crewing, training, and future skills, and deliberate on the evolving maritime ecosystem.
Join us on March 13th & 14th, 2026, as we continue to chart the course toward a sustainable, skilled, and empowered maritime future—all while enjoying the warmth of Goan hospitality in a spectacular coastal setting.
Hon MLA, Benaulim Constituency, Goa
Director General of Shipping 
Executive President & Pro-Chancellor at MIT ADT University, Pune
General Manager (Materials) Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
CEO, Great Eastern Shipping Company 
Chairman FOSMA | MD Bernard Schulte
Chairman MASSA | MD Synergy Global
MD, Maersk Fleet and Procurement India Private Limited
General Secretary, Maritime Union of India (MUI)
Sr. Vice President,
CEO FOSMA, Varuna Awardee
CEO, MASSA
Advisor Seven Islands Shipping | Director, SIMTI
Chairman at Seaspan Crew Management India 
Managing Director, OSM THOME India
Managing Director, Anglo Eastern Ship Management India
Director & COO MMS Maritime India
Senior Vice President at Mintra
General Manager at Seaspan Crew Management India Private Limited
Regional Sales Director APAC at OneOcean
Director, Enmarol Petroleum India Pvt. Ltd.
COO at Fleet Management Limited Mumbai
Global Head of Manning Network & General Manager - Marine Personnel at Wilhelmsen Ship Management
General Manager,
Head of Department, Marine Engineering Training Institute (METI), Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
Managing Director at Dynacom Tankers Management Pvt. Ltd. 
Head - Fleet Personnel Department at The Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd.
Dean Faculty of Maritime Studies (GUN)
Founder & CEO, HIMT College
General Manager at FOSMA
Former Head of Wholesale and Digital Banking HR, Head - DE&I Axis Bank Group
Director - Training, 
VP, Ace Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd.
Corporate Trainer & Career Coach | L&D Consultant
Chief Learning Officer at Transworld Academy; International Chairman of ICS
Managing Director, Elite Mariners 
Fleet Personnel Director | MSC Crewing Services Pvt. Ltd·
Head - Crew Department in JM Baxi Agency
Chief Strategy Officer - Navguide Solutions | Director HIMT
Director (SIMTF) | Advisor (SISL)
General Manager at Maersk FPI, Head of Recruitment, India
Principal of MANET at MIT ADT University
Manager - Outreach, Seven Islands Maritime Training Institute
Managing Director at d'Amico Ship Ishima India Pvt. Ltd.
COO, MASSA
General Manager at Scorpio Marine Management (I) Pvt. Ltd.
Managing Director at Seaarland Ship Management
CTO & Head – T&A at The Great Eastern Shipping Co. Ltd.
Business Development Director at Ocean Technologies Group
Director, Crew Service Centre, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement India.
Sr. Regional Business Dev Manager at MINTRA (APAC)
Founder and MD at BSMC| TIME | TOPIC |
|---|---|
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM |
Networking Lunch and Registrations |
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
Inaugural Session | Keynote | Chief Guest and Guests of Honour Speak |
6:00 PM - 6:20 PM |
B2B Session with Mr A. Vettriselvan and Mr George Abraham, CSL METI |
6:20 PM - 6:45 PM |
Maritime Connect Break | Refresh and Energise |
6:45 PM - 7:00 PMFuture Skills Spotlight Presentation No: 1 |
“Building Competence Beyond Compliance” Capt. Sartaj Gill |
7:05 PM - 7:45 PMPanel Discussion No: 1 |
Seafarer Journey, Culture & Workforce BehaviourTopic: Seafarer 2030: Aspirations, Attitudes & the Future Workforce DNA The industry keeps saying: “Cadets have certificates, but not the mindset.” This panel addresses the real issue. A discussion on how training institutes can shape the intangible qualities that define great professionals; discipline, responsibility, resilience, teamwork, integrity, and emotional maturity. The session explores innovative methods to build character—not just competence. It explores the evolving mindset, motivations, and behavioural dynamics of today’s seafarers examining how culture, generational shifts, career expectations, and workforce behaviours are reshaping the maritime talent landscape. Capt. Arvind Shankar – Moderator Capt. Prerit Misra, Mr. Devesh Gautam, Anna Ruszczyńska, Mrs. Vaijayanti Naik, Ms. Namrata Shiv Patil |
7:50 PM - 8:00 PMFuture Skills Spotlight Presentation No: 2 |
“Learning Capabilities: A Walk on the Islands” Mr. Nishant Vaidya |
8:00 PM |
Closing Remarks and End of Day 1Unwind and savour a memorable evening with your family and friends at South Goa’s stunning beachfront. For a truly local Goan experience, we highly recommend The Fisherman’s Wharf, located just 100 metres from the Holiday Inn. |
| TIME | TOPIC |
|---|---|
07:30 AM - 8: 30 AM |
FSM Sunrise Beach ExperienceStep into the morning glow as all resident delegates walk together to the exclusive Holiday Inn private beach. Expect vibrant team challenges, fun coastal games, and rejuvenating water activities that set an upbeat tone for the day’s sessions. Bring your energy and your beach wear, prepare to get wet |
08:30 AM - 10:00 AM |
Breakfast & Transition to the Morning Plenary |
10:00 AM |
Assemble at the Hotel Ballroom |
10:30 AM - 10:45 AMFuture Skills Spotlight Presentation No: 3 |
“Fuel Performance Optimisation: Practical Strategies for Efficiency, Reliability & Cleaner Operations” Ms. Ritu Chaudhri |
10:50 AM - 11:35 AMPanel Discussion No: 2 |
Operations & Safety Concerns While Using Alternate FuelsTopic: This is a focused panel discussion on the operational, technical, and safety challenges emerging from the adoption of alternate fuels such as methanol, LNG, ammonia, and future energy solutions. The session will explore real-world risks, competency requirements,emergency preparedness, and the behavioural awareness needed to ensure safe vessel operations in a transitioning fuel landscape. Dr Sanjay Bhavnani – Moderator Mr. Sunil Kumar, Mr. David Birwadkar, Capt. Pradeep Correa, Capt. Dinesh Jairam |
11:40 AM- 12:25 PMPanel Discussion No: 3 |
The Human Advantage: Does Behaviour, Attitude & Character Matter More Than Technical Skills?Panel discussion on how human behaviour, attitude, and character increasingly define success across industries, often outweighing technical skills in determining long-term performance. As workplaces become more complex, digital, and interconnected, the real differentiators are mindset, emotional intelligence, integrity, and the ability to collaborate and lead. This session will explore why these qualities matter, how they shape organisational culture, and what leaders can do to build value-driven, future-ready teams. Capt. (Dr) Sartaj Gill – Moderator Capt. Chinna Ruparaju, Capt. Shri Prakash, Mr. Subramaniam Krishnan, Pooja Gautam, Darren Yap |
12:25 PM- 12:40 PM |
Maritime Connect Break | Refresh and Energise |
12:45 PM - 13:25 PMPanel Discussion No: 4 |
Trust as a Future Skill: Building High-Performance Ship–Shore Teams Beyond Blame CultureThis panel discussion focuses on one of the most critical future skills in ship management today — creating high-trust coordination between ship and shore. As operations become more complex, multicultural, and time-sensitive, performance depends not only on procedures, but on communication quality, decision clarity, accountability, and psychological safety. The session will explore practical ways to reduce blame culture, improve reporting confidence, strengthen teamwork, and build a more resilient ship–shore relationship that directly enhances safety, efficiency, and retention. Capt. Mohan Naik – Moderator Capt. Girish Phadnis, Capt. Aniket Pradhan, Capt. Rohan Heranjal, Capt. Sujit Churi, Capt. Pawan Kumar Singh |
13:25 PM – 13:55 PM |
Special Guest Capt. Venzy Viegas, Hon MLA, Benaulim Constituency, Goa Speaks |
14:00 PM - 15:00 PM |
The Human Capital Lunch MeetEnjoy a Goan-inspired lunch at the conference dining arena |
15:00 PM - 15:45 PMPanel Discussion No: 5 |
Compliance Overload vs Operational Reality: Are We Designing Safety Systems That Crew Can Actually Execute?This leadership panel takes on one of the most pressing challenges in shipping today — the widening gap between ever-expanding compliance demands and the real operational realities onboard. With tougher regimes such as PSC, vetting inspections, RightShip, SIRE and client-driven standards, crews and ship–shore teams are expected to deliver flawless performance under tighter timelines and leaner manpower. The discussion will explore a critical question: are we unintentionally creating “tick-box safety” systems that look perfect on paper but are difficult to execute at sea? Industry leaders will share practical perspectives on simplifying compliance, strengthening ship–shore support, reducing reporting fatigue, and building safety frameworks that are realistic, sustainable, and truly effective. Capt. Shiv Halbe – ModeratorCapt. (Dr) Arun Mehta, Capt.Manoj Gandhi, Capt. Kunal Katyal, Mr. Vineet Gupta, Capt. Deepak Correa |
15:50 PM - 16:25 PMPanel Discussion No: 6 |
“Fit for Duty, Fit for Risk: The New Reality of Seafarer Medicals, Claims & Operational Liability”This panel discussion brings together PEME doctors, insurance experts, and ship management leaders to address a fast-growing industry challenge: medical fitness, mental resilience, and the rising cost of health-related disruptions at sea. From PEME quality and medical disclosures to onboard medical incidents, repatriation, and claims management—this session explores how companies can reduce risk while protecting seafarer welfare. The focus is on building stronger medical screening, early intervention, and fair, practical processes that support both crew wellbeing and operational continuity. Capt. Kisan Karnad – ModeratorCapt. Vishal Breja, Capt. K. S. Paintal, Dr. Vijay Belani, Capt. Naresh Kumar, Capt. K. Budwal |
16:30 PM - 18:00 PMPanel Discussion No: 7 |
Unfiltered at Sea: A Candid Seafarer–Shore ExchangeThis is a dynamic, role-play–driven session that brings seafarers and shore-based leaders face to face for an honest exploration of real challenges at sea and onshore. Masters, chief engineers, and sailing staff share practical issues they encounter in operations, communication, workload, welfare, and behavioural expectations, while superintendents, crewing teams, and management leaders respond with organisational perspectives and constraints. Designed as an open, solution-oriented exchange, the session aims to bridge understanding, reduce disconnects, and foster a stronger, more collaborative seafarer–shore relationship for the future. Capt. (Dr) Rajesh Tandon – ModeratorCapt. Savio Ramos, Mr. Maneesh Pradhan, Capt. Ankush Gupta, Capt. Karan Kochhar, Capt. (Dr) Sankalp Shukla, Seafarers of all ranks |
18:00 PM - 18:30 PM |
Awards & Felicitations | Closing Session |
18:30 PM |
End of ConferenceGet ready for the Grand Engagement Cocktail Dinner — the signature highlight of FSM 6.0. Delegates and resident guests are invited to assemble at the beachfront of the Holiday Inn Resort at 7:30 PM, where an evening of celebration, networking, local music, and camaraderie awaits against the backdrop of the Goan coastline. |
19:30 PM Onwards |
Grand Engagement Cocktail Dinner by the BeachDress Code: Beach Chic / Resort Casual Light, comfortable attire recommended — linen shirts, summer dresses, polos, shorts, and beach footwear / slippers are welcome. Bring your relaxed beach spirit for an evening of celebration by the sea. |
