Nestled in the shaded valley of a mountainous range high in the pastoral hills of rural India, it would barely seem possible that the horn-blasting, dust-clouded streets of the commercial capital of Mumbai was less than 90 minutes drive away. However, the sharp lines and clean edges of modern living defining the Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies in Lonavala are a far call away from the adjoining paddy fields and haystacks of bucolic simplicity, writes Amy Kilpin.

A large scale venture undertaken by Executive Ship Management, the academic enterprise is one of many new seafarer training institutes springing up across the region, distinguishing itself on its transition into a whole new green zone of environmental credibility. The largest green project in Asia, the institute flaunts renewable energy systems integral to the design and construction of the entire campus, from its reservoir for recycled and treated water supply to its self-sufficient solar-panelled electricity resources.

In a bid to up recruitment in the fast-diminishing crewing sector, the shipping industry is battling against a monumental image crisis, undeniably hindered by the stormy economic climate. No less impacted by the unanimous worldwide seafarer shortage, India prides itself on its valued culture of seafaring competence, with a strong contribution to the world fleet. But with such pressing global issues creating a sizable dent in the maritime industry, the Samundra Institute is set to open the golden gates to whole new plains of seafarer fine-tuning.

Behind the scenes of the state-of-the-art mirror-fronted, solar-panelled design, a whole world of creative input has been planted into the seed of this polished and cultured training facility. Every iota of thought has been put into the construction and operation of the academy, moulding scales of comfort and technology above and beyond the necessary requirements of its students.

It’s no wonder the facilities wreak refined and scholastic fulsomeness, from the very implementation of design the project has been meticulously composed, with the architect sent onboard a commercial oil tanker for 10 days in order to extract every drop of marine-going inspiration possible, all for innovative reproduction of cutting-edge concepts in the erection of the campus buildings.

Ubiquitous water features and statues interspersed among the gleaming contemporary buildings are only complemented by perfectly-manicured lawns and dazzling white pathways. But scholastically-speaking, the college excels with its glazed academic faculty, nautical science atrium, practical engineering edifice, and full-sized functioning vessel simulator with one of only four lifeboat training drill facilities in the world.

Primarily focusing on generating a new league of premium-quality seafarers with the utmost skill sets of unrivalled competence, institute Principal, Professor DVB Swamy, highlighted the desire for “seafarers to be committed seafarers for decades to come. Once upon a time this was a very sea-going country but over the years it has slowly become industrialised, and the shipping side of it has taken a back seat.”

The highly-respected establishment offering highbrow degrees in nautical science and marine engineering rewards itself on its ability to “contribute to the industry,” as Founder and Trustee Sikha Singh, underlined. “We have 13,000 – 14,000 certificated post-sea trained cadets, and while not all of them are with us now, indirectly we are helping the industry,” she said.

“A good proportion of cadets are coming from metropolitan cities but it’s also more of a tradition thing, involving those with seafaring families. We are now trying to recruit from another angle with those who come from a rural background; those are the ones who need boosting to become seafarers and to take it on and pass it down the line, although more importantly at the moment is the country’s general exposure to the seafaring profession,” Mrs Singh added.

Professor Swamy acknowledged similarly that “today, awareness of the merchant navy and its highly rewarding nature is not very well known so we have to make an effort to educate people all over again and bring out that awareness. There are quite a few maritime institutes in this country trying to do their bit, so maybe in a few years time the awareness will be much better.”

But underneath the stage-set of exemplary marine training and the valiant endeavours to raise industry awareness, eager cadets await; alert, primed and uniformed to perfection. It’s all very well painting a golden-hued, rose-tinted depiction of a well-established maritime training centre, but what about the real core of the establishment – those who provide the genetic makeup of the whole entity?

SMI rocked the boat with some serious grilling time with the cadets, delving deep into the nitty gritty of why they selected a maritime profession at one of the country’s most prestigious institutions. With reiterations that “most careers in India involve software,” the striving towards something different was made more than evident.

“India has become totally ‘IT city’ and everyone chooses software as a career option. I wanted to choose something different so I chose this field where there’s discipline and challenges in everyday life. Every day we learn new things, and at every juncture we have to meet those daily challenges,” one ambitious student stressed.

“This field is diverse and interesting. You’re part of an industry which can contribute to enhancing the economy of your own country – that’s the most rewarding thing about this profession,” another officially-attired cadet answered. Admirable assertions, to say the least.

Interestingly enough, only one of the eight or so fresh and spirited youngsters interviewed derived from a seafaring family, a seemingly fading tradition in the contemporary age of computer technology and the ivory tower of academia. With enthusiasm bouncing off the walls it becomes even harder to see the rationale behind the global crewing dilemma, as the general consensus about the profession was slammed home with hard optimism and genuine seafaring passion.

A further cadet stressed: “Working at sea you can earn a great deal of money and you also get a lot of prestige as a merchant navy officer in society. At the same time you can move around a lot of places, see the world, and have an ample amount of time to enjoy the money you earn.” Categorical dedication seems to be key, but such unfeigned fervent enthusiasm is patent: “Every industry has its negatives, but I don’t see many negative factors here,” he added.

Manning a ship is no easy task, and after the strict minimum academic requirements, written entry exam, interview and medical assessment, the daily challenges do not cease to trial the students, with a gruelling daily schedule of practical and physical challenges and training supplemented by copious extra-curricular sporting activities. Teamwork at the core of the institute’s philosophies, regular sports competitions offer goals and targets for team house point-scoring, all in the name of maritime solidarity.

“Especially during this time when there is a huge shortage, people are required for manning ships, and if you are thinking about a long career then this is the sector, with scope for about 15-20 years. There are also always new opportunities because of the wide spread of technical engineering expertise,” acknowledged an enthused student.

All well and good for the current enrolees, well-infused in industry pursuits as they step onboard a voyage of learning towards full seafarer qualification and certification. But given the worldwide deficiency of marine personnel, it’s not a collective problem solver for the entire shipping industry, and at the apex of the crisis is the lack of vocational awareness.

The astute cadets stressed that “young people need to be told about the industry because many people only know about the basics, or they hear about fairytale stories that you get to see places and you get to have good money. But they need to know that there are challenges, it’s not just about adventure.”

Professor Swamy added: “In India there are a large number of seafarers but actually it is a very minor portion of the population. We have over a billion people, but out of that a couple of thousand is nothing, so in that respect it is not a very well-known career. India is a huge country and the northern part is landlocked, yet most of our navigation officers come from the north which is made up of mountains and valleys, and many haven’t even seen the sea before they come into the industry.”

While the Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies demonstrates a glistening example of the valiant efforts to raise the profile of a career at sea, India seems to be joining hands as a nation to get the message across to the youths of society about the lucrative opportunities offered by such a profession. With greater involvement from the government as new campaigns and advertisements spatter the country, India is fortifying its resolute drive towards a future economic boom with a strong force of first rate seafarers, and with campuses on par with luxury holiday resorts, it’s got to be win-win for all.