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Indian Maritime University convocation: 1,993 graduate in Chennai, including 1,605 seafarers

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The Indian Maritime University (IMU) held its 11th convocation at its headquarters in Chennai on 15 October 2026, and 1,993 students graduated. They included 1,605 seafarers trained to work on ships, according to the university’s release issued through PIB Chennai.

Indian Maritime University: Graduates and guests at the 11th convocation in Chennai
Graduates and guests at the 11th convocation in Chennai Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Who graduated at the Indian Maritime University convocation

Besides the seafarers, the graduates included 329 undergraduate and postgraduate students and four PhD scholars. The university gave out 13 gold medals and 11 silver medals. The Hindu and The Indian Express both reported the same figures. Former IMU Vice-Chancellor Malini Shankar and Rajya Sabha MP L K Sudhish attended the ceremony. The graduates will work across shipping, ports, maritime logistics and related fields. The Hindu quoted Pro-Vice-Chancellor Rajoo Balaji as saying that admission enquiries have risen sharply, which he took as a sign of growing interest in maritime careers.

Key Facts

  • Convocation: 11th, Chennai, 15 Oct 2026
  • Graduates: 1,993, including 1,605 seafarers
  • Also: 329 UG/PG graduates, 4 PhD scholars
  • Medals: 13 gold, 11 silver
  • New tie-ups: Maritime India Foundation, IRCTC, Nord University (Norway)

MoUs and the Maritime Innovation Hub

IMU has signed an agreement with the Maritime India Foundation for a Maritime Innovation Hub under the Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The initiative supports maritime start-ups and new ideas. The foundation has signed similar agreements with IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. IMU has also entered into MoUs with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and with Nord University in Norway. The Hindu reported that the university signed 63 MoUs this year, 18 of them with international partners. According to the release, 45 of the 63 agreements are with Indian partners. Balaji said the university now runs 22 new value-added programmes alongside its long-duration courses, and has start-ups on campus. He added that IMU has secured one of the top two positions in education surveys over the past two years.

A scene from the convocation ceremony at IMU headquarters
A scene from the convocation ceremony at IMU headquarters Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

Why India needs more seafarers

IMU is a central university set up for maritime education, training and research. The Hindu reported that it has six campuses and 21 affiliated institutions. Seafarers made up about four in five of this year’s graduates. The release said the convocation stressed academic rigour, specialised training and research to meet the changing needs of the sector. The release linked IMU’s work to Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Maritime Vision 2047, the government’s long-term plans for ports and shipping, and said the university supports the aim of making India a leading global maritime nation. Through its campuses and 21 affiliated institutes, the release said, IMU contributes to talent development across the maritime sector. The Indian Express and UNI also reported the convocation. IMU did not give placement figures for this batch.

Why It Matters: India's port and shipping plans depend on trained seafarers and officers, and IMU produces a large share of them every year.

Also on TrendDesh: Combined Task Force 154: Indian Navy ends its first CMF command in Bahrain after 7,800 training hours · INS Samarthak to be commissioned at Karwar on 16 October as Navy's first multi-purpose vessel

Source: PIB Chennai · The Hindu · The Indian Express

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