India Maritime Heritage Conclave 2024 | 21 Dec 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the 1^st India Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC 2024) was organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, celebrating India's maritime legacy and contributions to global trade, while discussing future innovations. 

What are the Key Highlights of the IMHC 2024? 

• Theme:  "Towards Understanding India's Position in Global Maritime History." 
  • Focused on India’s historical and contemporary contributions to global maritime trade, culture, and innovation. 
• Key Highlights: stalls at the conclave  exhibited India’s maritime legacy, showcasing ancient shipbuilding techniques and navigational tools, reflecting India’s historical connection to global trade networks. 
  • Leading maritime nations like Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom participated, emphasizing the global significance of India’s maritime heritage. 
  • A key highlight was the emphasis on the upcoming National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, which will showcase India’s ancient maritime techniques, such as shipbuilding and bead-making.

What is India’s Maritime History? 

• Ancient India: 
  • Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) (3300-1300 BCE) : The origins of India’s maritime activities can be traced to the IVC.  
    • Lothal's dry-dock (2400 BC) is the world’s first known dry-dock, reflecting advanced nautical knowledge. 
    • Evidence indicates robust trade between the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia.  
      • The discovery of Harappan seals and jewelry in Mesopotamia underscores this extensive exchange between the two ancient civilizations. 
  • Vedic Era (1500 - 600 BC): Vedic literature, including the Rig Veda, mentions boats and sea voyages, with Varuna, the Lord of the Sea, guiding maritime routes.  
    • The Ramayana and Mahabharata describe shipbuilding and sea travel. 
  • Nandas and Mauryas (500 – 200 BC): The Magadh kingdom's navy is the first ever recorded instance of a navy anywhere in the world. 
    • Chanakya, the advisor to the first Mauryan emperor, Chandragupta Maurya, detailed a waterways department led by a Navadhyaksha (Superintendent of Ships) in his Arthashastra. 
    • Emperor Ashoka used maritime routes to spread Buddhism to Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka, further enriching India's cultural and religious influence. 
  • Satavahana Dynasty (200 BC-220 AD): The Satavahanas controlled India's East coast, trading with the Roman Empire.  
    • They were the first native Indian rulers to issue coins inscribed with ships. 
  • Gupta Empire (320-550 AD): The Gupta Dynasty marked India's Golden Age, with prosperity, cultural growth, and advancements in astronomy and navigation, as noted by Chinese travelers Fa-Hien and Huein Tsang. 
    • Astronomical advancements by Aryabhata and Varahamihira improved oceanic navigation, enabling precise voyages. The opening of several ports revived maritime trade with Europe and Africa. 
  • Southern Dynasties: 
    • Cholas (3^rd–13^th century): Extensive maritime trade with Sumatra, Java, Thailand, China. Built harbors, shipyards, lighthouses. 
    • Pandyas: Controlled pearl farming and traded with Rome and Egypt. 
    • Cheras (12^th Century):  They traded with the Greeks and Romans, using monsoon winds to sail from Tyndis (near Kochi) and Muziris (near Kochi) to Arabian ports. 
• Medieval India:  
  • Arabs:  By the 8th century, Arabs emerged as prominent maritime traders, acting as intermediaries between India, Southeast Asia, and Europe.  
    • Their influence marked a shift in the control of Indian Ocean trade routes. 
  • Portuguese: In the 16th century, Vasco da Gama (1460–1524) discovered an oceanic route from Portugal to India; he rounded the Cape of Good Hope in Africa to arrive at Calicut in Kerala in May 1498. 
    • His arrival marked a new chapter in India's maritime history, disrupting the peaceful trade dominated by coastal and seafaring communities from East Africa to Malaysia and the Indonesian Islands. 
    • The Zamorins of Calicut, a major trading port, had flourishing trade over land and sea. 
    • The Portuguese sought to monopolize trade by establishing strongholds in Goa, and Cochin. 
  • European Competition in Indian Waters: The 17th century witnessed fierce competition among European powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British, for dominance over Indian maritime trade. 
    • The British East India Company gradually gained supremacy by securing trade privileges and leveraging naval power to dominate Indian waters. 
• Pre- Independence: 
  • Maratha Naval Resistance: Shivaji Maharaj built a strong navy to counter European and Mughal influence along the western coast. Coastal forts like Sindhudurg and Vijaydurg strengthened maritime defenses.  
  • Maritime India Under The British Raj: The Royal Indian Marine (RIM) was formed in 1892 and later renamed Royal Indian Navy (RIN) in 1934. 
    • During World Wars I and II, the RIN played a significant role in escort missions, patrolling, and combined operations in the Middle East, Burma, and the Mediterranean. 
    • The British Crown formally renamed the naval force as the Royal Indian Navy in 1934, laying the groundwork for its post-independence transformation. 
• Post-Independence Era (1947 – Present): With independence, the Royal Indian Navy was divided between India and Pakistan. In 1950, the prefix "Royal" was dropped, and the Indian Navy was established with the Ashoka Lion as its emblem.  
  • The motto Sam no Varunah ("Be auspicious unto us, Oh Varuna") reflects the Navy’s cultural and historical roots. 
    • Vice Admiral R.D. Katari became the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff in 1958. 
  • The Navy played a pivotal role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Navy Day, celebrated on  4th December since 1972, honors the success of Operation Trident(1971 Indo-Pak war naval actions).  
  • The Indian Navy has three Commands, each under the control of a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief namely, The Western (HQ- Mumbai), Eastern (Visakhapatnam) and Southern Naval Command (Kochi).  
  • Modernization efforts have transformed the Indian Navy into a blue-water force with capabilities extending beyond the Indian Ocean region. 

What is the Significance of India's Maritime Sector? 

• Status of India's Maritime Sector: 
  • India ranks as the 16th largest maritime country globally. 
  • India is the world’s 3rd largest ship recycler by tonnage, holding a 30% global market share in ship-breaking with the world’s largest ship-breaking facility located in Alang, Gujarat. 
• Economic Importance: India's maritime sector serves as the backbone of its trade and commerce, handling around 95% of the country's trade by volume and 70% by value. 
  • Indian ports handle approximately 1,200 million tonnes of cargo annually, underscoring the sector's economic significance.. 
  • According to the World Bank’s 2023 Logistic Performance Index (LPI) Report, India ranks 22^nd globally in the “International Shipments” category, a significant rise from 44^th in 2014. 
    • This improvement underscores the performance of Indian ports, which have outperformed global peers on operational parameters such as container turnaround time and dwell time. 
  • Ports support Exports-Imports, international trade, coastal shipping, and cruise shipping. 
  • With the global blue economy expected to reach USD 6 trillion by 2030, India's maritime sector is set to significantly contribute to the country's rise as the world's third-largest economy. 

What are the Key Challenges in India’s Maritime Sector? 

• Port Capacity: India's ports have a limited capacity to handle the increasing volume of cargo.  
  • The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reported that despite having 13 major ports and over 200 non-major ports, many are operating at or near full capacity, leading to congestion and delays. 
• Complex Regulations: The maritime sector encounters challenges from overlapping regulations by bodies such as the Directorate General of Shipping, Maritime States Development Council, and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), hindering operational efficiency.. 
  • Challenges include illegal fishing, unsustainable resource exploitation, and the need for better regulatory implementation to protect marine habitats and biodiversity. 
• Naval Expansion and Indigenisation: While India aims to build a 175-ship navy by 2035, the pace of construction and budget constraints lag behind strategic needs, especially compared to China's rapid shipbuilding. 
  • India faces a shortfall in submarines, with delays in projects like Project 75-I and the need for indigenous nuclear attack submarines. 
• Coastal Security: India's vast and porous coastline is vulnerable to illegal landings of arms and explosives by terror groups and drug syndicates.  
  • Notable cases include the 1993 Mumbai blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, highlighting significant security gaps.

Way Forward 

• Promoting Maritime Tourism: Developing coastal tourism initiatives like Development of Coastal Circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism can enhance local economies while preserving cultural heritage. 
  • India is advancing its blue economy by focusing on sustainable ocean resource use to drive economic growth and job creation.  
• Enhancing Skill Development: Establishing training programs in maritime skills can empower local communities and create job opportunities. 
  • Collaborating with international maritime institutions can facilitate knowledge transfer and innovation. 
• Green Shipping Practices: India is dedicated to sustainable maritime operations, exemplified by the Green Tug Transition Program and Green Hydrogen Hubs at key ports. 
  • Developing smart ports and eco-friendly tugboats is key to India's maritime vision, enhancing efficiency and reducing the industry's environmental impact. 
• Infrastructure Development: Invest in upgrading ports and shipping infrastructure to boost efficiency and capacity, while also improving connectivity between coastal areas and inland markets to enhance trade. 
  • The visionary Sagar Mala programme integrates ports with industrial clusters, optimizes logistics networks, and promotes comprehensive coastal development. 
• Policy Framework: Formulate integrated policies that combine maritime heritage preservation with economic development objectives, while ensuring compliance with international maritime laws and agreements to foster global cooperation. 
  • The Coastal Shipping Bill 2024 streamlines regulatory frameworks and enhances multi-modal trade connectivity.