Capt. P.S. Vanchiswar Receives the Varuna Award, Maritime Industry’s Highest and Most Coveted Award

Capt. P.S. Vanchiswar received the Varuna Award, Maritime industry’s highest and most coveted award, at the hands of Mr. G. K. Vasan, Minister of Shipping and Chief Guest at the Grand Finale of the 50th National Maritime Day Celebrations, which was held in Mumbai.

The “Grand Finale” was held on the 5th April at the Y.B. Chavan Auditorium, in South Mumbai with G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, P.K. Sinha, Secretary (Shipping) presiding over the function and Rear Admiral (retd) Peter Brady, Director General, Jamaica Maritime Authority attending as the Guest of Honor. The country’s most prestigious Varuna Award was conferred by the NMDC on P.  S. Vanchiswar and the award for outstanding contribution to Maritime and Education Training was bestowed on Capt Harry Subramaniam. 

 
INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY, MUMBAI CAMPUS - MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER  
   
Dr./Captain P.S. Vanchiswar

Ph.D., Extra Master Mariner, Professor Emeritus, World Maritime University Ex-I.M.O. Adviser/Consultant Ex-Nautical Adviser to the Government of India T.S. Dufferin 1943-45 Roll no: 633

This is a very joyous occasion for us to celebrate the great success of our Maritime Training Establishments through the national and International achievements of their alumni. I submit that at the same time it is also an occasion for the following; 

(i) Paying homage to those great Indians of the past, who made "Maritime education & training" possible for us commencing with Late Mr. P.S. Sivaswami Iyer, who made, through his tenacious efforts, the then British Government of India establish I.M.M.T.S. Dufferin, about two decades before our independence.

(ii) Heartfelt commendation of the merit and determination of the "Pioneer Batches of Cadets", who proved against odds, that Indians can be very competent officers. 

(iii) Sincere "Thanks giving" by those of us, who are beneficiaries, to those who made it possible for us to benefit. 

(iv) Expressing our admiration to the independent Government of India in giving high priority to maritime training, very soon after our independence. 

(v) Conveying our gratitude to the shipowners and others employers, who have appreciated the high quality of the alumni of our maritime training institutions. 

(vi) Planning for the future. 

I congratulate the organists and am most thankful to them for giving me the opportunity of conveying this brief message.