India could soon get a branch of the World Maritime University (WMU).
Talks in this regard had already begun with the International Maritime Organisation, Union shipping minister G K Vasan said on Wednesday, the Times of India reports.
Vasan, addressing students at the Indian Maritime University (IMU) as part of its fourth university day, said he had talks with IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu.
Efforts to set up a WMU branch in the country is significant as the global shipping industry is facing a slump, with hundreds of maritime graduates finding it difficult to get a job. Chennai-based IMU plans tie-ups with various international maritime universities.
“Despite the recession, there has been a growth of maritime trade in India and institutes like IMU can bridge the gap between supply and demand of sailors and merchant engineers,” Vasan said.
Source: The Times of India
