Leadership

The people behind the Council

Master Mariners, marine engineers and maritime educators, each with decades at sea and ashore.

President

Capt. Rajinder Singh Rattu

As President of the World Maritime Council, Capt. Rajinder Singh Rattu provides strategic leadership and vision to guide the council’s mission. A Master Mariner and maritime entrepreneur, he brings decades of expertise in tanker operations, ship management, and safety compliance. His focus is on strengthening India’s maritime institutions, fostering innovation, and ensuring that seafarer welfare and professional standards remain at the core of the council’s agenda. Under his stewardship, WMC is committed to building a transparent, collaborative, and globally competitive maritime ecosystem.

Background

Capt. Rajinder Singh Rattu is a seasoned maritime professional, entrepreneur, and Master Mariner with a specialized background in tanker operations. With extensive leadership experience spanning ship management, safety compliance, and crew logistics, he currently serves as a Partner and Co‑Founder at Jalasare Marine Private Limited and Nautilus Networks LLP.

He also drives the popular maritime recruitment and information portal, OurSeaWorld.com, which has become a trusted platform for seafarers and industry stakeholders worldwide.

His entrepreneurial ventures reflect a forwardlooking vision to integrate technology, compliance, and human capital development into the maritime ecosystem. Through his leadership, Capt. Rattu continues to strengthen India’s presence in the global shipping industry, promoting innovation, welfare, and sustainable growth.

The Council

The leadership team

Piyush Chachondhia

Vice President

As Vice President of the World Maritime Council, Mr. Piyush is focused on seafarer welfare, professional development and stronger collaboration between maritime professionals, industry and regulators, with the vision of building a stronger and more globally competitive Indian maritime ecosystem.

Background

A Marine Engineer and maritime entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience in shipping, Piyush Chachondhia has worked across sea-going and shore-based roles, with extensive experience in ship management, vessel operations, crew management and maritime services.

Having worked closely with seafarers, shipowners and maritime professionals, he brings a practical understanding of the people and challenges that drive the shipping industry.

Capt. Rishi Sharma

Secretary General

As Secretary General of the World Maritime Council, Capt. Rishi works to strengthen organizational governance, streamline council operations, and ensure effective representation of maritime stakeholders. He focuses on building transparency, fostering dialogue among seafarers, industry leaders, and regulators, and advancing initiatives that uphold welfare and professional standards. His vision is to create a cohesive and accountable council that supports India’s maritime growth and enhances its global standing.

Background

Capt. Rishi Sharma is a maritime professional and institutional visionary with over 36 years of experience, including 16 years at sea and 20 years ashore, spanning crewing, training, and strategic leadership. A Master Mariner with an Unlimited Certificate of Competency, he has held key leadership positions that demonstrate his expertise and influence in the industry.

Capt. Rishi has sailing experience aboard dry bulk carriers, container vessels, and oil tankers. His diverse vessel experience underscores his comprehensive maritime knowledge, fostering confidence among industry peers and potential clients in his ability to deliver value and leadership

He is a CO-CEO of GMOS World, the company which is committed to providing expert maritime solutions spanning advisory, transparent asset management, and world-class crew development and training.

Syed Akhil Ahmed

Joint Secretary General

As Joint Secretary General of the World Maritime Council, Syed Akhil Ahmed contributes his three decades of maritime and educational leadership to strengthen governance, training standards, and stakeholder engagement. Drawing on his experience as Director of Commander Ali’s Academy of Merchant Navy, he supports the council’s mission by promoting quality education, regulatory compliance, and professional discipline. His focus is on building institutional excellence, fostering collaboration among industry and regulators, and advancing the welfare and career development of India’s seafarers.

Background

Syed Akhil Ahmed is a distinguished maritime professional, educationist, and institutional leader with over three decades of experience in global shipping, operations, and seafarer training. A Graduate in Commerce with formal training in Nautical Sciences, he began his career at sea before transitioning into academia and leadership, bringing a rare blend of professional competence, discipline, and vision. As Director of Commander Ali’s Academy of Merchant Navy (CAAMN), Telangana’s only DGMAapproved maritime training institution, he has strengthened its framework with a focus on quality education, safety, regulatory compliance, and holistic development of aspiring seafarers.

His leadership emphasizes character, discipline, teamwork, and professional responsibility as essential qualities for success in the global maritime industry, while his engagement with regulators, shipowners, and training organizations reflects his commitment to advancing India’s maritime human resources and building institutions that uphold integrity, excellence, and seafarer welfare.

Capt. Rajesh Kumar

Finance Secretary

As Finance Secretary of the World Maritime Council, Capt. Rajesh Kumar oversees financial planning, resource management, and accountability across council operations. With a strong maritime background and expertise in fiscal governance, he ensures transparency in budgeting, member contributions, and strategic allocation of funds. His focus is on building a sustainable financial framework that supports seafarer welfare initiatives, organizational growth, and the council’s long‑term vision for a globally competitive Indian maritime sector.

Background

Capt. Rajesh Kumar is a maritime executive, entrepreneur, and Master Mariner with over two decades of experience spanning active seafaring and corporate ship management. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Nordships Maritime Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based firm he founded in 2021 to deliver high-standard ship management and crewing solutions.

Capt. Kumar began his career in 1996 with The Shipping Corporation of India, commanding various vessels with a specialized focus on crude, product, and chemical tankers. Moving ashore in 2012, he held senior executive roles, notably serving as Vice President of Operations at one of the leading ship owners in India, where he directed commercial strategy, fleet operations, vetting, and QSHE ecosystems. As an IRCA / LRQA-certified ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor, he leverages his deep technical and regulatory expertise to seamlessly integrate international compliance, safety protocols, and operational efficiency into modern fleet management.

Capt. Ashish Kumar Shukla

Secretary

As Secretary of the World Maritime Council, Capt. Ashish Kumar Shukla plays a key role in coordinating council activities, maintaining effective communication, and ensuring smooth execution of organizational initiatives. With his maritime expertise and administrative acumen, he focuses on strengthening collaboration among members, supporting seafarer welfare programs, and upholding professional standards. His commitment lies in fostering transparency, unity, and efficiency within the council to advance India’s maritime interests globally.

Background

Fifteen years of sailing and managerial experience has been embroiled, to culminate the expertise that the undersigned has developed today.

These Fifteen years have covered a wide spectrum of sailing, Managerial, Commercial and supervisory activities while in the command of various types of Merchant vessels, Including Chemical Tankers, Product Tankers & Gas Tankers.

R.P. Veettil

Honorary Member

As Honorary Member of the World Maritime Council, Mr. Veettil brings unmatched experience in seafarer welfare, union leadership, and maritime policy advocacy. His deep knowledge of regulatory affairs and long-standing commitment to protecting the rights and safety of Indian seafarers add strength and credibility to the council’s initiatives. By leveraging his decades of industry engagement and his role as Founder of the Sailors’ Union of India, he enhances WMC’s ability to influence policy, foster collaboration, and champion the interests of the wider maritime community.

Background

A native of Mumbai, is a Graduate in Economics and a seasoned Mercantile Marine professional with over 25 years of experience in the Indian maritime industry. He is the Founder of the Sailors’ Union of India, and has dedicated his professional life to advancing the welfare, rights, safety and social security of seafarers.

He is actively engaged in maritime policy, regulatory affairs and industry- related matters, with the Maritime Administration, and working towards strengthening India’s Maritime sector and promoting the interests of Indian seafarers and the wider Maritime Community.

Join the Council

Membership is open to RPSL companies, Maritime Training Institutes, Maritime Medical Centres and allied organisations across India.

Apply now Application form