Chennai: The Indian Maritime University (IMU) on Friday launched the Indian Ship Technology Centre (ISTC) at its Visakhapatnam campus, coinciding with its 10th convocation held in Chennai.

The centre was inaugurated by Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

IMU said the establishment of ISTC marks a major milestone in India's maritime journey and underlines the government's thrust on strengthening the nation's shipbuilding and maritime capabilities.

Envisioned as a Centre of Excellence under IMU, ISTC will focus on ship design, production processes and manpower training to bridge critical gaps in the shipbuilding ecosystem. With advanced design software and state-of-the-art facilities, it aims to develop indigenous ship designs and reduce dependence on foreign expertise.

The centre is expected to support the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' target of positioning India among the world's top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030. It will also function as a single-window service provider for ship design solutions, consultancy, training and policy inputs.

IMU said the centre would foster collaboration among shipyards, research institutions, academia and government bodies, promoting innovation and skill development in maritime technology.

Headquartered in Chennai, IMU was established in 2008 as a Central University by integrating seven legacy maritime institutions. It currently offers UG, PG and doctoral programmes across campuses in Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, in addition to 17 affiliated training institutes.