Fosma Maritime Institute & Research Organisation Kolkata

What Fosma Maritime Institute & Research Organisation Kolkata does

FOSMA — the Foreign Owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association — is an Indian maritime industry association founded in 1987, representing 37+ foreign ship owners and ship management companies operating in India, including principal members such as Adani Shipping, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, BW Maritime, NYK Shipmanagement, V.Ships India, and Wilhelmsen Ship Management. The organisation is governed by a Board of Directors elected from its members and managed through a Secretariat headed by CEO Capt. R. Tandon. Its primary strategic role is to represent members' common interests with maritime authorities, conduct wage negotiations (Norwegian, IBF), and facilitate competency development for Indian seafarers seeking global employment.

FOSMA operates two government-recognized Maritime Training Institutes — Maritime Centre Kolkata (MTI No. 305018, led by Principal Capt. Nirmalya Karmakar) and Maritime Centre Noida (MTI No. 103007, led by Principal Capt. Gur Prasad Kohli) — alongside a Mumbai head office. The institutes deliver competency and preparatory courses (Chief Mate Phase I & II, Masters FG, Marine Engineering Class I & II, Second Mate Competency, Revalidation), simulator courses (ECDIS, GMDSS, ARPA/Radar Observer, Engine Room Simulator, Ship Manoeuvring Simulator), modular and tanker courses (ATOTCO, ATCTCO, GASCO/TASCO), medical training, and ratings skill development. Total headcount is approximately 30 employees.

Revenue is generated from two streams: per-course training fees for individual Indian seafarers (with a 50% female subsidy introduced April 2022) and recurring annual membership subscriptions from member ship management companies. FOSMA also partners with the UK-based IMEC to deliver the India Cadet Training Programme, offering 100% ship placement for sponsored cadets. The organization is registered in India under CIN U74999MH1994GAP084133, operates with no parent company, and serves an Asian market focus through its Indian training footprint.

Name

Fosma Maritime Institute & Research Organisation Kolkata

Legal name

Foreign Owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association

Website

https://fosma.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FOSMA is an Indian maritime industry association representing 37+ foreign ship owners and ship managers, operating two government-recognized maritime training institutes in Kolkata and Noida that deliver competency, simulator, and tanker courses for Indian seafarers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Training Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB), Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE), Maritime Safety Management Systems & Training (ISM/ISO 45001, Drills, Competency) (TLAHANAF), Naval Training, Simulation & Shore-Based Test Facilities (IMAJABAN)

Keywords

• Maritime training services
• Seafarer competency courses
• Maritime simulator training
• Tanker operations training
• Ship management association

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: Revenue from conducting various maritime training courses including competency courses, simulator courses, modular courses, and refresher courses for Nautical and Engineering disciplines at maritime centers in Kolkata and Noida
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from member companies including foreign owners representatives and ship managers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FOSMA operates two government-recognized maritime training institutes in Kolkata and Noida delivering competency, preparatory, simulator, modular, and refresher courses for Indian seafarers in Nautical and Engineering disciplines. It functions as an industry association of foreign ship owners and ship managers, addressing operational issues for member companies and facilitating seafarer employment globally. Training covers ECDIS, GMDSS, ARPA, Engine Room, Liquid Cargo Handling, and Ship Manoeuvering simulators alongside tanker, medical, and ratings programmes.

Product overview

FOSMA (Foreign Owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association) Maritime Institute & Research Organisation is a maritime training organization with two primary training centres located in Kolkata and Noida, India. The institute provides competency development courses, simulator courses, and modular training programmes for both nautical and engineering disciplines for Indian seafarers. Key offerings include Chief Mate Phase I & II, Marine Engineering Class I & II, Masters FG, Second Mate Competency courses, along with specialized tanker training (ATOTCO, ATCTCO, GASCO), simulator training (ECDIS, GMDSS, ARPA, Radar Observer, Engine Room Simulator), and medical training courses. The institute also partners with IMEC for the India Cadet Training Programme offering 100% ship placement. A course booking system enables online enrollment for ongoing and future batches at both training locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maritime Centre, Kolkata: FOSMA's training facility located at Godrej Waterside Tower II, Salt Lake Sector V, Kolkata, offering maritime competency and preparatory courses
• Maritime Centre, Noida

Products and services

• Competency & Preparatory Courses Prepares seafarers for competency examinations including Chief Mate Phase I & II, Marine Engineering Class I & II, Masters FG, Second Mate Competency, and Revalidation courses. Targeted at Indian maritime professionals seeking certification for global employment.
• Simulator Courses Hands-on training using maritime simulation equipment including ECDIS, GMDSS, ARPA, Radar Observer, Engine Room Simulator, Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator, Ship Manoeuvering Simulator, and RANSCO courses. For Indian seafarers requiring simulator-based competency certification.
• Tanker Modular Courses Specialized tanker training courses including Advanced Training for Oil Tankers (ATOTCO/TASCO), Advanced Training in Chemical Tanker Operations (ATCTCO), and Advanced Training for Liquefied Gas Tanker Cargo Operations (GASCO). For seafarers serving on oil, chemical, and gas tanker vessels.
• Medical Training Courses Medical care and first aid training courses including Medical Care, Medical First Aid, and their respective refresher courses for seafarers. Required for STCW compliance and onboard medical competency.
• Ratings Skill Development Programme Skill development programs for maritime ratings to enhance their competencies and employment opportunities. Designed for ratings-level seafarers seeking career progression within the shipping industry.
• IMEC India Cadet Training Programme Cadet training programme offering opportunities for Indian seafarers to become highly trained future maritime Deck/Engine Officers with 100% ship placement with IMEC Member Sponsors. Sponsored cadets receive training grants and guaranteed placement upon graduation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% ship placement for IMEC sponsored cadets

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IMEC (India Maritime Education Cadet Training Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMEC India Cadet Training Programme - 'Chart Your Course' - partnership where IMEC sponsors cadets for training with FOSMA member companies, providing 100% ship placement for graduates. IMEC supports the program with training grants and coordinates with FOSMA's maritime training institutes in Kolkata and Noida.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies: Indian maritime pre-sea and competency training institute with simulator-based courses. Directly comparable to FOSMA's two-centre model in delivering officer training under MTI recognition.
• HIMT (Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training): Chennai-based maritime training institute offering competency, simulator, and tanker courses for Indian seafarers. Closely comparable in course mix (ECDIS, ARPA, tanker) and target candidates to FOSMA.
• Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy: Indian maritime training academy run by one of the world's largest ship managers. Directly comparable to FOSMA in offering pre-sea and competency training for Indian seafarers, with similar STCW-aligned curriculum.
• Great Eastern Institute of Maritime Studies: Pune-based maritime training institute with STCW-aligned competency and simulator courses. Comparable to FOSMA in offering both nautical and engineering streams.
• Tolani Maritime Institute: Indian maritime training institute offering pre-sea and post-sea competency courses. Comparable to FOSMA in serving the Indian seafarer talent pipeline for international shipping lines.
• MERI (Marine Engineering and Research Institute): Premier Indian maritime engineering training institute (IMO-affiliated, under IMU). Comparable to FOSMA's engineering stream and Marine Engineering Class I & II offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement: Global ship manager with significant India presence and FOSMA principal member. Comparable as a broader incumbent with proprietary cadet management and training programmes that intersect with FOSMA's offerings.
• V.Ships: World's largest ship management group and a FOSMA member. Comparable as a broader incumbent that also runs in-house maritime training academies and competes for the same pool of Indian seafarers.
• Indian Maritime University (IMU): Central government maritime university with multiple campuses across India. A broad incumbent competitor for pre-sea and competency training of Indian seafarers, with substantially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Ocean Technologies Group (Seagull Maritime): Provider of maritime e-learning, competence management, and onboard training software. An emerging player with partial overlap to FOSMA's competency/revalidation training, delivered via digital channels rather than physical simulators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Fosma5
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/fosmainstitute-kolkata

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fosma Maritime Institute & Research Organisation Kolkata