Ship ahoy!

It's an engineering institute with a difference. You realise that as soon as you step into the plush interiors of the Tolani Maritime Instit...

It8217;s an engineering institute with a difference. You realise that as soon as you step into the plush interiors of the Tolani Maritime Institute on the third floor of the Sharada Centre off Karve Road. The spacious and well appointed rooms spread over 20,000 sq feet greet visitors to the institute which set sail in September this year. 8220;The Tolani Maritime Institute TMI is the first private marine engineering college to be set up in the country,8221; says Captain P.S. Barve, acting director of the institute.

That a lot of planning has gone into the setting up of this institute becomes evident as Barve explains its genesis. 8220;So far marine engineering training was the government8217;s prerogative. With the government encouraging the shipping industry to set up its own training centres, Tolani shipping, which always believed in training its own employees thought of taking the lead in this field almost a year and a half ago.8221; The TMI set up by the Tolani Educational Foundation with parallel support from Nandlal Tolani charitable trust, finally opened its doors to marine engineering students on September 15 this year.

8220;The four year engineering course eight semesters has been structured to meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation along with those of first degree level in marine engineering. In other words the passing out certificate will be equivalent to a degree in marine engineering. They will be responsible for the maintenance of the ship and trouble shooting at all levels. It will train students to meet the challenges of a life at sea through its programme of technical, general and disciplinary training as well as co-curricular and extra-curricular activities,8221; says Barve. At the end of four years the cadets will get a passing out certificate. After 6 months training at sea they are entitled to start their career with a merchant ship as marine engineer.

Cadets for the course have been selected after an elaborate screening procedure which includes scrutiny of their academic records, an interview and a group discussion. 8220;We received around 2,000 applications from which 525 were short-listed and a further screening narrowed the figure to 118, two of them girls,8221; he says. To be eligible the candidate must have passed the senior secondary examination with a combination of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics,8221; says Barve. The discipline and all-round development of the cadets has been stressed upon. The cadets have compulsory Physical Training, parades, sports, swimming and follow a specified time for studies. Other activities include developing a band for parades and optional courses like karate have been introduced. Extra-curricular activities like debates, quizzes and elocution competitions are also on the anvil.

The fees of the course are steep at Rs. 50,000 per semester which include tuition and workshop fees among other things while residential and fees for the mess are separately billed. While lectures are held in the three main air-conditioned class rooms and a tutorial room, there is a spacious room specially meant for engineering drawing. The institute also has a library and reading room along with a computer laboratory and a well-appointed conference room with audio-visual facilities. With special functions like seminars in mind an air-conditioned auditorium has been designed.

The laboratory and workshop, so crucial to engineering students who will be taught to develop competency in basic fitting, machining, welding and other skills, has been designed in the basement of the building in an area of 10,000 sq feet with an attached changing room and a canteen.

The cadets8217; hostel is located at Springfields in Kothrud four kilometres away from the institute. This nine storeyed structure has 20 students in each wing and is currently occupied up to the third floor.

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The institute8217;s present location, however is of an interim nature as the TMI eventually plans to shift to a fully equipped 200 acre college campus in Induri in Talegaon two years from now.

8220;The location of the campus in Pune, a city without a port , should not make too much of a difference because the important aspect of marine engineering is practical hands-on experience at the well equipped workshop. Besides, when the campus eventually shifts to the Talegaon campus a concrete ship, complete with a marine engine and workshop facilities where one can simulate every function of the ship will be made available to students. Industrial trips every semester to ships in Mumbai will also be part of the curriculum,8221; says Barve. While the TMI is basically modelled on the Marine Engineering Research Institute, MERI Calcutta, courses supplementary to training fresh students are also being planned. These will comprise upgrading courses for all navigation officers which will start two months from now. These modular courses which have been made statutory will include training in precautionary measures like fire-fighting.

Just what kind of scope does a profession like this one have? 8220;Indians make up 15 percent of the world8217;s fleet. There8217;s a need of engineering officers which the institute hopes to fulfill. Life out at sea is tough and on a ship one never stops working. It8217;s difficult to run a ship even in fair weather. Besides, initially one cannot take one8217;s family along. However it8217;s an extremely lucrative career in which a certified engineer can start with 1,500 a month,8221; says Barve. It may be barely a two months old but the Tolani Maritime Institute is already going full steam ahead.