HIMT

Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training (HIMT)
Motto	Where Knowledge is Wealth
Type	Private Institution
Established	1998, 27 years ago.
Founder	Dr. Sanjeev S Vakil
Parent institution	HIMT Group of Institutes
Affiliation	Indian Maritime University (IMU)
Academic affiliation	DG Shipping, UK MCA
Students	4,51,000+
Location	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India; 13°05′07″N 80°15′02″E / 13.085234°N 80.250439°E
Website	himtmarine.com

The HIMT Group of Institutes is a maritime education and training institution founded in 1998 in Kilpauk, Chennai, by Dr. Sanjeev S. Vakil. The institute was established with the objective of training seafarers in accordance with international maritime standards, particularly those outlined under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the STCW Convention.

The institution provides pre-sea and post sea courses and regulated by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), Government of India.^[1] HIMT opened its college at Kalpakkam after getting approval from Kalpakkam nuclear power plant.^[2] HIMT is also affiliated with the Indian Maritime University (IMU).^[3]

Over the years, HIMT expanded its operations to multiple campuses and developed a comprehensive training ecosystem covering both pre-sea and post-sea maritime education. They offer more than 75+ approved courses across various domains of maritime training.

History[edit | edit source]

Hindustan Institute of Maritime Training (HIMT) was established in 1998 by Dr Sanjeev S. Vakil, a Mechanical Engineering graduate. The institute began by offering post-sea courses.^[4]

Campuses[edit | edit source]

HIMT College (Pre-Sea Campus), Chennai - Residential campus offering degree, diploma, and certification programmes.
HIMT Kilpauk, Chennai - Post-sea training centre for STCW and modular courses.
HIMT Tidal Park, Chennai - Advanced simulator-based post-sea training facility.
Vizag HIMT, Visakhapatnam - Post-sea training centre serving India’s eastern region.
HIMT Offshore, Chennai - Training centre offering UK MCA-approved courses.
HIMT Mock-up, Chennai - Dedicated practical training yard with waterfront access for safety and emergency drills.

Acadamics[edit | edit source]

HIMT’s academic structure is broadly divided into:

Pre-Sea Training - Entry-level programmes for cadets.
Post-Sea Training – Advanced, refresher,competency-based training, Simulation and Practical Training.
Value-added Training – Facilities for hands-on and scenario-based training.

Affiliations[edit | edit source]

D.G. Shipping, (Govt. of India)
Indian Maritime University.
UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.^[5]

Accreditations[edit | edit source]

HIMT affiliates with national and international maritime bodies, including:

Approved by the Directorate General of Shipping - DGS (Government of India)
Affiliated with Indian Maritime University (IMU)
Approved by UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)

Ranking & Awards[edit | edit source]

HIMT holds multiple certifications and recognitions:

ISO 9001:2015 certified by Bureau Veritas
Rated Grade A1 (Outstanding) by DNV, ClassNK, and the Indian Register of Shipping
Ranked 1st – Outstanding Maritime Training Institute (Post-Sea) by the Directorate General of Shipping (NMDC) for four consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).
Training Institute Of The Year (Post Sea) at Samudra Manthan Awards (2022 & 2024)
Education and Training Award at the Maritime Standard Award (2019)
Offing Indian Seafarers’ Choice Awards for the Best Maritime Training Institute (2016 & 2018).
Excellence in Maritime Education at Gateway Awards 2015
Excellence in Maritime Education & Training at World Shipping Forum (2013) presented by Shipping Minister Shri G.K. Vasan
Winner of the Sea Trade Award 2010, presented by the former Secretary General of IMO (2010)
Exemplary Personal Achievement Award by Sailor Today (2007)
First institute in India to be graded GRADE 1 – Outstanding, by DGS-approved ICRA (2004)