FORMATION OF MARINERS SOCIETY AT KOCHI

The idea to observe and celebrate the 'Mariners Nite' was mooted by then stalwarts among the seafarers of Cochin in the year 1992. Seafarers of the region, in those days had no common fora to meet and share their experiences. Although Merchant Navy club officially known as Merchant Navy Officers and Seamen Association (MNOSA) in Willingdon Island was there, it was being controlled mostly by the Chairman of Cochin Port Trust, who was also the Chairman of Merchant Navy Officers and Seamen Association. The secretary of MNOSA used to be the Surveyor in-charge of MMD in his ex-officio capacity. Managing committee's strength of MNOSA was around seven, comprising of representatives from various sectors like Chamber of Commerce, District Collector, few Shipping Agents and the Secretary and Chairman. Strangely, the General body of MNSOA had only the members of Managing Committee, as a result, both managing committee and the General Body were practically the same. Since representation of seafarers was only one, in effect, the interest of seafarers was not adequately protected. MNOSA was not often frequented by the seafarers.
It was in this scenario the need to bring all seafaring officers and their families in one platform, was felt by the stalwarts. Late Mr. P.L. D’Abreo and Mr. A.T. Joseph, the veterans in the field took initiative and Mariner’s Nite committee was formed at Cochin. It consisted of selfless and dedicated Masters and Chief Engineers from Cochin area. Accordingly, extensive planning and organising of the event was carried out and first Mariner’s Nite was celebrated at hotel Taj Malabar on 4th April 1993. About 200 Seafarers including their families participated and enjoyed the company of each other in the first Mariner’s Nite of Cochin. This was the beginning and thereafter, there was no looking back about this annual event. It is being held for the last 32 years without a break. One speciality of the event is that each year one senior Master and a Chief Engineer were honoured along with their better halves. This practice is being continued till this day.
Gradually other associations of Seafarers took shapes at Cochin. One example is the Kerala Marine Forum which took shape by the effort of Capt. P Krishnan. This forum functioned for a few years with the help and cooperation of about 40 mariners of Cochin region, but had an untimely demise.
Institute of Marine Engineers, Cochin branch was very lively with several activities at Cochin since the year 1975. Seminars, Symposia and workshops were being regularly conducted under the auspicious of this professional body. INSEMTANK was the first major seminar. An eight yearly event of 'COMARSEM' was organised at Cochin, of which COMARSEM 95 was international in nature and a resounding success.
CMMI commenced its activities in Cochin in the year 1993 and later Nautical Institute also started functioning here. The latest valuable addition to the mariner’s activity in Cochin was the formation and functioning of Marine Officers Cricket Club (MOCC).
Eventually, a thought came to the minds of seafarers at Kochi, that a registered body should be floated covering the seafarers activities as an umbrella organisation. The result was the formation of Mariners Society encompassing practically all sections of seafarers ie. CMMI, IMEI, NI, MOCC and Mariners Nite. Mariners Society is registered under Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration act 1955, with Register No. EKM/ TC/179/2016, with the registered address: uarter Deck, Merchant Navy club, Willingdon Island, Kochi 682009. This society functions in tandem with other likeminded association operating at Trichur, Palakkad, Calicut and else where in Kerala

Compiled by Dr. K.A. SIMON, Shri.A.R. BHASKARAN & Shri. V.V. PAUL

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