The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) successfully hosted a high-level pre-event to the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, titled “AI in Ports and Maritime Operations: Practice, Policy and Future”. The event brought together senior policymakers, port authorities, technology leaders, and academic experts for a focused discussion on the practical and policy dimensions of artificial intelligence in India’s maritime ecosystem, aligned with the national vision for technology-led growth articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his virtual opening remarks, Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, underscored the strategic importance of AI in improving efficiency, safety, and global competitiveness across Indian ports. He noted that the maritime sector plays a critical role in India’s growth trajectory, a priority consistently emphasised by Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, particularly in advancing innovation-led and sustainable port infrastructure.
The programme was inaugurated with the traditional lighting of the lamp by Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Tuticorin. He welcomed the gathering and set the context by stressing the need to move beyond conceptual discussions towards deployment-led innovation rooted in real port operations. The ceremonial inauguration was joined by Dr P. Raveendran, IRTS, Principal Advisor, VOCPA; Sandeep Kumar,IRSSE, Executive Director, RailTel (IoT); P. Kavin Maharaj, IOFS, Chief Vigilance Officer, VOC Port; Probal Mitra, Financial Adviser and Chief Accounts Officer, VOCPA; and Dr Manish Tiwari, Director, Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP). The inaugural proceedings set the tone for a practice-driven and policy-oriented dialogue grounded in real port operations. A defining highlight of the pre-event was the demonstration of real, operational AI use cases currently deployed at VOC Port, providing participants with direct insight into applied AI within live port environments. The session AI in Policy and Practice included presentations and discussions by the VOC Port Authority, Mr Ankush Sabharwal, CEO, CoRover AI; Sandeep Kumar, Executive Director, RailTel; a representative from Central Electronics Limited; and Mr Varun, Partner, Grant Thornton. Deliberations focused on AI-enabled decision support systems, IoT-driven monitoring, conversational AI platforms, security technologies, system integration with legacy infrastructure, measurable operational outcomes, and governance considerations around accountability in AI-assisted decision-making. The session on the Future of Maritime Tech Infrastructure brought together Dr P. Raveendran, IRTS, Principal Advisor, VOCPA; Mr Aditya Khakse, Business Lead, Hyperloop; Mr Ashwin Padmanabha, Head of Information Technology, DBGT; Mr Bhaskar Choudhuri, Executive Director, PwC India; and Mr Dhaval Joshi, Chief Executive Officer, Sahana Systems Limited. Panelists examined the adoption of Digital Twins, AI-powered sensors, blockchain-enabled systems, automated berth optimisation, and the regulatory choices shaping next-generation port infrastructure. The concluding discussion on Human–AI Synergy, moderated by Dr Manish Tiwari, Director, IGPP, featured Dr Nandakrishnan S L, Assistant Professor, Indian Maritime University; Dr Kumaran Raju, Principal Scientist, IIT Madras; Mr Prajith Nair, Founder and CEO, Docker Vision; and Mr Gaurav Saxena, Director, PwC India. The session focused on workforce preparedness, reskilling strategies, and the continuing importance of human oversight in ensuring data quality, safety, and operational resilience.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks, reaffirming VOC Port Authority’s commitment to serving as a national testbed for responsible, scalable, and human-centric AI adoption in maritime operations. Building on this momentum, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority will also host a defining panel discussion titled “AI-Powered Ports: Reimagining Efficiency and Operations” during the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026 on February 17th at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The deliberations from the pre-event are expected to inform wider national conversations at the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026, reinforcing India’s vision for smart, secure, and future-ready port infrastructure.
