About National Maritime Day
National Maritime Day marks 5 April 1919, when the SS Loyalty of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company sailed from Bombay for London, the first voyage by an Indian-owned steamship to a foreign port. India has observed it since 1964 to honour its merchant navy and seafarers, and in 2027 it falls on Monday, 5 April 2027.
Why is National Maritime Day celebrated on 5 April?
National Maritime Day is celebrated on 5 April because on that day in 1919 the SS Loyalty left Bombay for London. It was the first voyage by an Indian-owned steamship to a foreign port under an Indian flag, at a time when British lines controlled almost all shipping to and from India. The Ministry of Shipping, now the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, first observed the day in 1964, and it has been marked every year since.
The ship had a history before it became Indian. It was built as the liner RMS Empress of India and served as a hospital ship during the First World War. The industrialist Walchand Hirachand heard it was for sale and decided in February 1919 to buy it for about 25 lakh rupees. To pay for it, he joined three textile families of Bombay: Narottam Morarjee, Lallubhai Samaldas and Kilachand Devchand. Together they registered the Scindia Steam Navigation Company on 27 March 1919, and nine days later the Loyalty sailed.
What happened to Indian shipping after the SS Loyalty?
The SS Loyalty's voyage did not end British control of Indian shipping. The British India Steam Navigation Company cut its freight rates whenever Scindia entered a route, pressed merchants not to book cargo with the Indian firm, and made it hard for Scindia ships to get stevedoring and fuel at ports. When Lord Inchcape offered to buy the company out, Narottam Morarjee persuaded shareholders to refuse. Scindia was eventually admitted to the Indian coastal shipping conference, a foothold that earlier Indian ventures by Jamsetji Tata and V. O. Chidambaram Pillai had not managed to win.
- 27 Mar 1919Company registered
Walchand Hirachand and three partners found the Scindia Steam Navigation Company in Bombay.
- 5 Apr 1919SS Loyalty sails
The first Indian-owned steamship leaves Bombay for London.
- 1940A shipyard of its own
Scindia buys a shipyard at Visakhapatnam.
- 1948Jalusha launched
Jawaharlal Nehru launches the 8,000-ton Jalusha, the yard's first ship. The yard later becomes Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
- 5 Apr 1964First National Maritime Day
The government begins marking the anniversary of the Loyalty's voyage.
How is National Maritime Day observed in India?
National Maritime Day ends Merchant Navy Week, which runs from 30 March to 5 April. Through the week, the Directorate General of Shipping, port trusts, shipping companies, maritime training institutes and seafarers' unions hold seminars, medical camps, sports and cultural events in port cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kandla and Visakhapatnam. The day also serves as Merchant Navy Flag Day, and wreaths are laid for Indian seafarers who died at sea, including in the two world wars.
The main function is held in Mumbai. The 63rd National Maritime Day grand finale, on 5 April 2026, took place at the Bharat Ratnam auditorium under the theme "Maritime India, Empowering Progress", with cadets of the Indian Maritime University taking part. The Sagar Samman awards are presented there, including the Varuna Award, the country's highest individual honour in the maritime sector, given for long and outstanding service.
How many Indian seafarers are there?
India is now the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines, according to the BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report released in July 2026. The share has more than doubled in a decade.
Behind those numbers are families all over India whose son, daughter or parent spends months at a stretch on a ship. National Maritime Day is a good day to remember them too.
Which maritime days should you not confuse?
National Maritime Day is one of several days about the sea, and each is for a different group.
| Day | Date | Who it honours |
|---|---|---|
| National Maritime Day | 5 April | India's merchant navy, shipping and ports |
| Day of the Seafarer | 25 June | Seafarers worldwide, marked by the International Maritime Organization |
| World Maritime Day | Last Thursday of September | The global shipping industry, with a yearly IMO theme |
| Indian Navy Day | 4 December | The Indian Navy, India's naval fighting force |
What to write to a seafarer on National Maritime Day
A good message to a seafarer is short, thanks them for the time away, and asks for nothing back. Many ships have limited internet, so your note may be read days later.
Happy National Maritime Day. Thinking of you somewhere out there on the water. Fair winds, calm seas and a quick sign-off.
Happy Maritime Day, Papa. Every contract you did kept us in school. We're proud of you, and the house is quieter without you.
Happy National Maritime Day. The first voyage is the hardest; the SS Loyalty's was too. Learn everything and come home safe.
On National Maritime Day, thank you. You carry the house while he's at sea, and that deserves recognition too.
Happy National Maritime Day to you and the team. Most of what we use arrives by sea, and you keep it moving.
Happy Maritime Day, Captain. Decades at sea, and you still read the weather better than the forecast.
How to wish someone on National Maritime Day
National Maritime Day is about the merchant navy, not the Indian Navy. A good message thanks seafarers for months away from home, recognises their families, and wishes them fair weather and a safe sign-off. Keep it plain and practical: sailors read messages late, on patchy ship Wi-Fi, so a short note that needs no reply is kind.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English, Hindi + recipient language.
When is National Maritime Day in 2026 and 2027?
National Maritime Day is on 5 Apr every year. Only the weekday changes.
- 2026
- 2027
Frequently asked questions
When is National Maritime Day in 2027?
National Maritime Day 2027 falls on Monday, 5 April 2027.
What was the SS Loyalty?
The SS Loyalty was the steamship of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company that sailed from Bombay to London on 5 April 1919. It was the first Indian-owned steamship to sail to a foreign port under an Indian flag, and India's National Maritime Day marks that voyage.
Who founded the Scindia Steam Navigation Company?
Walchand Hirachand founded the Scindia Steam Navigation Company in Bombay on 27 March 1919 with Narottam Morarjee, Lallubhai Samaldas and Kilachand Devchand. The company bought the SS Loyalty and, from 1940, ran the Visakhapatnam shipyard that later became Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
Is National Maritime Day the same as Indian Navy Day?
No. National Maritime Day on 5 April honours the merchant navy, meaning the seafarers on cargo ships, tankers and passenger vessels. Indian Navy Day on 4 December honours the Indian Navy, the country's armed force at sea.
What is Merchant Navy Week?
Merchant Navy Week is the week from 30 March to 5 April that ends with National Maritime Day. Shipping companies, ports, training institutes and the Directorate General of Shipping hold seminars, medical camps, sports and cultural events for seafarers and their families.
What is the Varuna Award?
The National Maritime Varuna Award, part of the Sagar Samman awards, is India's highest individual honour in the maritime sector. It is given by the Directorate General of Shipping at the National Maritime Day function for sustained, outstanding contribution to Indian shipping.
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