Mumbai, June 26: SHM Global one of the foremost companies in shipbuilding, ship management, and maritime safety, were felicitated by Mr. Praveen K. Mishra, Managing Director, Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), an IACS member classification society, in recognition of the company’s contribution to advancing indigenous maritime capabilities through the development of lifeboats for the maritime sector. The felicitation ceremony was held at the IRS Headquarters in Powai, Mumbai.
The recognition acknowledges SHM Global’s successful development of the KISS 700 and PN95FA totally enclosed fire protected lifeboats, indigenously designed and manufactured in India. Developed in collaboration with Palfinger Marine and backed by type approval certifications from IRS, the lifeboats represent a significant milestone in enhancing India’s self-reliance in critical maritime and offshore infrastructure.
Mr. Praveen K. Mishra, Managing Director, Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) states
“I’d like to congratulate SHM Global on turning their dream into reality. Despite stringent and elaborate IMO requirements, SHM Global achieved full compliance and certification within a short span of time which is a genuinely challenging feat. I encourage other Indian manufacturers in the maritime sector to pursue IRS type approval and become indigenous producers. This reduces our reliance on foreign imports and strengthens India’s self-reliance, a true step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
The Indian Register of Shipping, India’s leading maritime classification society, plays a key role in setting technical, safety and performance standards for ships and marine systems. Mr. T. Ghosh, Senior Principal Surveyor, Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) said
“I would like to congratulate the SHM team — this was a complex project, as this type of lifeboat has never been built in India before. Saifuddin Hajee’s vision brought to life the PN95FA and KISS 700, both enclosed lifeboats designed for tankers and built to SOLAS standards. With Palfinger as a strong technical partner and SHM Global’s own capability and experience, the boat successfully cleared IRS’s rigorous design appraisal and testing for lifesaving appliances. We’re proud to have reviewed the documentation and finally issued the certificate, taking lifeboat design in India to a new level.”
Mohammed Hajee, CEO, Maritime Safety and Security, SHM Globalsaid
“Marine safety systems are mission critical for maritime operations. This recognition from the Indian Register of Shipping is a matter of pride for SHM Global. It reflects the commitment and efforts of our teams in developing indigenous marine safety solutions in India.”
The Group’s philosophy of designing to meet Indian requirements while building products capable of competing on global standards was witnessed through this project. IRS as well, responded positively to this vision.
The achievement highlights SHM Global’s commitment to strengthening the domestic maritime manufacturing ecosystem through innovation, engineering excellence, and the principles of the Make in India initiative. It also aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision aimed at reducing dependence on imports and building indigenous capabilities in strategic sectors. Till date, SHM Global holds approvals on 8-10 products across categories, with more in the pipeline.
The felicitation by the Indian Register of Shipping reflects the role of regulatory and classification bodies in encouraging indigenous innovation and reinforcing confidence in domestically developed maritime solutions.