The institute will offer a four-year marine engineering course (residential) to students who have passed higher secondary. The first course having 24 seats is expected to commence from July 1, 1998. The capacity may be doubled in 1999.

According to Ratan L Jain, former president of IME, the navy will provide space and facilities for the institute while IME will provide the required technical and teaching support."They are in the process of getting affiliation from the Andhra University", he added. Almost all the marine training institutes have the backing of the respective state universities so the degrees offered have required recognition. For instance, the nautical science degree offered by the training ship Chanakya at Navi Mumbai is given by the Mumbai University.

According to Jain, IME will conduct an initialsurvey to know as to what extent the training offered by the navy matches the STCW (standard of training, certification and watchkeeping) guidelines.

"The survey will help us to get the navy updated on the issue", he said. IME will then prepare a scheme for the institute and get the approval of the directorate general of shipping. He disclosed that even the Tuticorin port trust has shown interest in setting up a training institute. The proliferation of the marine institutes is a good sign for the shipping industry where the demand for the marine engineers have always surpassed the supply.

According to study conducted by the IME in 1996, around 800 engineers were trained in the country against a demand of 1,500. There is also a high demand for Indian marine engineers from foreign shipowners.

IME, which was set up in 1980, has been pioneering the cause of providing marine engineering degrees. The institute also provides one-year course to mechanical engineers who want to join merchant navy. IME has around5,000 corporate and non-corporate members and is organising a international maritime conference this month.