From the Bridge to the Battlefield for Change: My Journey to Building a Global Shipping Community

In 1997, I joined the Shipping Corporation of India as a young cadet with nothing more than a dream and determination to build a better life for my family. Coming from a middle-class background, I knew one thing with absolute clarity — I could not afford shortcuts, agents, or bribes. And I didn’t need them.

I earned my place purely on merit, and with that same mindset, I cleared every maritime exam on the first attempt — not just out of ambition, but out of necessity. Every missed promotion meant missed income, and failure simply wasn’t an option.

In 2010, I proudly took command as Captain, having sailed extensively on oil tankers. By 2014, my passion for leadership and safety standards propelled me ashore as a Marine Superintendent. But that was just the beginning.

In 2017, I founded my own marine services company, and in 2019, I partnered with a batchmate to lead an RPSL-approved company. It was there, sitting across my cabin desk from young, hopeful candidates, that I saw the painful reality repeating itself — bright minds, crushed by fraudulent agents or ready to pay outrageous fees for a job out of desperation and lack of confidence.

That was my turning point.

I realised that sitting in my office wasn’t enough. If I truly wanted to help, I had to get up, step out, and build something larger than myself.

The Birth of a Movement: Sea and Shore – Global Shipping Community

In 2021, I resigned from my directorial position and launched the concept of a Global Shipping Community — a platform designed not as a business, but as a mission.

http://www.seaandshore.in is not just a portal; it's a revolution.

A place where seafarers, shore staff, marine consultants, port professionals, and shipping companies can connect freely, transparently, and with purpose.

What Makes It Different?

•⁠  ⁠🚫 No Agents. No Hidden Fees. Just direct, verified opportunities.

•⁠  ⁠🧑‍✈️ Instant Access to Trained Seafarers & Experts – vetted and ready to perform.

•⁠  ⁠💔 Support for Victims of Fraud – providing real help and second chances.

•⁠  ⁠⚖️ A Safe Space for Jobs, Justice, and Growth – with integrity at the core.

A Mission Beyond Maritime

Today, my mission is to empower, educate, and uplift every member of our community — not just professionally, but in every aspect of their lives. From job seekers to shipping entrepreneurs, from cadets to senior officers, we are one family navigating the ocean of change together.

If you’ve ever been cheated, doubted your worth, or dreamed of something bigger in this industry — know that this space was built for you.

We’re not just building a platform.

We’re building a future — one honest connection at a time.

Let’s rewrite the story of shipping, together.

Capt. Saurabh Saraswat

Founder, Sea and Shore

Mariner | Mentor | Mission-Driven Entrepreneur

---

Captain Saurabh's Podcast on Merchant Navy Decoded (A DMET Alumni Venture)

From Sea to Community: Captain Saurabh Saraswat’s Journey from Sailing to Serving

"Jai Mata Di. Jai Hind. Jai Bharat."That’s how the podcast begins – not just a greeting, but a mindset, a mission.

One that drives Captain Saurabh Saraswat, a man who has spent years at sea, only to return and dedicate his energy to building something larger than himself – a global maritime community grounded in values, ethics, and purpose.

A Journey from Lucknow to the Oceans

Born in landlocked Lucknow, Captain Saurabh's childhood dreams had little to do with ships. His only exposure to water was the Gomti river. But something shifted during his school years. The allure of joining the Merchant Navy took root early. While his family wanted him to pursue engineering, his heart was set on the ocean. After clearing mechanical engineering exams and being selected through SCI’s direct recruitment program, he joined the Merchant Navy in 1997.

There was clarity early on: he didn’t want to be a Chief Engineer—he wanted to become a Captain. Not because of ego, but because of ambition. Coming from a middle-class family, his thinking was straightforward: instead of spending four years studying and spending money, he could start earning in those same four years.

Leaving the Sea Behind

Captain Saurabh eventually became a Master and then a Marine Superintendent. But with every step forward, he kept asking himself, “What next?” That question—simple yet powerful—eventually drove him to quit sailing in 2014. Not because the sea had nothing more to offer, but because he wanted to grow beyond its limits.

From Marine Superintendent, he became a Designated Person Ashore (DPA) and Company Security Officer (CSO) at a tanker company in Singapore. But again, the question persisted. And so, the idea of launching his own company was born.

Starting Up: The Reality Behind the Dream

Starting a company, as he candidly shares, isn’t glamorous. “Koi bhi kaam na aasan hota hai, na naamumkin (No work is easy or impossible),” he reflects.

Along with three other Marine Superintendents, he started an audit and inspection company. “We thought work would pour in—given our experience. But the first three months? Nothing.” And this is where most journeys would end. But not his.

With family support and internal resilience, they pushed through. The first year, he earned less than what he used to earn in a single month earlier. They even had to break an FD to keep things running. Then came COVID-19, ironically a blessing in disguise, which taught him resourcefulness and long-term resilience.

Leaving the RPESL Company to Serve a Larger Mission

While working as a Director at an RPSL company, he saw a darker side of the system: exploitation of seafarers, agents demanding bribes for jobs, and a culture of silence. Many seafarers came to his office in Belapur, sharing horror stories of losing money and dignity in the chase for placements.

“I felt like I had become a Captain for myself, not for my people,” he shares. That moment, and a life lesson from his mentor—"Find your purpose in life before life finds a purpose for you"—became the turning point. He resigned.

The Birth of Global Shipping Community

This led to the birth of the Global Shipping Community—a not-for-profit platform to support every seafarer, marine consultant, technical officer, shore staff, and even veterans.

The goal? Not to make money. But to eliminate service charges for seafarers, to restore dignity in recruitment, and to create awareness and training platforms driven by ethics.

This platform allows companies to post jobs without paying a fee. It allows seafarers to access information, jobs, and support without being exploited. And if any registered company asks for money, the platform publicly warns others and is prepared to file FIRs.

As Captain Saurabh puts it, “You don’t get a job because you paid someone—you get it because you have the skills.”

Not a Job Portal, But a Movement

Importantly, he insists that this is not a job portal. “We are building an organic community. You might not find a Chief Engineer today, but maybe tomorrow he will show up—not just for a job, but to support.”

Through this platform, entrepreneurs from within the maritime community are also supported—be it travel agencies, insurance companies, or fashion ventures started by officers and engineers. Discounts are offered, but more importantly, value is created.

“During COVID, the world learned the meaning of ‘No seafarers, no shipping, no shopping.’ We are the lifeblood of the global economy,” he says.

Ethics Over Money

One of the most powerful parts of the podcast discusses the culture of agents and owners justifying charging service fees. Captain Saurabh calls this out with raw honesty.

“Don’t be the one rolling down your window and giving money to a beggar in uniform just because it’s easier. Think: Do you deserve the job? Can you do it well? Or are you putting lives at risk?”

He doesn’t claim moral superiority. He acknowledges the human temptation and fear, but urges everyone to pause before paying someone for shortcuts.

Looking Ahead

What’s next? The platform is expanding to include chat-based support, forums moderated by steamship veterans, webinars on insurance and safety, and deeper collaborations with government bodies like DG Shipping.

“It's not just my fight,” he says. “If 1% of seafarers join with the same madness, we will change the system.”

The Closing Message

The podcast ends with a powerful reflection. “Before paying anyone for a job, stop. Think about your family. Think about yourself. And ask—are you truly deserving? Can you fulfill that job responsibly? If the answer is no, don’t do it.”

In a world of quick hacks and moral compromises, Captain Saurabh Saraswat reminds us that it’s possible to dream big, build honestly, and lead with integrity.

Sponsored Advert