Training of personnel, both technical and commercial, is very essential for the successful operation of any industry. With the birth and growth of Indian Merchant Marine, gradually emerged T.S DUFFERIN / T.S. RAJENDRA, Directorate of Marine Engineering (DMET), Lal Bahadur Shastri Nautical and Engineering College and other institutions for training navigating officers, marine engineers and seamen.

There was, however, no organised attempt in our country to train personnel for the commercial operations of shipping. Persons seeking professional qualifications in shipbroking used to appear for examinations conducted annually by foreign institutions. Thus there was a dire need for an Indian Institution for training of personnel on commercial aspects and management of shipping particularly in the wake of expansion of Indian Merchant Marine and Shipping activities in our country.

The National Shipping Board which is a high level advisory body set up under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 recommended to the Government of India for the establishment of an autonomous institution for training personnel and conducting examinations on the commercial aspects of shipping and for helping the shipping industry by undertaking necessary research into various problems facing the industry. The Government accepted this recommendation.

Precisely to fill up this need, an Institute of Shipping named after late Shri Narottam Morarjee in recognition of his great pioneering contributions to Indian shipping was established on 3rd January, 1969 under the joint auspices of the Government of India and the Indian Shipping Industry. The Institute is registered under the Societies Registration Act as well as under the Bombay Public Trust Act.