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Kerala has been the Maritime gateway to South India with a very long coast line. Kochi, the queen of Arabian Sea placed along this coast line, has always kept its doors open to the maritime industry. Kochi Port, an all-weather port, is most strategically located on the east west trade route. No other Indian port enjoys this proximity to the maritime highway as Kochi port. All these factors fuelled the growth of Kochi as a maritime hub. The port city of Kochi with its rich maritime background promises great potential for establishment of Maritime institutions offering specialised maritime courses and training. It was felt that establishment of a Campus of the IMU at Kochi will go a long way in promotion of the maritime sector in particular and the economy of the country as a whole, and the coastal region in particular. The LNG Petronet Project and the Container Terminal Project at Vallarpadam would also be immensely benefited in terms of manpower training from the IMU Kochi Campus. To begin with, IMU Centre at Kochi was opened with the objective of developing it later on into a full-fledged Campus. The Kochi Port Trust offered its Training Centre Complex for operating the IMU Centre at Kochi. Other facilities like workshop, fire station, Kochi Port Trust Hospital, etc. , have been made available by the Kochi Port Trust for training purposes to the IMU. Kochi Centre was incepted, and the DNS course inaugurated on August 22nd 2009 under the auspices of Dr. Christ Fernandez, Principal Secretary to the President of India. The Bhoomi Pooja for establishment of the Kochi Campus of the University was held at IMU site at Bristow Road, Willingdon Island, Kochi on Monday, the 25th January 2010 when Shri. K. Mohandas, I. A. S. , Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, laid the foundation stone. On August 1 2010, new academic programmes were inaugurated by Shri. T. K. A. Nair, Principal Secretary to Hon'ble Prime Minister. The inauguration was also graced by other dignitaries Shri. K. Mohandas, I. A. S. , Secretary, Ministry of Shipping; Shri N. Ramachandran, Chairman, Kochi Port Trust and Dr. Jose Paul, Former Chairman.