Engr. Maruf Muhammad Jahirul Islam, a marine Engineer and an entrepreneur, founded the Ocean Maritime Academy in 2012. He was born on 1 January 1977 in Chatkhil, Noakhali, Bangladesh. His father was a recognized and awarded teacher.
Earlier he had completed his Secondary, Higher Secondary and Marine Engineering respectively from Saptagaon Adarsha High School in 1992, Ispahani Public School & College-Comilla in 1994 and Bangladesh Marine Fisheries in 1999.
Later he built Ocean Marine Services (a Ship Channeling, Marine Spare parts supply & Exporter, Bunker supply-MGO / HFO / MDO / Lube Oil, Deck and Engine Store supply, Repairing & Servicing of ship equipments, Painting & Paint supply, Navigational & Safety equipments supply and Construction of Bridge, Building, transmission line, roads & highway) in Port City, Chittagong by leaving his job. Simultaneously, he also built Ocean Maritime Training Institute and Ocean Maritime Academy for making real and delighted Human Resource in 2012. Currently, he also has built a ship manning company named “Golden Career Ship Management” for giving direct job opportunity to seafarers of all categories. He is a passionate and innovative business entrepreneur who owns MM Transport and Trading (all types of Dump Truck, Excavator related services), Sami Advance Dredging & Shipping Co Ltd (a river dredging and shipping Company), Tahmida Fisheries & Sea Food Co., Pacific Composite Agro Firm Ltd. (an integrated Agricultural firm where producing and processing fresh and pure-organic fish, milk, meat, crops, vegetables and fruits).
As a part of social responsibility, he established the Abu Taher Master Foundation in honor of his father. This foundation actively engages in philanthropy by offering home nursing services for the elderly, aid to fishermen in coastal areas, organizing Environment Awareness Programs, Water and Sanitation initiatives for the underprivileged, and providing employment opportunities for the unemployed within his community.
In the shipping industry, we engage in international passenger and freight transport, as well as inland waterway transportation. The ports industry involves various activities such as warehousing, cargo handling, and port management, benefiting public sector employees. The marine industry deals with shipbuilding and marine renewable energy.
Additionally, maritime business services include ship breaking, insurance, legal services, education, consultancy, finance and more.
Engr. Maruf highlights the vulnerabilities of our seafarers, emphasizing the need for a robust navigational system, improved communication, weather forecast training, and economic alternatives during the offseason, adult education, and security measures against piracy.
To strengthen our economy, need to focus on the improvement of ports, marine sectors and side by side overall infrastructure, including human resources. As of now Bangladesh boasts four sea ports and approximately 22 riveports, offering ample opportunities for economic growth.
Drawing inspiration from Singapore’s transformation from a fisherman-oriented economy to a developed nation with just one port, Maruf suggests that Bangladesh, with over 20 ports, can achieve similar success through proper planning and effective implementation.
Ocean shipping services play a pivotal role in transporting over 80 percent of globally traded goods. Essentially, maritime trade is a fundamental aspect of our interconnected world and the products we use daily. These items likely originate from countries such as China, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, the USA, the UAE, KSA, Brazil, while we, in turn, export goods like garments and tea to meet the demands of various countries.
Amidst this extensive global trade, it prompts us to ponder: What efforts and coordination go into ensuring the swift and secure delivery of these products and those individuals who are responsible for management of these ocean vessels.
