(NEWS) In Memoriam: Dr. C.P. Srivastava, KCMG

July

2013

In Memoriam: Dr. C.P. Srivastava, KCMG

Dr. C.P. Srivastava, KCMG, IMO Secretary-General Emeritus, WMU Founding Chancellor Emeritus, has passed away in Genoa, Italy on 22 July, aged 93.

Dr. Srivastava was indisputably the founding father of the World Maritime University. He made extraordinary efforts, as the longest-ever serving Secretary-General of the IMO, to secure the generous co-operation of the Swedish Government, so that his dream of a postgraduate university focused on educating the maritime leaders of the future could become a reality in Malmö, Sweden on 4 July 1983.

At WMU's recent celebration of its 30th anniversary at IMO on 10 July, Dr. Srivastava, unable to attend due to his health, sent a message through the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Koji Sekimizu. Dr. Srivastava said: “The excellence that the World Maritime University has achieved in providing a variety of education, research opportunities, outreach programs, and specialized courses to the world maritime community is a matter of great pride….The principal goal of creating a parity between the expertise and knowledge of developed and developing nations has been and will continue to be served. The mission of uniting the world maritime community so that they are able to follow and interpret the global regime of maritime protocols and conventions is realized. At my age of 93 years, I feel fortunate to have lived to see the high water mark of achievements of the World Maritime University.”

WMU President, Dr. Björn Kjerfve, extended his sincere condolences to Dr. Srivastava’s family and friends on the behalf of the entire World Maritime University community. "It was with great sadness that the WMU community learned of the passing of Dr. C.P. Srivastava. He was an inspirational figure and the founding father of WMU. Through his lifetime, he remained closely connected to the University. He will always be remembered for his significant achievements during his tenure as the first Secretary-General of the IMO as well as making possible the education of some 4,000 maritime leaders globally through the World Maritime University. Dr. Srivastava was a giant who threw a long shadow. We are privileged to have known him, and I benefited personally from his continued concern for the University."

More information about the work of Dr. Srivastava as the IMO Secretary-General can be found here.

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