Speakers

KB Singh 

 K.B. Singh & Associated

Corrosion Prevention of Steel Tubular Piles installed in Marine Environment for LNG Jetties

With over 35 years of extensive consulting and training experience, I am a seasoned professional specializing in pipeline coating, field joint coating, and cathodic protection. My expertise spans 25 years in these critical areas, where I have consistently delivered top-notch solutions and insights to various industry challenges.

As an esteemed instructor at NACE INDIA Gateway section (NIGIS) pipeline corrosion courses for the past decade, I have empowered countless professionals with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in coatings and cathodic protection. My dedication to excellence led to my nomination by NACE as a specialist representative on the Standards Committee of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), specifically in MTD24. In this role, I contributed significantly to the review and upgradation of standards pertaining to coatings and cathodic protection for hydrocarbon cross-country pipelines, ensuring adherence to the highest industry benchmarks.

Furthermore, I have had the privilege of serving as an ASME Instructor for Pipeline Coatings, further solidifying my reputation as a trusted authority in the field. My passion for continuous learning and innovation drives me to stay at the forefront of industry developments, enabling me to provide cutting-edge solutions and guidance to clients and colleagues alike. With a proven track record of excellence, a commitment to ongoing professional development, and a passion for sharing knowledge, I am dedicated to making a lasting impact in the realm of pipeline integrity and corrosion prevention. Let's connect and explore how we can collaborate for success in our dynamic industry

Heramb Trifaley

AGEP India Pvt. Ltd

Defy the Deep: Uncompromising Corrosion Control for the Maritime Industry

Heramb Trifaley is a Paint Technologist with over 25 years of experience in the protective coatings industry. An AMPP Senior Certified Coating Inspector, he serves as a Lead Instructor for the AMPP Coating Inspector Program and as a Lead Instructor for OSHA 29 CFR Subpart L 1926.454 Scaffolding. He previously held the position of Vice Chairman at the NACE International Gateway India Section (2020–2022). Heramb’s expertise spans a wide range of industries, including oil and gas (upstream and downstream), chemicals and fertilizers, heavy fabrication, projects and newbuilds, marine and shipping, renewable and thermal power, and high-value infrastructure. He is currently the Managing Director at AGEP India Pvt. Ltd. (India), Director at EAC International LLC (USA), Principal Consultant at Blue E Tech Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Partner at AGEP Ltd. (Thailand), and Technology Consultant at Innovative Products Consortium (India).

Urvesh Vala

Head of Material Engineering Technology - L&T

Protecting Assets in the Deep: Advance Coatings for Marine Environments

Marine infrastructure faces persistent threats from corrosion, abrasion, and biofouling, demanding robust strategies for long-term asset preservation. Advancements in coating technologies specifically engineered for harsh marine environments, including novel metallic, ceramic, and hybrid systems that offer superior protection for submerged and offshore assets. The latest developments in thermal spray, conversion, and multifunctional coatings, examining their effectiveness through electrochemical analysis, surface characterization, and performance in accelerated and field exposures. Findings underscore how these advanced coatings enhance structural resilience by providing both sacrificial and barrier protection, reducing maintenance costs, and extending service life. The synthesis also addresses emerging solutions—such as self-healing and nanostructured coatings—pointing toward future innovations in marine asset protection.

Prashant Rajotkar

Former Director - Naval Materials Research Laboratory of DRDO, Ambernath

Combating Maritime Corrosion: Indian Navy and DRDO Synergy

Shri Prashant Rojatkar is an acknowledged expert in development of Artillery rockets, their launching systems, C3I and support systems. He has been instrumental in design and development of the prestigious Pinaka weapon  system which is today not only possessed by the Indian Army but has also been exported. Pinaka weapon system has been deployed by Indian Army in the frontline areas and is today guarding India’s eastern and western borders. Pinaka weapon system development, productionisation and transfer of its Quality Management System took place under his leadership. As project director, development of Guided Pinaka rocket system also matured under his leadership. The tremendous efforts put up by him and his team has led to India’s self-reliance in the area of Artillery rockets and launching systems. 

Zuber Khan

Managing Director - Consultech

Advances in Impressed Current Cathodic Protection Systems for Ship Building Applications

Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) systems remain a cornerstone for preventing electrochemical corrosion of ship hulls and submerged structures. Recent advances span anode materials (mixed metal oxides, titanium-based substrate coatings), power-source efficiency (PWM-controlled rectifiers, energy-harvesting integration), and digital monitoring (real-time sensors, remote telemetry, and predictive analytics). Improved anode geometries and mounting methods reduce stray current and boost current distribution uniformity, while integrated coating-ICCP design philosophies permit thinner, higher-performance coatings with reduced lifecycle cost. Modern numerical tools (finite-element and boundary-element models) enable accurate prediction of current requirements and stray-current interaction for complex hull geometries. These technological and methodological improvements collectively increase protection reliability, lower maintenance, and better align ICCP systems with environmental and regulatory constraints. Remaining challenges include managing biofouling effects, minimizing interference with nearby structures, and standardizing data-driven maintenance protocols. Future directions emphasize AI-driven condition monitoring, hybrid sacrificial/ICCP systems for redundancy, and low-impact power solutions for greener ship operation.

Dr R Venkatesan PhD

Fellow NACE - CMarTec

Corrosion and the Blue Economy: Protecting Oceans, Assets, and Futures

India’s expansive 11,099 km coastline—including its island territories—forms the backbone of the nation’s Blue Economy, underpinning maritime trade, energy production, fisheries, and coastal livelihoods. However, corrosion remains a silent yet formidable threat, steadily degrading critical infrastructure such as ports, pipelines, offshore energy platforms, naval assets, and fishing harbours. The resulting economic and environmental toll is substantial.

In tropical waters, biocorrosion—driven by microbial activity—accelerates material degradation, compounding maintenance burdens and financial losses. National initiatives like Sagarmala present a strategic opportunity to integrate advanced corrosion management into port-led development frameworks.

Dr. R Baloji Naik

Naval Materials Research Laboratory

Marine corrosion and its prevention by coating

Dr R. Baloji Naik did his M. Sc (Organic Chemistry) from Osmania University, Hyderabad and Ph. D from Mumbai University, Mumbai. R. Baloji Naik has been working as a Scientist in Naval Materials Research Laboratory (Defence Research and Development Organization-DRDO), Ambernath, Maharastra for the last 17 years and involved in the development of various organic coatings for Indian Navy. Indian Navy is using some of his developed coatings regularly on naval ships. He is also involved in the paint failure analysis of paint samples received from naval ships. He is continuously providing technical support to Navy and NMRL ToT firms in the field of marine coatings. Dr R Baloji Naik has made significant contributions to the corrosion field in terms of publications. He has seven (3 granted and 4 filed) Indian patents and more than twenty five technical reports to his credit. He published more than twenty five research papers in reputed international peer reviewed journals and presented more than 30 papers in national and international conferences. He has also provided guidance to two PhD and eight M Tech/M Sc project students and presently guiding three Ph Ds. He was runner up for 5th National Award for Technology Innovation, 2015 organized by CIPET, India and Ministry of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt. of India. He has received Distinction in Corrosion Science and Technology award in the year 2016 and three best paper awards in CORCON 2016, 2019 and 2022 respectively from NACE International Gateway India section. He has awarded prestigious DRDO Young Scientist Award for the year-2016. His name has published in the Paint square journal for prestigious award as top people in the category of top formulator. He has received Lab level technology group award for the year 2020 as one of the team members. He has bestowed with National Science Day Oration 2021 medal and certificate from DRDO. He has received runner up award of 11th National Award for Technology Innovation, 2021 organized by CIPET, India and Ministry of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt. of India as one of the team members. Recently, He has received Meritorious Contribution Award-2023 under Research and Development Organization category from AMPP India Chapter.