Captain Vikas Patra joined SAMET in 2017 and is responsible for capacity building in Odisha by developing professional maritime training and marine skill development programme. As a Master Mariner he served for over eleven years as deck officer with Dole Reefer Ships, K Line Ship Management, Fleet Management, P&O Bulk Carriers, and Great Circle Shipping before becoming Head of Maritime department at Liverpool John Moores University & Lowestoft College respectively. He had taken sabbatical leave to support a new Ship Management company and acts as Regional Director for the Commonwealth of Dominica International Maritime Registry in UK and representation International Maritime Organisation HTW and MSC meetings.