It is well known that water transportation is the cheapest mode of transportation compared to rail, road or air. It is also the safest mode and the least environmentally polluting mode of transportation, though it carries with it normal security risks. It also takes off load from road and rail. Inland, coastal and ocean waters can be used for tourism and harvesting of resources particularly fishing. This leads to large scale industrial growth particularly in small and medium sector leading to large employment generation.

Inland waterways and coastal waters are the least developed in India, particularly in the State of Odisha in spite of being a coastal state with around 480 km of coast line, which includes many rivers and the Chilika lagoon. Boats frequently capsize causing loss of life and boat. There is hardly any cargo movement, no water sports or tourism in spite of vast potential of eco-tourism and heritage tourism. Fishing activity is primitive and unsafe. The rivers and Chilika lagoon with its vast potential resources get silted, the beaches get frequently eroded leading to population migration along the coast. River waters are polluted and unsafe for human use. The administrative and regulatory mechanism in this sector is almost non-existent.

Objective

Though small in number, a group of specialists and experts have come together having expertise in the following areas:

• Oceanographic study areas – academic and research
• Technologies in the maritime sector
• Technologies in the shipbuilding and industrial sector
• Technologies and sciences in the riverine sector
• Sustainability areas in the water sector

FROST has been conceived as a conglomoration of this group of people who would provide a thought process (think tank) for growth in an independent manner based on collective knowledge and discussions. Apart from exchange of news and views related to development of entire river and waterfront ecology and infrastructure between members, the Forum is to generate awareness amongst administrators, beaurocrats and public in general  in relevant areas, disseminate knowledge and skill to various stake holders and students, assist government and other stake holders in developing a road map for progress in this sector, policy generation for this purpose and highlight immediate issues of concern and growth as and when necessary. The group also evinces keen interest in maritime history and marine archaeology.

Activities undertaken

• Seminar on Safety of Boats, 18^th January, 2017 at Bhubaneswar
• All India seminar on Natural Gas in Inland and coastal Shipping, 18-19 November, 2017 at Bhubaneswar
• Stake holders’ meet on Safety of wooden boats at CDA, Barkul on 31t march 2018
• Guidance and advice on Modification of wooden tourism boat of CDA in Chilika
• Popular lectures at schools and colleges.
• Exploratory studies on Odisha Maritime history, Ship building, Sea trade etc., A book entitled ‘Glorious Water Transport Heritage of Kalinga – Ancient to Recent Times’ has been launched in FROST function on 22.08.2023 written by the President of FROST, Professor S. C. Misra.
• International Seminar on Coastal and Inland Water Systems (CIS 2019), 16 and 17 December, 2019 at Bhubaneswar and Barkul on Chilika.
• Publication of book ‘2020 Lockdown Effects and Future Trends in Waterbody management’ consisting of 15 presentations by eminent professionals in their field of expertise.
• Webinar on ‘Waterbody Pollution’ with presentations by 7 eminent experts across the country, October 8 and 9, 2021. E-book containing the presentations has been prepared.
• Monthly webinars on various topics by eminent speakers. Recently a series of webinars on Inland Water Transport have been concluded in 2022.
• A seminar was on ‘Maritime Security’ which was followed by a quiz for students organised in association with Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar on 24.09.2023.
• A seminar on ‘Challenges and Opportunities in Design, Engineering and Creativity - Vessel Movement in Shallow Water’ was conducted on 25^th June 2025 and prizes were given to the winners of student competition CODEC 2022.
• A student competition named CODEC (Challenges and Opportunities in Design, Engineering and Creativity) is being organised as an annual event since 2022. CODEC 2024 has now been completed and CODEC 2025 is being processed now.
• A Boat festival on the Kartik Purnima day, consisting of boat model making competition among school children has been organised in 2023 and 2024 and it is slated to be an annual event.
• International Seminar on Green Technologies in Coastal and Inland Water Transportation was organised on 18 and 19 October, 2024 at Bhubaneswar.

Membership

Membership is open to all professionals, administrative officials, students, retired senior citizens interested in the development of the water based sectors. All that is required is recommendations from two executive committee members. Pleaase fillup the form online shown in the 'Membership, section and pay the fees as per instructions there.