~The programme was formally inaugurated by Hon. Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, signifying a landmark moment in the advancement of legal education through the integration of cutting edge technology.Launched at the Gujarat National Law University Convocation, the Programme developed by Maersk Training with support from APM Terminals Pipavav’s CSR initiatives, aims to strengthen experiential learning in maritime law and dispute resolution~
A first-of-its-kind AI enabled Virtual Reality Courtroom Simulation Programme was introduced, marking a significant step forward in immersive legal education. The programme places learners inside a fully interactive virtual courtroom, enabling them to practice advocacy, evidence presentation, judicial engagement, and strategic legal reasoning in realistic, high stakes scenarios. It is designed to transform how courtroom skills are taught by moving from theory to experiential learning.
Launched during the Sixteenth Convocation Ceremony of Gujarat National Law University, the initiative is driven by APM Terminals Pipavav under its Corporate Social Responsibility commitment, and developed by Maersk Training for Gujarat Maritime University. While applicable across diverse areas of law, the platform also supports complex maritime disputes and sector specific case simulations.
The convocation was graced by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, as Chief Guest, along with Hon’ble Mr. Justice Aravind Kumar, Judge, Supreme Court of India; Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Sunita Agarwal, Chief Justice, High Court of Gujarat; and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Nilay Vipinchandra Anjaria, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Visitor, GNLU.
The AI-enabled VR courtroom simulation offers an immersive learning environment that enables students to engage with realistic legal scenarios in a simulated courtroom setting, strengthening practical exposure in maritime law, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. By bridging the gap between classroom instruction and real-world application, the programme is designed to build industry-relevant competencies within the evolving legal landscape including maritime disputes and arbitration.
By enabling this initiative, APM Terminals Pipavav continues to support institutional capacity building within Gujarat’s maritime and legal education ecosystem. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing innovation-driven learning and strengthening the state’s maritime sector through structured academic-industry partnerships.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India, said,
“This is an impressive initiative by APM Terminals Pipavav. It is a valuable step towards strengthening the practical training of lawyers and I can see a promising future for it”
Girish Aggarwal, Managing Director, APM Terminals Pipavav, said,“As India’s maritime sector continues to expand in scale and complexity, the integration of advanced digital and AI-driven capabilities is no longer optional, it is foundational.At APM Terminals Pipavav, we believe that strengthening the maritime ecosystem goes beyond infrastructure, it includes investing in education, innovation, and institutional capacity. Through this CSR-supported initiative, we are pleased to contribute to a forward-looking learning platform that equips students with practical exposure and industry-relevant competencies, building leadership and expertise that will shape the next phase of India’s maritime growth.”
Speaking on the occasion, Col, Ankur Vashishtha, CSR Head, APM Terminals Pipavav, said,
“Supporting education and skill development is a key pillar of our CSR philosophy. Through this initiative, we are pleased to contribute to an innovative learning platform that equips students with practical exposure and future-oriented competencies relevant to the maritime and legal sectors.”
Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, Director, Gujarat National Law University and Provost, Gujarat Maritime University, added,“The integration of AI-enabled virtual reality tools into legal education represents an important step towards experiential and practice-oriented learning. This initiative strengthens our efforts to equip students, particularly in maritime law and dispute resolution, with the skills and exposure required in an evolving global legal landscape. We appreciate the support extended through this collaboration.”