"The first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020 occurred just one week after Bamboat Marine Pvt Ltd (BMPL) began operations. This was the greatest challenge that the organization has faced, till date,” said Capt Rayomand Bamboat who, along with his wife Hutoxi, née Jilla, formed a marine operations and consultancy organization in January of that year. "The complete shutdown could have rung a death knell for a fledgling company that was operations-based. However, with the greatest of perseverance, patience and common sense” they weathered the storm. "Some projects were executed even during the second lockdown period, and all operations were completed smoothly,” he explained.
Although BMPL is registered in Visakhapatnam (the closest and largest port near Secunderabad), "the operations are also carried out from Cochin, in Kerala in the south to Sewagram, near Jakhau, in Gujarat, Rayomand said. The organization also has offices in Daman, along with Bombay, Madras, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. They are involved with an upcoming major port planned by the Government of India close to Umbergam town in Valsad District. The company is currently based in Daman, in the union territory of Daman and Diu.
Model of asphalt carrier
"BMPL is now in the process of stepping up to the next level and establishing a small shipbuilding and repair yard on the west coast of India, in close vicinity to Bombay, so as to commence building and repairs of small sized vessels such as tugs and barges for well-established clients. Numerous memoranda of understanding (MoUs) have been signed with these clients and the organization is in the process of actively seeking large investors who may be interested in this proposal,” said Rayomand.
BMPL is also in "advanced stages of discussion” for construction of a dumb barge (vessel to carry goods) for a Madras based client and a 60 m offshore supply vessel (OSV) for a Bombay based client. It was formed with the knowledge gained and feedback received from various stakeholders in the marine industry who were seeking tailor-made solutions to their requirements, and who required their projects to be executed with an eye for detail and a solid foundation in place. "The USP (unique selling point) of the organization is the ability to carry out proper risk analyses and gap identifications, giving our clients a clear and detailed picture of the challenges and their solutions, sometimes unorthodox, but effective,” he added.
Rayomand is a master mariner with 25+ years of maritime experience. He started his career at sea, serving on various types of vessels, shifting to shore-based operations in 2016. He has considerable experience in maritime education and has been teaching at various maritime training centers in Madras as well as Gujarat.
He joined the merchant navy in 1997 since "the call of the sea meant a world full of adventure and promise.” The sea and the air have been the sources of his most favorite activities for over two decades, and he is fully committed to all projects that come his way, whether marine or aviation. He understands the dynamic interactions between the two fields and is in constant endeavor to find common links and points of integration between the two. As he says, "Often, the solution for a marine challenge is found in the aviation field, and vice versa.”
Being the son of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot, Gev, Rayomand also obtained his private pilot’s licence at Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2008.
From l: Hutoxi, Gulshan, Arash, Gev and Rayomand Bamboat
Hutoxi is a qualified information technology (IT) professional with experience in human resources, project team assembly, function and transition activities, as well as talent acquisition management in the IT industry. She has been working with high profile clients both in India and abroad. Her unflagging efforts have enabled BMPL weather difficult times during the two Covid-19 lockdowns.
Born in Bombay, Rayomand studied in various schools across the nation while his father, a highly decorated and retired fighter-pilot, was serving in the IAF. Rayomand completed his schooling at the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bolarum Branch in Secunderabad and obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Bhavan’s Sri Ramakrishna College, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad branch. He considers Bombay and Secunderabad equally to be his home ground because of his long association with both.
"As a child, growing up in a Zoroastrian family meant that I was always exposed to the religious aspect of the community, be it lagans, navjotes, jashans or gahanbars,” he stated. His parents are religious and attend various functions as well as the community get-togethers that are held in the twin cities. The Parsi tenet of charity is also evident with his mother Gulshan carrying out various charity activities in Secunderabad for the benefit of the poor, needy, destitute and physically/mentally challenged (see "Saving a lake,” Events and Personalities, Parsiana, December 7-20, 2023). Gev ensured that all possible events related to the religion were attended unfailingly during Rayomand and his younger brother Aryamand’s formative years.
Hutoxi was born in Hyderabad and spent most of her initial school years in Navsari, Gujarat. Her family later moved to Secunderabad, where she completed her schooling, as well as her Masters in Computer Application (MCA) degree. She started her IT career with Genpact and General Electric, later moving to independent operations in 2012. The couple has a son, Arash, aged 12.
Rayomand’s hobbies include making models of ships and aircraft, both static models as well as remote-controlled ones. He is also interested in motorcycles and cars, often undertaking long road trips across the country. He enjoys cooking, and Hutoxi and Arash agree that he is a decently good cook! He has authored and self-published a fictional novel called The Lost Chef (see "Chef’s salad,” Books, Parsiana, March 7-20, 2019) and mentioned that he has written four other novels which remain unpublished for lack of time at present. While he enjoys these activities, flying will always remain his number one passion.