Smart Freight Centre (SFC) has announced the appointment of Captain Prashant S. Widge as Director Maritime and Executive Director India. In his dual leadership role, Capt. Widge will spearhead SFC’s strategic expansion in India while leading and scaling its global maritime workstream.
Capt. Widge brings more than 25 years of experience across the maritime, shipping, logistics, and sustainability ecosystem, spanning seafaring command, enterprise leadership, policy engagement, and large-scale transformation. He joins SFC from A.P. Møller – Maersk, where he most recently served as Head of ESG, Public and Regulatory Affairs for South Asia and as the company’s principal regional representative.
At Smart Freight Centre, Capt. Widge will be responsible for shaping the next phase of SFC India’s growth in alignment with the organisation’s global strategy. His mandate includes defining and delivering the strategic roadmap for SFC’s global maritime portfolio, accelerating the adoption of zero-emission freight solutions, strengthening emissions accounting and data-driven decarbonisation, developing scalable finance and market interventions, and building robust public-private partnerships across maritime, aviation, and multimodal freight segments.
Prof. Dr. Ing. Christoph Wolff, Chief Executive Officer of Smart Freight Centre, said the appointment would significantly strengthen the organisation’s global capabilities. “Capt. Prashant’s maritime expertise and leadership at the intersection of sustainability, policy, and complex stakeholder systems will be instrumental in accelerating SFC India’s impact and positioning India as a leader in zero-emission freight pathways,” he said.
During his tenure at Maersk, Capt. Widge pioneered the company’s global ship recycling programme, co-conceived the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI), and represented the company in the Climate Group’s SteelZero initiative. He also led global decarbonisation efforts with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union, and industry coalitions, advanced green fuel origination partnerships with governments and suppliers, and strengthened Maersk’s public and regulatory affairs function in South Asia.
Commenting on his appointment, Capt. Widge said Smart Freight Centre occupies a critical role in translating data, standards, and collaboration into tangible emissions reductions. “As freight decarbonisation moves from ambition to execution, my focus will be on building scalable, outcome-driven programmes that align policy intent, industry readiness, and investment confidence. I look forward to working closely with governments, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners to accelerate zero-emission freight across road, maritime, aviation, and multimodal supply chains,” he said.
