The Board of Examinations for Seafarers Trust (BES) was formed in the year 2005 by the Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI) and Institute of Marine Engineers India (IMEI) under the authority of Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) to conduct "All India Exit Examinations for Ratings”.BES initially started conducting the exit examinations for the General-Purpose Ratings and then, added conducting the examinations for the Saloon Ratings. BES presently conducts the exit examinations for both these ratings twice in a year in June and December respectively. These ratings are those, who are completing their training from DGS approved institutes located all over India and the examinations are conducted from six examination centers Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin and Goa in fair, open, transparent and independent manner.

BES expanded its operations further by holding the examinations even for the inland vessels crew of Maharashtra Maritime Board in the year 2012 and added to its list of conducting the examinations for inland vessels crew of other states such as West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

In the year 2016, BES conducted the examinations for the marine crew of Cochin Port Trust. BES conducts the examinations for Chennai and Vishakhapatnam Port Trusts in addition to Cochin Port Trust.

BES is also actively involved in designing and developing course guidelines and materials. It developed guidelines for inland vessel courses for Maharashtra Maritime Board in the year 2020 and recently in the year 2021 developed materials for inland vessel courses for Indian Maritime University (IMU).

BES runs soft skill and hard skill enhancement programme for seafarers and distributes Training Record Books (TRBs) to ratings.

BES had started operating from the IMEI House in NaviMumbai initially for about a year and then wasshifted to a rented office in the year 2006. BES had always desired to have its own office space and the same got fulfilled on the 23rd of March 2022 when the sale deed was registered for purchase of two office units 1007 & 1008 measuring a total of 130 square meter carpet area on the 10th Floor in building named NMS Titanium situated on Plot No. 74, Sector-15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai.

BES decided to perform a Shanti Puja in its new office and invited the distinguished personalities in shipping who are / were closely associated with its activities such as Officers in Directorate General of Shipping, present trustees, past masters and presidents of CMMI and IMEI respectively and other luminaries of shipping. Shanti Puja was performed by BES on the 9th of April 2022. Shanti Puja is a spiritual and religious ceremony to offer prayers to the Lord Ganesh. It is a belief that by performing the Puja, Lord Ganesh will bless the workspace with prosperity, harmony, transmission of good vibes, infusion of positive energy, and elimination of all the obstacles. It is a tradition to start at the new venue with the blessings of Lord Ganesh.

The puja was performed with all requisite rituals. A few guests arrived with their spouses. The priest chanted holy mantras and shlokas. The Chairman and the Co-chairman of the BES Trust performed the puja. The venue was decorated with flowers. Havan was also performed and the deity was worshipped. Prasad was distributed to all the members present in the puja followed by Lunch.

The acquisition of a larger office space of its own will help BES to explore new opportunities in maritime education in India and abroad for expansion of its operations.