National Inland Navigation Institute (NINI) has been setup by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to develop human resource for Inland Water Transport sector. The institute provides induction, up gradation and professional development training to the manpower for manning, operating inland vessels and to the IWAI staff for development of waterways and for repair and maintenance of vessels.

NINI provides fully residential Course for trainees seeking fresh employment in the sector. The training conforms to syllabus promulgated by the state water transport department as per Inland vessel Act 1917 for obtaining respective certificate of competency. Personnel trained at NINI can work on board Inland vessels owned by Government, Public, and Private sector on deck and in engine room depending upon their training, qualification and certification acquired by them.

The institute arranges professional development courses on hydrographic surveying, dredging, repair, maintenance & operations of Inland vessels as well as on river training and morphing.

The institute is uniquely positioned to offer a complete spectrum of training in Inland water transport sector. NINI can design company specific courses tailor cut to the requirements of the organization. The institute is ISO 9001:2008 certified by American Bureau of Shipping and international quality certifying authority.

The institute is approved by Director at General of Shipping for conduct of NCV preparatory course for NWKO (Near Coastal Voyages) certification of Competency and Basic Safety Courses. The institute is also approved by Directorate General of Shipping to conduct Radar Observer Simulator Course (ROSC), Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA), Ship Maneuvering Simulator Course (SMS) and Electronic Chart Display and Information System course (ECDIS) and STCW 2010.