The Vikrant maritime museum may yet be a distant dream, but a new maritime gallery in the city makes a small attempt to create awareness about Mumbai as a maritime city.

Spread over a modest 1,000 square feet at World Trade Centre in Cuffe Parade, the maritime gallery showcases the history of shipping in Mumbai using images, ship models and photo panels. The two walls of the gallery are smoothly shaped to look like the exterior of a merchant ship, complete with anchor and propellors.

But why the World Trade Centre? ``Because shipping and trade go together,'' explains Asha Sheth, chairperson of the foundation. ``This is the first step in an attempt to arouse the curiosity of people, particularly the youth, about the city's coastal heritage.'' The foundation had earlierunsuccessfully tried for space at the Prince of Wales museum. ``If the Vikrant museum comes up all this can be combined and displayed on it,'' says Sheth, who is anxious that the Vikrant project overcomes its hurdles.

The permanent exhibition is to be formally inaugurated by Vice Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command on Wednesday.

The foundation was set up six years ago in the memory of Vasant J Sheth, founder of the country's largest private sector shipping company. It aimed at creating better awareness of ships and shipping, maritime education, awareness of the oceans and seas and related activities.

``Though we live in Mumbai we never get the feel of living in a port city. We hope to redress some of that through this exhibition,'' says gallery designer Suresh Sethi.

Work on the gallery began two years ago. The chairperson admits the gallery has been delayed by two months. It was originally planned for 1998, the Year of the Ocean as well as the 50th year ofthe Great Eastern Shipping Company.