This week, more than 200 executives from the energy, banking, and shipping industries gathered port officials and legislators in Tokyo to promote the decarbonization of shipping and strive toward a new benchmark for the welfare of seafarers.
The seventh Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit came to a close with the declaration that Antwerp will host the gathering, which is widely regarded as the shipping industry’s Davos, in 2025.
Belgium’s central importance was also emphasized by Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
There were heated discussions on the marine industry’s future, namely about the welfare of seafarers, speeding up the sector’s decarbonization, and enhancing accountability and governance.
Industry leaders in attendance were assured by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez that the regulatory body will successfully strike a consensus at the Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting next year.
Bridging the price gap between conventional and green fuels and guaranteeing a fair and equitable transition were two policy concerns that surfaced at the Summit. It was emphasized that the industry cannot continue to wait and see, even while the IMO has made strides in developing a roadmap. Now, attention needs to turn to workable economic models. The necessity of a long-term, inclusive change that prioritizes involvement from the Global South is equally crucial.
Rebuilding trust with mariners was at the heart of discussions on human sustainability.
