External relations
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
Resilience at the core
By Guy Platten, Secretary General
The world is ever-changing and shipping remains the integral cog for the continuity of global trade. There is no doubt we are witnessing a shift in the global trade landscape, with geopolitical conflict, rising protectionism, and the breakdown of multilateral cooperation becoming increasingly common. Additionally, we are currently facing one of the biggest challenges ahead – to decarbonise shipping and meet our net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. But one thing that remains constant is that as an industry we are much more resilient and cohesive to meet these challenges. We are fortunate as an industry that we are comprehensively regulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), allowing for truly multilateral, well-formed global regulations.
If we are to look back over the past decade, we have weathered some heavy storms that have impacted our industry; COVID 19, the war in Ukraine, the Ever Given blocking the Suez Canal, the Houthi forces striking merchant ships in the Red Sea, to name but a few. However, with each of these challenges the industry has found solution to ensure trade continues – shipping has and will always find a way.
This resilience is now instilled in our industry and will be key to decarbonising shipping. The recent outcome of MEPC 83 in April is a significant milestone but must now be capitalised on. If the new regulatory framework for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is adopted at MEPC ES (Extraordinary Session) in October, this would reflect a serious commitment by governments to align international shipping with broader climate objectives, whilst simultaneously sending a strong signal to markets, investors, and the public that the maritime industry is prepared to make its contribution to the global energy transition.
The scale of the task ahead is substantial – the work does not end with the announcement of an agreement. The framework must now be implemented, and that implementation must be both effective and realistic. For shipowners and energy producers, the immediate priority is the establishment of a regulatory structure that is not only ambitious but also practical. We need a structure that provides clarity, predictability, and the necessary incentives to support investment in people, new fuels, propulsion systems, and technologies.
We will also require trillions of dollars to make this viable. Billions of dollars are already being invested in alternative fuel-capable vessels, fuel infrastructure, and research into carbon-reducing technologies. But progress on this front cannot be sustained without regulatory certainty. Producers of new fuels, for example, must be confident that their investments will have long-term viability. The same applies to ports, operators, and insurers. The IMO framework must now catalyse the broader transition and provide the assurance that international shipping requires in order to move forward at the pace that is necessary.
None of this will be possible without our seafarers of course. They are key to the energy transition, and to the lasting resilience of the industry. One of the key outcomes of our Seafarer 2050 Summit, held in Manila in 2023, was that collaboration and investment are key to tackling the challenges of seafarer training and seafarer recruitment & retention. It is great to see that this has been incorporated in the new agreement at the IMO following MEPC. Without our seafarers the transformation of shipping will be stifled, and global trade put at risk, so I urge all maritime leaders to have them at the forefront of key decisions to ensure for an efficient and sustainable future.
European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA)
By Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General
2024 was a critical year for European shipping, marked by major geopolitical challenges, the implementation of the EU climate legislations, and a strong focus on enhancing industrial competitiveness. In the first half of the year, the Presidency of the Council of the EU was run skilfully by Belgium, delivering significant progress in a lot of policy files.
With increasing pressure to secure Europe’s economic, energy and supply chain security, shipping’s strategic role has come at the forefront. One of the main messages of the European Shipowners has been the use of the revenues generated under the EU ETS for the energy transition of the sector and for bridging the enormous price gap between conventional and clean fuels. Through a series of workshops, strategic dialogues, and direct engagement with EU institutions, European Shipowners | ECSA ensured that the voice of European shipowners was clearly heard in Brussels. Ahead of the European elections in June 2024, European Shipowners published their Policy Priorities for 2024–2029 striving for our main objective to keep European shipping internationally competitive. Key priorities for the next five years include boosting the production and uptake of clean fuels for shipping, securing adequate ship financing and funding mechanisms, safeguarding the global level playing field, and supporting maritime skills and jobs as the industry transitions to climate neutrality and digitalisation.
Coalition building was key to this progress. The launch of the Clean Maritime Fuels Platform and a joint event in the European Parliament with Transport & Environment showcased broad support for reinvesting EU ETS revenues to bridge the price gap with clean fuels. We also welcomed the European Parliament’s adoption of the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA), which is a major win for the maritime sector. By recognising sustainable fuels for shipping as strategic technologies and introducing a 40% production benchmark, the Act laid the foundation for an industrial strategy geared to boost the availability of clean fuels in Europe.
Maritime security also returned to the top of the policy agenda, as Houthis’ attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea continued in 2024. European Shipowners supported the swift launch of EU NAVFOR ASPIDES and called for robust EU action to safeguard the safety of seafarers and maritime trade routes.
The maritime workforce also remained a priority. To celebrate the International Day of the Seafarer, we co-organised with the Antwerp Maritime Academy a successful day of discussions bringing together students, industry and policymakers to discuss how innovation and training can attract the next generation at sea. Together with the European Transport Workers Federation, we also launched the Seafarers Go Digital initiative, putting forward recommendations to address the digital transition for seafarers. Last but not least, we supported the organisation of the first Maritime Diversity & Inclusion Honours, organised by WISTA Belgium in the context of the 2024 Belgian Presidency of the EU.
The election of the new European Parliament and the confirmation of the new Commission reshaped the political landscape. The landmark report by Mario Draghi on the Competitiveness of the European economy recognised shipping as one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise, requiring €40 billion in annual investment. The re-election of Ursula von der Leyen included a pledge to convert the Green Deal into a Clean Industrial Deal, while within his mandate the new European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, will put forward an EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, aiming to enhance the competitiveness of the sector. To prepare for this crucial debate, we released in September two strategic position papers: one on the EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, and another on clean fuels, calling for a level global playing field and urgent support for clean fuel production in Europe.
As Europe navigates towards a new institutional cycle, European Shipowners | ECSA will continue to stress the strategic role of shipping as a cornerstone of Europe’s energy, food and supply chain security.
