Cover Image Credits: World Ports Conference 8-10 October 2024, Richard Langdon
As the maritime industry faces unprecedented challenges, the IAPH 2024 World Ports Conference in Hamburg provided an ideal platform for industry leaders to come together and address the opportunities that lie ahead.
The conference theme, Managing Risk, Building Resilience, and Unlocking Opportunities at Ports, set the tone for in-depth discussions about how ports and shipping must adapt to an increasingly complex global environment.
One of the most anticipated sessions, moderated by Margi Van Gogh, Head of Supply Chain & Transport Industries at the World Economic Forum, focused on the future of connectivity in ports and shipping. The panel featured three prominent experts: Esben Poulsson, Chair of the CEM Hubs Industry Taskforce and former Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); Nikolaus H. Schües, President of BIMCO; and Jens Meier, CEO of Hamburg Port Authority. Together, they explored how connectivity, innovation, and collaboration could reshape the maritime industry.
Esben Poulsson emphasized the need for stronger leadership and faster regulatory changes within the International Maritime Organization (IMO). While he recognised the IMO’s strategic direction, he voiced concerns about the slow pace of regulatory progress before the current Secretary-General’s appointment of Arsenio Dominguez. He highlighted the importance of collaborative governance, citing the “Just Transition” framework and the role of green corridors in fostering cooperation across the industry to support sustainability and seafarer welfare.
Nikolaus H. Schües built on Poulsson’s points, stressing the power of unity within the globally regulated maritime industry. He acknowledged the difficulties in technical and economic discussions but underscored the importance of cooperative competition among ports to achieve decarbonisation goals.
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Jens Meier spotlighted the significance of collaboration in the shift towards greener energy sources. He referred to the Clean Energy Marine Hubs initiative as a successful example of international cooperation, with support from several countries. Meier stressed the need for coordinated efforts between ports, governments, and industry stakeholders to roll out renewable energy infrastructure and retrain the workforce for new fuels. For Meier, collaboration is crucial to navigating the complexities of the energy transition.
Opening up the conference only a few minutes before the panel session, Meier, in his role as IAPH President, had already taken a firm stance advocating for cooperation and the need for action in shaping the future of ports and shipping, or his own words, “Wat mutt, dat mutt,” meaning “What must be done, must be done”.
Ports, he added, already offer solutions to many of the industry’s challenges. In contrast to the iconic phrase, “Houston, we have a problem,” Meier’s message to the industry was instead: “Houston, we have solutions”. These solutions, highlighted at the conference, can offer industry leaders valuable insights they can apply to strengthen their operations in the spirit of cooperation.
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With global supply chains becoming ever more interconnected, the maritime industry must evolve, fostering closer collaboration and embracing cutting-edge technologies. The message from the conference was clear: this is the moment for industry leaders and port authorities to come together as partners, working hand-in-hand towards a shared vision of the future. Achieving ambitious goals like decarbonisation should not be seen as a competition but as a call for cooperation, where collective action drives progress for all.