Right through the pandemic, the shipping industry has been facing various challenges every day; from crew change to decarbonization the industry as seen it all. However, the industry makes headlines in general media only during accidents whereas the challenges and conditions of seafarers during the crew change went unnoticed. To shed some light on such challenges a panel discussion was organized by Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), Hong Kong Branch on 05th November, as a part of Hong Kong maritime week.

Mr Benjamin Wong, Head Maritime Cluster Invest Hong Kong gave a formal welcome address for the session and Mr Jagmeet Makkar, Chairman, ICS HK and moderator for the session introduced the panelists to the audience.

This session marked the finale for HK maritime week that witnessed several industry stalwarts sharing their view points on two discussion threads, one about environmental and financial regulatory regimes and extremely important topic; importance of seafarers and how crucial it is to sustain their interest in the seafaring career.

Ms Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, HKUST, ex-Under Secretary for the Environment, HKSAR Government; Board: Global Maritime Forum; Mr Hing Chao, Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Transport Holdings Ltd., Executive Committee – HKSOA; Mr Wellington Koo, Executive Director, Valles Steamship Company Limited, Deputy Chairman – HKSOA; Mr Bjorn Hojgaard, CEO Anglo-Eastern Univan Group, Chairman – HKSOA; Mr Martin Fruergaard, CEO Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd; and Mr Edward Liu, Partner Hill Dickinson LLP, Principal Representative of International Chamber of Shipping (China) Liaison Office were the panelists.

On decarbonisation, Mr Chao said, “We all believe that decarbonization is important and we are committed towards it. However, what makes it challenging is the challenges are changing day by day. Cooperation holds the key to decarbonization of the industry, we cannot do this unless have the support from other critical partners along with the supply chain.”

“We are ready to finance or invest, but the problem is there are no clear rules for decarbonization,” added Mr Fruergaard.

Mr Hojgaard stated that we have to ensure growth and prosperity, health and wealth whilst stopping the carbonization of the atmosphere. Complementing Mr Hojgaard’s thoughts, Mr Coo opined, “We have the obligation to protect the world, so many discussions are happening within the industry, but no one knows how to do it that is the biggest problem.”

On the contrary Ms Loh suggested that industry nor government does not know what to do because of uncertainty, but we have to bring this change in a very major way in the world where it is going to be uncertain.

On seafarers working for long durations, Mr Chao said, “The attention given to seafarers are not improved and this requires coordination and cooperation among everyone especially government.”

Mr Fuergaard warned the industry saying, we have a crewing dilemma, we are not treating the seafarers’ right, we cannot afford to lose them as they are the ones who are moving the ships, they are precious.

According to Mr Hojgaard shipping is in news for all the bad reasons, which may change the young minds and stop them from joining the industry.

Mr Coo and Mr Liu stressed upon the fact that, unfortunately as an industry we have not created interest among the young generation. This is possible only when the industry creates awareness among common public.

Seafarers’ issues can be solved by trying to create awareness and making appropriate policies and decarbonization requires coordination among countries to come up with a direction to achieve the goal of IMO by 2030.

Mr Makkar proposed the vote of thanks.

Marex Media