Experts on clean shipping met today (Monday, October 15), to plot the route to zero emissions for the UK maritime sector on the first day of Green Great Britain Week.

Minister for Maritime Nusrat Ghani opened the first meeting of the Clean Maritime Council, which will devise a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the sector to improve air quality on and around our waterways, ports and shipping lanes.
The Government is clear on the need for action on emissions from shipping.  Air pollution is the fourth greatest threat to public health after cancer, heart disease and obesity. In 2016, domestic shipping accounted for 11 per cent of the country’s nitrogen oxide emissions.

The council has an important role in addressing these issues, bringing together experts from across the maritime sector – from industry leaders developing greener vessels, to academics studying the economics of emission reduction.

Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani said: “The UK maritime industry has a vital role in improving air quality on and around water, and Council members will be looking at innovative and practical ways to reduce emissions from the sector.

“The Clean Maritime Plan will bring new opportunities for Britain’s businesses to design, develop and sell green solutions to this global challenge.”

The UK is already actively developing plans to reduce emissions from shipping:

• Hybrid ferries using battery power alongside traditional engines are being used between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight and in Scotland
• Shore-side electricity is already in place at Portsmouth (MOD), Fraserburgh and Brodick to reduce engines running at ports
• Innovate UK is funding a project in Orkney to directly inject hydrogen into the fuel supply of a ferry

Baroness Bryony Worthington, Executive Director of Environmental Defense Fund Europe, said: “The UK has always been a proud maritime nation and with the launch of the Clean Maritime Council, has signaled its intention to lead the way in services, technology, fuels and research into zero emissions shipping. Environmental Defense Fund Europe are proud to be part of the Council and will work with the government to ensure the UK becomes synonymous with leadership in sustainable, future-proof shipping.”

The country also played a leading role at the International Maritime Organization in setting a global cap on sulphur emissions and establishing a new global target to cut shipping’s greenhouse gases by at least 50% by 2050. The Council further demonstrates the serious commitment we are making for the future of the sector, ensuring the UK can benefit from the global shift to zero-emission shipping.

The environment is also one of the main strands of the government’s Maritime 2050 strategy, a long term look at the opportunities for the sector for the next 30 years.

The Clean Maritime Plan will be published next year and will include policies to tackle emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases from shipping, while ensuring the UK can reap the economic benefits of the global transition to zero emission shipping.

ATPI Griffinstone today announces a partnership with London International Shipping Week 2019 (LISW). The commitment to supporting this prestigious global seafaring event comes on World Maritime Day today, as specialist marine and energy division of the travel management and events business, the ATPI Group, reinforces its position as an integral part of the shipping community.

Led by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), World Maritime Day 2018 celebrates 70 years of history with the theme ‘IMO 70: Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future’.

Nikos Gazelidis, global head of marine, ATPI Griffinstone, comments:

“London International Shipping Week was a great success last year and the events provide a platform for industry leaders around the world to gather and shape the future of the shipping and marine sectors. ATPI Griffinstone is excited to once again be part of this educational and thought-provoking week filled with inspirational talks by globally-renowned figureheads. We look forward to attending with our colleagues and partners next September.”

As a global leading expert in travel for the marine, energy, and resource industries with a 99 year heritage, ATPI Griffinstone thrives on strengthening ties with international businesses across the shipping sector to set new standards in managing the complexities of marine travel with a cost-effective and scalable approach. The team is strategically located in the core regions of focus for the shipping industry to allow for both sector and important regional expertise, introducing market-leading technology.

ATPI Griffinstone’s specialist technology offers the widest range of marine fares to guarantee direct contracts with major airlines, using innovative travel tools that have been developed specifically for the international marine and energy industries. In addition, ATPI CrewLink™ is a crew travel workflow management tool developed for travel managers to help coordinate complex travel for rig workers and seamen rotations globally with seamless integration into internal tools.

Taking place from 9-13 September 2019, LISW19 will be an unmissable event in the global maritime calendar – last year more than 160 industry functions and unique networking opportunities were attended by thousands of global shipping industry leaders. The events will be organised either by the industry at large through the various LISW19 Supporting Organisations or by Sponsoring Companies of LISW19.

Further information about LISW19 can be found on the dedicated event website: www.test.londoninternationalshippingweek.com

World Maritime Day 2018 takes place today, 27 September 2018. The annual event is celebrated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations’ specialist agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

Further information on World Maritime Day 2018 can be found on the IMO website:   http://www.imo.org/

ATPI Griffinstone is part of the ATPI Group which has a network of over 100 offices worldwide and is a global leader in travel management for corporate, shipping and energy businesses, sports and corporate event management and online travel technology.

For more information please visit www.atpi.com/griffinstone

The 12-month countdown to what promises to be the largest and most successful London International Shipping Week so far, has started with the changing face of global trade and the opportunities posed, chosen as the key theme for the week.

LISW19’s overarching theme International Trade in a Changing World will be supported by a series of sub themes: Growing; Innovating; and Partnering. These will provide the backdrop to the flagship LISW19 conference to be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on Thursday September 12^th, 2019. The themes may also be referred to by LISW19 Supporting Organisations and Sponsors wishing to hold their own events during the week.

Over 20,000 international shipping and maritime decision makers are expected to descend on London between September 9^th and 13^th, 2019 to attend the fourth London International Shipping Week (LISW).

An anticipated 200+ industry events will be held during the week in what will be a highly effective backdrop to top level discussion, networking and government-to-government as well as industry-to-industry meetings and bilaterals.

Speaking at an official London reception marking the launch of LISW19, Lord Mountevans, Chairman of the LISW19 Board of Advisors, said the advent of smart technology, a shift in global trade patterns as well as disruptive forces on the intermodal supply chain look set to challenge shipping’s status quo as well as throw up countless opportunities for the years ahead.

“And this is before you consider the effect of geopolitics on the world stage. Brexit is but one example, as is the protectionist stance posed by some leading nations and the emergence of trade tariffs,” he said.

Welcoming the launch, Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani said: “London International Shipping Week is one of the highlights of the maritime calendar and next year will be no different.

“The event, with more than 20,000 industry leaders attending from around the world, proves the UK continues to be a global maritime power. Maritime has a vibrant and exciting future ahead and this week will help make that even greater.”

John Hulmes, Chairman of the LISW19 Steering Group, said LISW19 could not come at a better time as London and the UK enters a new trading era outside the European Union. “LISW 19 will provide a platform to demonstrate that post Brexit London and the UK will remain the world’s leading maritime centre and the significant trade advantages (both for the UK and its trade partners) arising from new global trade deals.”

Over 60 international industry trade associations, UK Government departments and the Devolved Administrations have so far signed up as Supporting Organisations of London International Shipping Week 2019 (LISW19).

The move is significant so soon into the start of the campaign for the next LISW and is further proof that world shipping considers London International Shipping Week as the ‘must attend’ event in the global maritime calendar.

Opening Remarks

Good evening

Thank you to ABP for hosting this celebration this evening and for inviting me to speak

It is my absolute pleasure to be here today for this event…

And good to see so many leading women from across the maritime sector here

 

Women in Work

The subject of empowering women…

Ensuring we have equal access to opportunities in all career paths and industries…

Is something that I feel very passionately about.

I have spoken for women’s rights throughout my career so far…

And will continue to do so.

The workforce in the UK should be representative of the country’s population…

And should also reflect the customer base.

Where it is not representative there are often barriers to diversity…

And these barriers endure today….

Even though we know that greater diversity is a business imperative, creating many different benefits for employers.

Whether your organisation is large or small…

When you make gender diversity a priority, you will start to see a positive culture change…

That will help unlock your true business potential.

 

Women in Maritime Charter

It is in this context that I am here today to launch the Women in Maritime Charter…

I want our maritime industry to be even more successful than it is already…

To be the best that it can be…

I have had the privilege of meeting many of the women in our maritime industry…

From female apprentices working for ABP in our ports to women in more senior roles throughout the industry.

However, the vast majority of people I’ve met.…

In particular industry leaders.…

Are men.

That’s something we must change….

And slowly, we are changing.

I’m delighted that more than 60 companies have signed the Women in Maritime pledge…

from small marine engineering companies to large shipping companies…

Including our hosts today ABP…

organisations committed to building an employment culture that supports and encourages gender diversity.

So much hard work has gone into developing the Charter by Maritime UK’s Women in Maritime Taskforce.

I would particularly like to thank Julie Lithgow as Chair of the Charter sub-group for her drive and enthusiasm.

The creation of the Charter means organisations can move forward from a show of intent…

To taking practical steps to achieve a better gender balance.

It will help support and encourage those who are committed to embracing gender diversity…

And also provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate success and achievement.

It is my greatest wish to hold up the maritime industry as a shining beacon of progress on gender diversity.

Today, we moved a step closer to that vision.

Now, we look forward to seeing the industry move beyond intent and into action.

The framework is in place…

The opportunity is here…

So let’s make it happen.

Thank you.