Shipping has always been central to connecting nations and enabling prosperity. Today, as the world faces a period of uncertainty and transition, our industry carries a responsibility not only to keep global trade moving but also to help shape a more sustainable and resilient future.

Trust is fundamental to this endeavour. It underpins confidence in global supply chains, encourages investment, and enables international cooperation. For shipping to continue to fulfil its role, we must strengthen trust between governments, industry, and institutions. Central to this is the development of global regulations that are both ambitious and workable. Rules must be designed to meet shared objectives, particularly in relation to decarbonisation, while also recognising the practical realities of a truly global industry. Functional, feasible, and fair frameworks will ensure that shipowners and operators across all regions can contribute with confidence.

Decarbonisation is the defining challenge of our time. The International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework, which we hope will be adopted in October, offers a vital pathway for shipping to deliver meaningful progress. But this ambition cannot be realised without collective effort. The NZF must be adopted to send clear and reliable signals to energy producers and fuel suppliers in order to unlock the investment needed in new fuels and the infrastructure to make them available worldwide. Only with such coordination can shipping access the alternatives it requires at scale, supported by long-term policies that give certainty to the market.

We must ensure that shipowners using these new fuels are rewarded. The money paid into the Net Zero Fund will principally de-risk investment decisions and create a genuine market for these green new fuels eventually making them available to all ships globally at an economically viable price.   

At the same time, we have to remain attentive to the resilience of global supply chains and the wellbeing of the people who power our industry. Seafarers have shown extraordinary dedication in recent years, often under the most testing circumstances, and they remain at the heart of our shared success. Investment in skills, training, and fair treatment is as important as investment in technology and infrastructure if we are to ensure that shipping continues to thrive.

The future of shipping depends on our ability to work together across borders and sectors. By building trust, aligning behind practical global regulation, and investing in innovation, our industry can remain both the backbone of global trade and a leader in sustainability. This is a moment not for hesitation but for determination. With vision and collaboration, we can ensure that shipping continues to serve the world with resilience, responsibility, and purpose.

Emanuele Grimaldi
Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping