Last week, as part of their long-standing cooperation, the Chairs of the Round Table Associations met in Athens and reaffirmed their commitment to working together and coordinating positions on the key challenges facing international shipping.
Paul Pathy, President of BIMCO, John Xylas, Chair of INTERCARGO, Claes Berglund, Vice Chair of the International Chamber of Shipping, and Rolf Westfal-Larsen Jr, Chair of INTERTANKO, all came together to enhance collaboration across the industry and address shipping’s collective challenges.
The agenda of the meeting included the key issues of seafarer safety and welfare, the gradual erosion of the international regulatory framework, and decarbonisation.
Following the meeting, the Associations jointly commented:
“Our industry remains robust and resilient and continues to rely on a stable, global regulatory framework, which we are collectively committed to. Going forward we must be pragmatic, and our aim is to ensure that shipping remains relevant and well equipped to carry out its crucial role in serving world trade, without which, the world economy cannot operate.
“At times of geopolitical uncertainty and conflict, the safety and welfare of seafarers must remain at the forefront of industry priorities. Seafarers are fundamental to shipping and to global trade, and any threat to shipping that places them at risk is unacceptable. Protecting and supporting those who work at sea is a shared responsibility across the industry.
