Page 7 - Annual Review 2018/2019

Forward by the

Secretary General

After a slow start in 2019, optimism has built on the solid
improvement seen in 2018 for the dry bulk sector. The
recent past has seen geo- political and economic shifts,
trade tensions, a fragile growth in emerging markets, as
well as a softening of GDP growth in developed economies.
These were some of the factors holding back solid dry
bulk market strength. However, the positive momentum
has been aided by moderate new building supply which
has not over-saturated the market. Long may this last!

The maritime industry and dry bulk shipping are
already going through a period of significant change.
INTERCARGO is committed to a safe, efficient, high quality
and environmentally sound dry bulk shipping industry.
Although several topics on INTERCARGO’s agenda are of
broader concern to international shipping, INTERCARGO
always tries to focus on dry bulk shipping specific
issues, bringing forward solutions that correspond to the
idiosyncrasies of our sector.

INTERCARGO provides the forum where quality dry
bulk shipowners, managers, and operators are informed
about, discuss and share concerns on key topics and
regulatory challenges. The Association then puts forward
its Members’ positions at IMO and other international
industry fora.

The Association’s Membership has practically doubled
over the last three years. INTERCARGO now represents
at least 25% of the global dry bulk fleet offering a Quality
Badge widely recognised by the industry. We feel proud
to claim that INTERCARGO’s membership, although
optional, is in practice a ‘must’ for any quality dry bulk
shipping company. Therefore, the real question for a
non-Member dry bulk shipping company to answer is,
not why it should join our Association, but why it has not
joined so far!

Dr Kostas G. Gkonis
Secretary General
September 2019
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