Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit 2024 to be held in Tokyo

Summit will propel critical discussions on decarbonisation strategies and seafarer well-being in shipping.

The Global Maritime Forum, a prominent international non-profit organisation, is pleased to announce that it will host its Annual Summit 2024 from 15 to 17 October in Tokyo, Japan. The Summit will focus on global efforts to boost the decarbonisation of the maritime industry and enhance seafarer well-being, with an emphasis on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. This event exemplifies the Forum's ongoing commitment to serving as a global platform as it strengthens its engagement with companies and governments across key Asian maritime hubs.

This year marks the first time the Annual Summit will be held in Japan, and the third time in Asia, following the inaugural Summit in Hong Kong in 2018 and Singapore in 2019. Japan holds a leading global position in shipbuilding and ship tonnage. Additionally, around 99% of its trade volume is conducted through maritime channels. With a shipbuilding volume of 9.9 million gross tonnes in 2023, Japan, together with China and South Korea, accounts for over 90% of global ship production*, placing the region at the centre of efforts to transform the global industry. Japan is a technological leader in the maritime industry, and the country’s commitment to sustainability and innovation aligns closely with the Summit's key themes, making it an ideal host for this pivotal event.

For this year's Summit, organisers anticipate the attendance of around 200 leaders from across the maritime value chain and beyond, including Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), along with Jan Dieleman, President of Cargill Ocean Transportation and Chair of Global Maritime Forum, and Toshiaki Tanaka, Chief Operating Officer of MOL and member of the Global Maritime Forum Advisory Council. These leaders will engage in discussions about the current state and future vision of the industry, with outcomes expected to influence the strategic and policy direction of the entire sector. Keynote speeches and various programmes throughout the Summit will feature industry leaders from both the public and private sectors, highlighting their insights and perspectives.

A critical focus of the Summit will be the exploration of initiatives to achieve zero emissions in the shipping industry, in line with IMO’s strategy. The shipping industry accounts for more than 80% of global trade volume and nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To mitigate the environmental impact of the industry, the IMO revised its strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships, which now includes enhanced targets for reducing harmful emissions. The strategy commits to net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050 and the uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030.

The Forum is also promoting the well-being of seafarers and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the maritime industry, addressing growing concerns that poor seafarer well-being could impact the future of shipping and global trade. Through its human sustainability programme and initiatives like Diversity@Sea, launched at last year’s Summit, the Forum seeks to broaden the conversation around the people who keep the supply chain running. By identifying the steps the shipping industry must take to improve working conditions, focusing on enhancing seafarer well-being, ensuring safety and inclusivity at sea, and adapting to the evolving demands of the maritime labour market, the Forum aims to explore how the current workforce can be better supported while attracting future generations needed to keep the industry thriving.

The Annual Summit convenes key decision-makers from around the world in a different maritime capital each year. It has been the launchpad for several highly regarded industry initiatives, including the Getting to Zero Coalition, All Aboard Alliance, and Poseidon Principles.

* Source: Shipping Now 2024-2025, Japan Maritime Public Relations Center

The Global Maritime Forum is an international not-for- profit organisation committed to shaping the future of global seaborne trade. It works by bringing together visionary leaders and experts who, through collaboration and collective action, strive to increase sustainable long- term economic development and human well-being.  Established in 2017, the Global Maritime Forum is funded through a combination of grants and partner contributions. It operates independently of any outside influence and does not support individual technologies or companies. Most of its roughly 45-person staff is based in the organisation's headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Learn more about the Global Maritime Forum at www.globalmaritimeforum.org 

Media Contact for the Summit

Mayuko Harada, Tetsu Tou, Yuko Kato at Weber Shandwick
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