ANNUAL SUMMIT

Reaching the tipping point

Taking place in London between 27-28 October 2021, the Global Maritime Forum's Annual Summit will set the stage for two days of collaborative discussions on the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the maritime sector today and in the future.

See individual days

  • All
  • 20 October
  • 21 October
  • 26 October
  • 27 October
  • 28 October

Wednesday, 20 October

12:00-14:30 BST

Virtual interactive session

Virtual day 1: Decarbonizing shipping

Decarbonization is the single defining issue of our time. The maritime sector has made its first steps towards a low-carbon future, emerging as a leader among harder-to-abate sectors. However, transformative action is needed to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

Following an opening message from a high-level speaker, participants work in groups on three action areas, collaboratively scoping the core issues and identifying the key drivers to unlock these challenges. At the end of the session, participants share the outcomes of their work with other groups.

Moving first: What can the maritime industry do to accelerate the development, testing and demonstration of the technologies and business models needed to make ZEVs the dominant, competitive choice by 2030?

Getting to scale: How can stakeholders across the maritime ecosystem work together to put in place a supporting policy framework to go beyond the tipping point and stimulate the diffusion of these new technologies?

Making the transition just: How can we ensure that maritime decarbonization is inclusive and provides real benefits for developing countries?

Thursday, 21 October

12:00-14:30 BST

Virtual interactive session

Virtual day 2: License to operate

As a driving force of the global economy, the maritime sector plays an important role in the lives of the vast majority of people on the planet. This crucial role brings with it a responsibility to provide its services in a way that is sustainable and fair, and meets expectations and growing scrutiny of governments, investors, customers, and citizens.

Following an opening message from a high-level speaker, participants work in groups on three action areas, collaboratively scoping the core issues and identifying the key drivers to unlock these challenges. At the end of the session, participants share the outcomes of their work with other groups.

The future of seafaring: What are the key learnings from the crew change crisis? How can we collaborate along the value chain to ensure wellbeing, safety and human rights are protected at sea? How will demographic changes, digitalization and decarbonization impact the future of seafaring?

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: How can the industry attract and maintain the talent of the future both on land and at sea? What are the benefits of creating an inclusive and diverse workforce, and what actions can we take to collectively create an inclusive and attractive industry for a future generation of talent?

Shipping’s circular economy: What does circular economy mean in a maritime context? How can the maritime industry benefit from adopting new circular business models for asset management?

Tuesday, 26 October

18:00-20:30 BST

Delegates’ Lounge, IMO Headquarters
4 Albert Embankment
London SE1 7SR

Welcome reception

The Welcome reception will bring together regulators, industry leaders, and stakeholders from the global maritime industry as well as stakeholders from the UK maritime community to celebrate the global maritime sector.

Welcoming remarks by

Peter Stokes
Chairman, Global Maritime Forum

Kitack Lim
Secretary-General, IMO

Wednesday, 27 October

09:30-11:00 BST

Church House Westminster
Dean’s Yard entrance
London SW1P 3NZ

Arrival and registration

11:00-12:00 BST

Reconnecting

Reconnecting with the global maritime community. What are some of the major developments since we last met?

12:00-13:00 BST

Networking lunch

13:00-14:30 BST

Opening plenary

A zero-emission maritime industry by 2050

Top level leaders set the scene for the Annual Summit, outlining the ambitious actions being taken by industry and calling on governments for increased support to make the transition possible.

Welcome remarks by

Peter Stokes, Chairman, Global Maritime Forum

Panelists

Alexander Saverys, Chief Executive Officer, Compagnie Maritime Belge
Carol Howle, Executive Vice President, Trading and Shipping, BP
Andrew Forrest, Non-executive Chairman, Fortescue Metals Group
Allard Castelein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Port of Rotterdam

Moderated by

Gabrielle Walker, Founder and Director, Valence Solutions

This session will be livestreamed.

14:45-15:15 BST

Working session

Reaching the tipping point, part 1

Participants work in groups on three action areas, collaboratively defining what we are aiming to achieve, and what will it take to get there. What actions are needed to decarbonize shipping and trigger transformative change?

Moving first: What can the maritime industry do to accelerate the development, testing and demonstration of the technologies and business models needed to make ZEVs the dominant, competitive choice by 2030?

Getting to scale: How can stakeholders across the maritime ecosystem work together to put in place a supporting policy framework to go beyond the tipping point and stimulate the diffusion of these new technologies?

Making the transition just: How can we ensure that maritime decarbonization is inclusive and provides real benefits for developing countries?

15:15-16:00 BST

Learning sessions

Broadening the horizon

Exploring new research, technologies, ideas, concepts, and practices and how they will impact the future of the global maritime industry.

Managing climate risks: Planning for long-term success
How can businesses and organizations understand the risks associated with managing the transition to a net-zero global economy?

Paths to zero: International relations in the age of climate change
What are the economic and geographical implications of the transition to new sources of zero emission energy?

Reinventing the system: Lessons from the business of change
How do large-scale systems transformations come about? What are the structural dimensions necessary to support industrial transitions?

16:00-17:15 BST

Working session

Reaching the tipping point, part 2

Participants reconvene in their working groups, sharing back from the learning sessions and defining key gaps, levers, and deliverables. What actions need to be taken in order to make this a reality?

17:15-18:00 BST

Plenary session

Bringing it all together

Working groups share their outcomes, reflections, and suggested ways forward.

19:30-22:30

Cutty Sark
William Walk
London SE10 9HT

Summit dinner

Kindly hosted by Baltic Exchange.

Thursday, 28 October

8:30-9:00 BST

Church House Westminster
Dean’s Yard entrance
London SW1P 3NZ

Arrival and networking

09:00-10:00 BST

Plenary session

Shipping’s ‘license to operate’

The maritime industry is coming under growing scrutiny from stakeholders who are demanding sustainable and fair practices. How can the maritime sector face up to new demands and tackle ESG issues proactively?

Ignite talk by

Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, Founding Director, Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London

Moderated by

Gabrielle Walker, Founder and Director, Valence Solutions

This session will be livestreamed.

10:00-11:00 BST

Working session

Shaping the future, part 1

What actions are needed for the maritime industry to retain its license to operate in the future?
Participants work in groups on three action areas, collaboratively defining what we are aiming to achieve, and what it will take to get there.

The future of seafaring: What are the key learnings from the crew change crisis? How can we collaborate along the value chain to ensure wellbeing, safety and human rights are protected at sea? How will demographic changes, digitalization and decarbonization impact the future of seafaring?

Diversity, equity, and inclusion: How can the industry attract and maintain the talent of the future both on land and at sea? What are the benefits of creating an inclusive and diverse workforce, and what actions can we take to collectively create an inclusive and attractive industry for a future generation of talent?

Shipping’s circular economy: What does circular economy mean in a maritime context? How can the maritime industry benefit from adopting new circular business models for asset management?

11:00-12:00 BST

Learning sessions

Broadening the horizon

Exploring new ideas, concepts, and practices and how they will impact the future of the global maritime industry.

New perspectives, new solutions
What are the benefits of a diverse workforce, and how can an increased focus on inclusion and diversity ensure that the maritime industry is able to attract the talent it needs?

Bridging the skills gap
How to ensure that seafarers have the right training and skills to run the – greener and more digitalized – fleet of the future?

Taxation: Taking its toll
What will ongoing global tax reform mean for the maritime industry?

Learnings from the crew change crisis
What can we learn from the crew change crisis and how can these learnings be used to better protect the rights of seafarers in future?

Cybersecurity: Hacking the industry
What is the nature of the cyber threats facing the maritime industry and how can we work together to reduce the risks of major disruptions?

Making digital innovation real
What will the future of digitalization look like? How can the maritime industry leverage this potential to develop new solutions to major challenges it faces?

In the court of public opinion
Like many other sectors, the maritime industry is facing growing public scrutiny. How is the maritime industry perceived and how can it get a fair hearing in the court of public opinion?

12:00-13:05 BST

Working session

Reaching the tipping point, part 2

Participants reconvene in their working groups, sharing back from the learning sessions and defining key gaps, levers, and deliverables. What actions need to be taken in order to make this a reality?

13:05-13:30 BST

Lunch

Working lunch

13:30-14:30 BST

Closing plenary

A maritime industry fit for the future

Working groups share their outcomes, reflections, and suggested ways forward.