Africa has the potential to be the key growth market of the 21st century creating better lives for millions of Africans and helping drive global GDP. But unlocking growth with Africa requires overcoming key challenges including improving governance, reducing barriers to trade, creating jobs for a growing population and investing in infrastructure. The global maritime industry can play a role in addressing these challenges in cooperation with African partners. In this Insight piece we highlight some of the key opportunities and challenges of relevance to the maritime industry.

Ship recycling is often viewed as harmful to workers and the environment. More transparency could be the key to making it more sustainable.

Increasing the diversity of your team and providing your employees with a feeling of belonging can give your organization a competitive advantage over firms which overlook these values.

Traditional industry corporations can benefit from startups and from collaborating in new ways.

The global maritime industry is facing a defining moment. Emerging digital technologies, new environmental demands and erosion of the global order stand to have a profound impact on seaborne trade in the coming decade. The decisions that leaders make now will have significant and longstanding implications for the industry and for society.

Seafarers’ wellbeing is an issue where addressing shortcomings and implementing improvements is undoubtedly necessary. But when doing so, it is important not victimise the seafaring community. Despite its many challenging facets, seafaring can be rewarding in ways it is difficult to find elsewhere.

With the first milestone in the IMO Greenhouse Roadmap approaching, the world is watching to see if an ambitious strategy can be delivered in line with the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, zero-emission vessels will need to be entering the fleet in 2030 and form a significant proportion of new builds from then on. But the question is how will the industry achieve this in practice?

The safety of our seafarers must be the shipping industry’s top priority. Two examples that prove strong leadership, learning from incidents and collaboration can significantly improve safety.

Shipping and seaports are at the forefront of globalization. This globalization has brought prosperity to consumers and to providers in developed and developing countries alike – the challenge now is to ensure its sustainability.