Event Programme

Shaping the Future of Shipping Athens Summit

Wednesday 11 June 2025

Athens Conservatoire, Vasileos Georgiou B 17-19, Athens

10:30-11:30 Registration

11:30-12:00 Networking Break – Sponsored by Technomar

12:00 Formal Summit Opening

12:00-12:15 Welcome

David Shukman, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics, UK

The Hon. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister, the Hellenic Republic by video

Welcome on behalf of the International Maritime Community

Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping

Welcome on behalf of the Greek Maritime Community

Melina Travlos, President, Union of Greek Shipowners

Welcome on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy

The Hon. Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Hellenic Republic

12:15-12:45 Keynote Addresses

Moderator: Bud Darr, President & CEO, CLIA, USA

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, European Commission

Fu Xuyin, Vice-Minister, Minister of Transport, People’s Republic of China

12:45-13:30 Ministerial/Industry Panel – Navigating Global Mega-Trends

Over 80% of all international goods are transported by sea. Escalating geopolitical tensions, a fragmenting global rules-based order, tariffs, and climate-mediated events – all pose increasingly severe threats to efficient trade and economic growth. How does international shipping navigate the challenges posed by a progressively more complex and high-risk trading environment?

This opening panel of ministers and industry CEOs will discuss the impact of these megatrends on global trade and shipping.

Key points for discussion:

What is the medium- to long-term impact of protectionism and tariffs on international trade and shipping?
With increasing unilateralism, what can policymakers do to minimise the unintended consequences arising from protectionism?
How is the maritime sector building preparedness into its planning for ongoing and future disruptions?
What megatrends most require public-private partnerships to drive innovation and de-risk global trade?
What market segments does shipping look to for growth and investment in this period of great uncertainty?

Moderator: Capt. Rajalingam Subramaniam, CEO Fleet Management, Hong Kong SAR

Panellists:

The Hon. Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, Republic of Malta

The Hon. Marina Hadjimanolis, Deputy Minister for Shipping, Republic of Cyprus

Nick Brown, CEO, Lloyd’s Register, United Kingdom

Johanna Procopiou, CEO, Prominence Maritime, Greece; Vice-President BIMCO

Rolf Thore Roppestad, CEO, Gard, Norway

13:30-14:30 Lunch and Networking, Arts Lounge

14:30-14:35 Summit Recap, David Shukman, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Economics, UK

14:30-14:40 ICS Film Premiere – Changing Tides: 10 Years of Change

14:40-14:45 Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General, International Maritime Organization – by video,

14:45-15:30 Panel – Securing Energy Transition

As the maritime sector transitions to using low- and zero-emission fuels, there are complexities that need to be addressed to achieve widespread adoption: fuel cost and scalability, handling infrastructure, seafarer training, and RFNBO certification.

Opportunities exist for the sector to unlock the production, transportation, and use of low-carbon fuels for the world at scale. Following MEPC 83, shipping can spearhead the evolving regulatory framework at IMO to meet the sector’s collective net-zero target.

Key points for discussion:

What are the key bottlenecks in developing new fuels port infrastructure?
What is the energy transition landscape – Now, near-term, future?
How is shipping placed in the competition for new fuels that are increasingly required by other sectors and countries to meet their Nationally Determined Contribution commitments?
What is the role to be played by bridging technologies, such as OCCS?
What role can CEM Hubs play in de-risking investments in low- and zero-carbon fuels?

Moderator: David Shukman, Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Econonomics, UK

Panellists:

John Lyras, Principal, Paralos Maritime Corporation, Greece

Sveinung Oftedal, Chair GHG Intersessional Working Group, IMO; Specialist Director, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway

Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, COO, DNV, Norway

Tatsuro Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Japan

Brian Wessel, Chair, Consultative Shipping Group, Denmark

15:30-16:15 Panel – Securing Supply Chains

Shipping is at the centre of global supply chains, which are increasingly exposed to disruptive forces from geopolitical tensions, cyber-attacks, labour, and climate-mediated events. Some of these disruptions are intensifications of traditional industry-specific problems. Others, however, represents new disruptions that require new solutions.

Key points for discussion:

As trade, tariffs and restrictive measures rise up the political agenda, what is the impact on shipping and the potential consequences for the global economy?
With the maritime sector undergoing a technological revolution, how is it responding to supply chain vulnerabilities using digital solutions?
Is international shipping more exposed than previously thought, or have recent disruptions highlighted points of weakness in an ageing architecture?
How is security and increased migration impacting the smooth operation of shipping, and what can be done to mitigate their impact?
What further redundancies need to be built into the global supply to mitigate against system-wide disruptions?

Moderator: Karin Orsel, CEO, MF Shipping, Netherlands; President ECSA

Panellists:

Amy Chan, Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Hong Kong SAR

Andreas Enger, CEO Höegh Autoliners, Norway*

Lambros Klaoudatos, Chair of OCIMF; VP Shipping, BP

Jens Meier, CEO, Port of Hamburg, Germany; Chairman IAPH

Dimitris J. Fafalios, President & Director, Fafalios Shipping, Greece

16:15-16:45 Networking Break

16:45-17:30 Panel – Securing People

The world’s nearly 2 million seafarers are key to powering the sector through a successful transition to net zero and to operate in the increasing digital global economy. They will need to be proficient in handling new fuels, operating new technology systems, and participating in a global digital economy like never before.

With the maritime sector already experiencing recruitment and retention challenges, what must we do as an industry to attract a new generation of seafarers? And what role will these recruits play in the safe and just transition to zero-carbon shipping?

Key points for discussion:

In a global competition for a limited talent pool, how are companies at all levels preparing for skills shortages and the bottlenecks in specific skills?
Over the next decade, what are the core competencies we need to train recruits for to create a skilled maritime workforce to meet the challenges of the global shipping industry?
What will be the impact on workflows caused by the transition to a global digital economy?
What are the lessons from COVID and what more needs to be done?
New challenges expose the workforce to unforeseen risks. What more needs to be done to anticipate and protect seafarers from the risks to their safety and wellbeing?

Moderator: Guy Platten, Secretary General, ICS

Panellists:

Belal Ahmed, Managing Director, Western Shipping, Singapore; Director, IMEC

Gerardo Borromeo, CEO, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, The Philippines

Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, ITF

Carl Johan Hagman, President & CEO, NYK Group, UK

Maja Markovčić Kostelac, CEO, European Maritime Safety Agency

17:30-18:15 Panel – The Way Ahead

Partnerships are essential in a period of immense and increasing uncertainty. Through strategic collaboration, international shipping can help to ensure the dividends of prosperity through trade are shared globally. To achieve this, the maritime sector requires in-built resilience, innovation, and integration.

Key questions for discussion:

How can the industry be better in enabling key stakeholders to forge strategic partnerships for the future?
What are the key take-aways from the day and how does the panel view the global outlook for shipping?
What is required to manage risk and build in resilience?
Establishing dialogue – framing next steps.
What is the legacy of this Summit?

Moderator: David Shukman,Visiting Professor in Practice, London School of Econonomics, UK

Panellists:

John Denholm, Chairman & CEO J. & J. Denholm Ltd, UK; ICS Vice-Chair

Metin Düzgit, Vice-Chair Düzgit Group, Türkiye; ICS Vice-Chair

Vasillios Kroustallis, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, ABS, United States

Themis Papadopoulos, CEO Interorient Navigation Company Ltd, Cyprus; ICS Vice-Chair

Tomochika Uyama, Senior Advisor to Director General, WTO

Caroline Yang, Executive Director, Hong Lam Marine Pte, Singapore, ICS Vice-Chair

18:15-18:30 Closing Ministerial Keynote Address

18:30-19:30 Networking Reception, Sponsored by ABS

Vasillios Kroustallis, Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, ABS, United States