Singapore Maritime Week – Opening Ceremony - Keynote address

Singapore Maritime Week – Opening Ceremony

Keynote address by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO 

Theme: Ambition meets action

Honorable Minister Iswaran,

excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be in Singapore once again to participate in the Singapore Maritime Week under the apt theme "Ambition meets Action".

It is also good to see so many experts from the maritime community gathered here to discuss innovative actions to ensure an ambitious and sustainable maritime sector.

I must also express my utmost appreciation to our host the Government of Singapore for the gracious hospitality.

Shipping is indispensable to global trade, sustainable development, and the world's energy transition.

Maritime transport continues to be the most economic and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation for large volumes of cargo.

In the past few years, the pandemic and current geopolitical challenges have served to enhance the awareness of the invaluable role and reliance on shipping ports, and seafarers in global trade.

For 75 years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as the global standard setting body for shipping, has ensured that the maritime sector delivers goods safely, securely, efficiently, and sustainably around the world.

Throughout those decades, this international regulatory regime has constantly evolved to address lessons learned and respond to new demands from an ever-evolving maritime sector – such as the imperatives to tackle climate change and utilise advancing technology.

As we accelerate our journey towards a sustainable future, shipping must embrace decarbonization, alongside digitalization, automation and innovative technologies ensuring safety and cyber security and, most importantly, that maritime personnel, and in particular our seafarers are kept front and centre of the technology transition.

Seafarers are key to shipping – and their wellbeing is paramount.

We owe it to future generations to ensure that we leave them a planet that can sustain humankind for generations to come.

This is of particular importance as this year marks the 50th anniversary since the MARPOL Convention was first adopted to protect the marine environment from pollution from ships.

To reflect the importance of this milestone, our World Maritime Theme for this year is "MARPOL at 50 – our commitment goes on".

MARPOL regulations have made a tremendous difference to how ships are built, designed, and operated, and its rules have been adapted over the years to ensure the environment is protected from all forms of pollution from international shipping.

But as the theme of this week suggests, with greater ambition there is need for decisive action.

Ladies and gentlemen,

There is no denying that the entire world has to unite to combat climate change.

For maritime, this amounts to the biggest challenge the sector has ever faced, namely the decarbonization of international shipping.

We now have less than three months to ensure that IMO showcases its global leadership towards decarbonizing shipping by adopting an updated and revised GHG Strategy.

Through our resolve, we must lead the way and provide a global framework for the maritime industry to strive for green shipping and at the same time, we must ensure we leave no one behind.

I know that decarbonization presents challenges for many countries, in particular developing states.

At IMO, we are committed to examining and, most importantly, addressing the impact of the measures we adopt to enable all IMO Member States to unlock the potential that green shipping presents.

The time for action is now!

IMO's voyage towards decarbonization has already begun.

The latest set of measures to cut carbon intensity of shipping are now in force and are already providing a considerable impact on reducing GHG emissions from shipping. I am convinced that these will drive innovation towards transforming shipping.

Now IMO Member States are actively engaged in upgrading the Decarbonization Strategy I mentioned, which is due to be adopted during MEPC 80 in July this year.

Intense work on this is currently taking place, as all voices must be heard to achieve consensus.

There is no doubt that this upgraded Strategy will set the framework for the way forward in support of decarbonizing shipping.

It will contain a basket of technical and economic measures, will set global shipping on an ambitious path towards phasing out GHG emissions.

It will also provide the necessary certainty for all stakeholders to invest in future fuels and ship related technologies.

And it will be the necessary catalyst to unlock new opportunities, particularly in renewable fuel production, but also from retrofitting ships and digitalizing port operations.

This is after all not only a challenge but also one of the biggest opportunities for the maritime sector and global economy.

I believe that as they debate the new strategy, IMO Member States must be ambitious and bold enough to elevate their vision and levels of ambition towards 2050.

IMO is, in tandem, working to support Member States in their implementation of these measures, to ensure that no one is left behind in the energy transition.

In this context, I would also like to say how pleased I am that Singapore has today once again pledged a substantial contribution to IMO's capacity building activities, with a new enhanced package of fellowships, scholarships, and workshops and courses over the next five years.

This additional assistance will be of considerable help to IMO in our efforts to improve the abilities of, in particular developing countries, to join in the maritime community's efforts towards an efficient and sustainable maritime sector. This is a really significant contribution, and I am very grateful for it.

I see great opportunities for many countries to be part of the new green future. Many will support production and supply of low and zero-carbon fuels while others will benefit from opportunities such as an uptake of retrofitting and ship building activities. IMO will support this process.

Here in Singapore, and across the globe, is a strong willingness and commitment to work with all stakeholders to explore and make a push towards renewable energy, to ensure that maritime transport benefits from the relevant investment and technology transfer, and that the workforce of the future is equipped for this imperative transition.

Actions such as the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization underline the impact that inspired joint actions can have.

Knowledge sharing is critical to the attainment of our common objectives.

We can all learn from each other. And IMO is ready to support this process.

Cooperation and dialogue that are the trademarks of IMO will be more important than ever in delivering what is expected of us, not only by our maritime community but by humankind.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Decarbonization, digitalization, security, diversity – are all equally important in strengthening IMO's objectives of ensuring the safety of shipping, the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships supporting sustainable economic development globally.

Shipping has undergone many successful transitions over the centuries and has voyaged through to new beginnings.

But especially now, we are navigating unchartered waters and we need to be courageous.

I am certain that through cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity, we will ensure that our voyage is successful and that it is just and equitable.

I remain confident about the future of shipping and the maritime sector, and I am positive about the maritime community's desire to contribute to improving the health of the planet and to support sustainable development for all of us. 

The discussions, meetings and networking opportunities during this Singapore Maritime Week are an important step to support Maritime's journey towards an innovative, and sustainable future.

This work requires great collaboration, communication and cooperation amongst States, the shipping industry and all stakeholders.

In the spirit of this week' theme "Ambition meets action", I trust that I can count on the support of all IMO Member States, industry representatives and the maritime sector as a whole, to support IMO to attain our vision through decisive actions.

Because as Nelson Mandela so rightfully said:

"Vision without action is just a dream, action without vision just passes the time, and vision with action can change the world."

With thes inspiring words, I wish you a very successful week.

Thank you.