Posted on: 8 December 2020
London International Shipping Week’s Headline Conference is to be held next year at the impressive headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – the heart of global maritime regulation.
Taking place on Wednesday September 15 next year, the LISW21 Conference will feature a unique blend of in-person and online attendance, thereby attracting up to double the usual number of delegates who will come together to debate the most important issues facing the world’s shipping industry.
Drawing on the week’s tagline of ‘Propelling World Trade’ and its overarching theme of “Driving growth in a disrupted world”, the conference will explore the fundamental role that the ESG agenda has in shaping the future of the global shipping industry.
Jos Standerwick, Chief Executive of Maritime London and Chairman of the LISW21 Conference Working Group, said: “We thank the IMO for giving us the exciting opportunity to bring this important international forum to the heart of maritime legislation. This partnership with the IMO underlines the important and strategic role London plays within the international maritime community.
“LISW21 is already shaping up to become the most important event of 2021, giving ship owners and operators, and all those involved in the global maritime services sector the opportunity to talk about how our industry has responded during the pandemic and to discuss how shipping navigates its way forward in terms of the environment, social and governance.”
Welcoming the move to host LISW21 during the week, LISW Steering Group Chairman John Hulmes, said: Although the Grosvenor House Hotel has been a wonderful host for the headline Conference at previous LISWs, the opportunity to work with the IMO and use their wonderful facilities helps cement the international reach and reputation of LISW.”
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships. Through its regulatory framework, IMO facilitates a global maritime transportation system that connects markets and moves 80% of world trade It is also the only UN organisation headquartered in the UK. It’s purpose-built building on London’s Albert Embankment overlooks the River Thames and was formally opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 17 May 1983.
In addition to office accommodation for some 300 international civil servants, the building features a state-of-the-art 700-seat conference hall, where the Organization’s 174 Member States meet to discuss issues of importance to international shipping, as well as further smaller conference rooms and a range of other meeting facilities. It boasts an outstanding view of the Houses of Parliament.
LISW21 will see a switch from the traditional Thursday event to Wednesday, thus enabling delegates to continue their discussions and networking after the conference closes. The iconic LISW Gala Dinner will go ahead on the Thursday evening as usual.
With key speakers already being lined up, the LISW21 Headline Conference will feature Government Ministers, Shipping industry experts and leaders of influential maritime companies. The maritime sector has a crucial role to play in realising the UN’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development since many of its elements cannot be achieved without a sustainable transport sector supporting world trade and facilitating the global economy. The event also marks the midpoint of the IMO’s own 2030 Sustainable Development goals and precedes the important COP26 discussions in Glasgow in November.
LISW21 is held in partnership with the UK Department for Transport, Maritime UK and maritime event specialist Shipping Innovation, together with other UK Government departments, British Ports Association, Baltic Exchange, Maritime London, The Society of Maritime Industries, UK Chamber of Shipping and UK Major Ports Group.
LISW21 will enable London and the UK to showcase its central role at the heart of global trade. Central to discussions during the Headline Conference will be “Maritime 2050: Navigating the Future” which is the UK Government’s landmark strategy setting out its vision and ambitions for the future of the British maritime sector.
The UK depends on the wide range of benefits the maritime sector delivers. It contributes more than £14 billion each year to the UK economy and directly supports an estimated 186,000 jobs. Around 95% of British imports and exports are moved by sea, while the leisure and marine sectors play an important role in our enjoyment of the seas. Maritime clusters around the UK demonstrate the diversity of its regional economies, from professional services in London to ship management and educational excellence in Scotland.
