Posted on: 19 January 2023
It is full steam ahead for LISW23 following last night’s sparkling Launch Reception at the impressive office of Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF), overlooking the London skyline. Over 200 guests – including the UK’s Maritime Minister, top Government officials, industry leaders, Sponsors, Supporting Organisations, and the press – celebrated the launch of the 10th Anniversary of LISW, indicating that September’s event should break all attendance records.
Simon Hartley, Senior Partner of NRF, Denis Petropoulos, Chair of the LISW23 Board of Advisors, and Baroness Vere of Norbiton, the UK’s Maritime Minister, made enthusiastically positive speeches, but the evening was stolen by a hugely appreciated pre-recorded video by Dr Nikolas Tsakos, President and CEO of the Tsakos Group and sponsor of the LISW23 Headline Conference at the International Maritime Organization, who batted against the windy Greek weather to express his passion for LISW.
With an anticipated 400+ individual events run by over 100 Sponsors and more than 100 Supporting Organisations – as well as Charities and Government departments – LISW23 is already well on course to be by far the biggest and most popular in its ten-year history.
Reframing Risk in a Complex Marketplace
As the leading maritime professional services and shipping/green finance centre, London is uniquely positioned to drive discussion on how to manage commercial risk on a global scale. The concept of risk as it applies to shipping is changing. It is becoming more complex and London can provide all the necessary expertise (including legal, insurance, risk assurance, finance, cargo trading, chartering and shipbroking) in one place.
The importance of supply chain resilience has been highlighted in recent years by the war in Ukraine, stringent international sanctions, the pandemic, and the temporary blocking of the Suez Canal. Harnessing the long-standing expertise of London’s maritime services, LISW23 will consider the business actions needed to protect and promote international trade. Throughout the week threads will examine ways of sourcing investment to drive and support maritime innovation; explore the development of new fuels, new ships, and new infrastructure; and scrutinise the world’s seaborne supply & demand dynamics.
Achieving Net Zero 2050 will be a central topic for LISW23. Decarbonisation is driving everything from finance, to skills, innovation and technology. During a packed week-long programme of events encompassing all sectors of the international maritime industry, LISW23 will examine how shipping can meet and exceed its environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, considering the commercial cost of regulatory compliance across the decarbonisation timeline, as well as contemplating how best to navigate the regulatory landscape in the short, medium and longer term.
LISW23 will not shy away from challenging issues and will question how governments around the globe can best facilitate positive maritime change as well as confronting shipping’s responsibilities in protecting ocean environments while maximising the blue economy.
Looking to shipping’s horizon, LISW23 will ponder where are the next, tangible, opportunities for the industry to contribute to energy transition while also generating profits, in areas such as CO₂ shipping, and offshore wind.
Seafarers remain at the heart of international shipping, and they are also fundamental to LISW23 considerations. Crew welfare, training, skills, recruitment, retention and the impact of digital technology on seafarers will be a central discussion stream throughout the week.
