A UK Shipping Concierge event at Hong Kong Maritime Week has explored a range of essential issues facing global shipping management over the next decade.
Two specialist panels, comprising experts from areas of law, regulation and finance, have held a series of discussions exploring interventions in global shipping.
Over 100+ guests that attended the event, held on Tuesday 19 November at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, were welcomed with a keynote address from Ms Mable Chan, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics in the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ms Chan stressed the importance of the maritime sector to the economy and welcomed continued positive relations between Hong Kong and UK in tackling global decarbonisation.
The first session, Counterparty compliance in a complex trading environment, was moderated by Mike Salthouse (NorthStandard), and included panellists Alexander Brandt (Reed Smith), Vineet Puri (Citi), Sandra Rosignoli (Clarksons) and Martin Rowe (Ango-Eastern Univan Group).
Mike said: “Hong Kong Maritime Week presents a unique opportunity for the shipping industry to come together and address the challenges it faces, ranging from an increasingly complex geopolitical trading environment, advances in technology and the need for the industry to transition to new low carbon fuels.
“In addressing these challenges, the need to do business with trusted counterparties has never been more necessary - or more difficult.
“The opportunity to exchange views on how best to address this challenge with experts drawn from a range of sectors - brokers lawyers, ship managers and banks allowed us to learn from each other whilst showcasing the world leading expertise available in the leading shipping hubs of London and Hong Kong.”
He added: “I would like to thank all the organisers for making the event possible.”
Chief Executive of Maritime London Jos Standerwick then moderated a second session looking at the advantages of operating assets from a mature maritime jurisdiction. Panellists included William Fairclough (Wah Kwong Maritime Services Company), Lars Lippuner (MCA Director UK Customer Maritime Services), Sandra Rosignoli ( Clarksons), and Benjamin Wong (Invest HK).
Lars Lippuner, Director of UK Customer Maritime Services at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) attended the event, joining the afternoon’s second panel.
He said: “It was a great pleasure to represent the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as a panellist at the Hong Kong – UK Shipping Forum during Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024.
“Our session explored maritime corporate structures, shipping clusters, and emerging trends around mature maritime jurisdictions. A wide range of views and experiences were shared, creating an engaging and lively debate in what will be crucial considerations for both the UK and HK governments, sectors and industry, both nationally and globally.”
Running from 17-23 November, Hong Kong Maritime Week aims to promote and endorse Hong Kong as a maritime centre of international renown.
Through its theme, “Navigating to a Greener Future”, this year’s event showcased Hong Kong’s strong maritime role and economic importance as an industrial centre and community.
