08
Mar 24

Weekly Bulletin: Friday 08 March 2024

Welcome to this week's Bulletin.

The Chamber condemns the heinous attack upon the MV True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden by the Houthis regime that resulted in the loss of 3 crew members’ lives and critically injured others.

The protection of innocent seafarers is paramount, and we encourage all stakeholders to review the risks in this area to reduce any possibility of further loss of life. Read the Industry Statement.

Elsewhere, today we celebrate International Women's Day worldwide. To honour women on this significant day, we created a dedicated webpage with stories of women working in the maritime industry. We have also celebrated National Careers Week along with the Merchant Navy Training Board and Careers at Sea this week. A special thank you goes to all our members who shared their incredible stories with us.

Happy International Women's Day!

Today, 8 March is International Women's Day. This is a significant day that aims to celebrate women's achievements, educate and raise awareness about women's equality, call for positive change and lobby for accelerated gender parity. The UK Chamber of Shipping proudly celebrates women worldwide to reinforce its continuous commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This year's theme was Inspiring Inclusion, so we asked women in our industry to submit their story. We received stories from women in leadership such as Fran Collin, Red Funnel CEO, Laura Gilmore, P&O Ferries Port Director, including an inspiring story from Rebekah Burtonwood, Stena Line AB.

Would you like to be the next woman to be spotlighted on 8 March 2025? Submit your interest to our Digital Communications Manager Antonella Barletta, and you'll be contacted closer to the date.

Celebrating National Careers Week 2024

This week, we also celebrated National Careers Week in collaboration with the Merchant Navy Training Board and Careers at Sea to showcase stories of people working in the maritime industry and share some exciting news, these include:

If you are a Chamber Member and would like to collaborate with us next year, contact our Digital Communications Manager Antonella Barletta and share your ideas.

Join us in Welcoming New Chamber Member

The Chamber is delighted to welcome our new Shipowner Member, Range Shipping.

A. Burak Akdemir Managing Director said:

"Range Shipping are thrilled to have been accepted as the latest members to join the UK Chamber of Shipping, and we look forward to adding our support in continuing to unite, promote and champion shipping in the UK. We strongly believe that the UK should be at the forefront in navigating the industry through the testing waters we continue to face in an ever-evolving world”

Interested in Chamber Membership and want to learn more? Contact our Head of Membership, Tony Jerome.

Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group

Last Thursday, concluded the 2nd meeting of the Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group (JTWG) at the IMO headquarters in London, to Identify and address seafarers' Issues and the human element.

Our Employment and Legal Policy Director, Tim Springett was the Vice Chairperson of the meeting, speaking on behalf of the shipowners’ group, along with Kierstin Del Valle Lachtman of the Liberian Shipowners’ Council. The aim was to agree a way ahead in the collective efforts to address violence, harassment and bullying in the maritime industry. Our Policy Advisor Hannah Gilbert participated as part of the shipowners’ group, coordinated by the International Chamber of Shipping.

The JTWG's recommendations included:

  • ILO to review and revise the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, to address violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault, taking into account the provisions in the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019.
  • IMO to amend or develop guidance in support of the implementation of the ISM Code by a company when addressing violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault, as part of its safety management system.

We look forward to engaging further on this work and ensuring an equitable future for all. For more information contact Tim Springett.

Chamber Sustainability Reporting and Finance Working Group

On Tuesday, the Chamber’s Sustainability Reporting and Finance Working Group met in a meeting kindly hosted by Watson Farley & Williams.

Amongst other areas, the Working Group had an opportunity to discuss the EU’s taxonomy in preparation for the UK’s much delayed green taxonomy, as well as the EU’s CountEmissions proposal which could be used to calculate and report transport-related GHG emissions (as distinct from that required under the Regulation for the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Maritime Transport).

The Chamber hopes to invite a representative of a financial institution to the next meeting of the Working Group to discuss access to ship finance. The next meeting will take place on Thursday 20 June, 11:00-13:00.

Members who are interested in attending or feeding into the work of the Working Group are invited to contact Policy Director, Katrina Ross and Policy Advisor, Hannah Gilbert. 

Latest member updates

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Upcoming Events

UK Chamber of Shipping Summer Lunch July 2024 

The UK Chamber of Shipping is delighted to announce that this year’s Summer Lunch will take place at The Signet Library in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 2 July 2024.

Located in the heart of the Old Town, just off the Royal Mile and next to St Giles’ Cathedral, the Signet Library was described by George IV as “the finest drawing room in Europe” and will allow the Chamber to host more than 200 guests in June.

BOOK TICKET 

Shipping UK Conference

We are delighted to announce the UK Chamber of Shipping will host its first Shipping UK, Conference on 8th October 2024 at the QEII Centre, Westminster.

The Chamber is currently working on themes, speakers and the day’s format but early thoughts are this will look into the key shipping issues we will all face over the next 10-15 years and will include Keynote Speakers, Breakout Sessions, Panel Debates, an Exhibition and Evening Food & Drink networking event at the end of conference business. Tickets will be on sale in early January 2024. In the meantime, save the date.

Maritime Labour Convention Online Course 

The Chamber will be hosting an online-only training course on the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC); how it has come to be the fourth pillar of international regulation for shipping, alongside SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW. Join us on Monday, 29 April, from 09:30 - 12:30.

British Tugowners Association Conference and Dinner

Golf at the Drift Club will take place on 30 April 2024. AGM, Conference & Dinner will take place on 1 May 2024.

BOOK TICKET