InterManager president wants 'one voice' for global shipping industry

September 24, 2021: The global shipping industry needs 'one voice' for global representation to ensure effective communication with regulators for the maritime community.

Mark O'Neill, president of global ship management association, InterManager, has proposed the creation of an International Maritime Committee (IMC) that must include representatives from all maritime sectors with a presidency rotating between member organisations.

O'Neill, who is also the president and CEO of Columbia Shipmanagement, was speaking at the recently concluded International Shipowning and Shipmanagement Summit, held during the London International Shipping Week.

"I do think as an industry there is a crying need for greater collaboration between those bodies that govern the various aspects of the industry," O'Neill said. "We need to influence the debate when it comes before the governments. At the moment we have various bodies all doing their part for their members but those members representing only a part of the industry. We need our industry views put across in a single voice."

Talking about the International Maritime Organization (IMO), O'Neill said IMO is a regulator and not a lobbyist. "IMO does its job very well but it is not the voice of shipping nor was it ever intended to be."

His suggestion for the industry: "Act now, otherwise shipping risks losing its long-standing elevated status within the overall logistics chain."

The view assumes significance when the shipping industry is in talks with various governments and regulators to move towards zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Earlier this week, 150 major companies including Maersk, MSC, Hapag Lloyd, BP, BHP, Cargill and Rotterdam port called for decisive action for the global shipping industry to be fully decarbonised by 2050.