Emirates Shipping Association recently attended the ICS Summit Shaping the Future of Shipping and Annual General Assembly, represented by the Association’s Secretary General, Anders Østergaard.

Held on 11th June at the Athens Conservatoire, the summit brought together over 350 senior delegates from more than 30 countries. Co-hosted by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the Hellenic Republic’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, and the Union of Greek Shipowners, the summit served as a platform for meaningful dialogue between governments and global industry leaders.

Key discussions addressed the growing risks facing global shipping, including geopolitical tensions, fragmented regulation, and the need for a unified approach to decarbonisation. Speakers underscored the importance of global coordination, seafarer training, and long-term investment in workforce development to ensure the continued resilience of maritime trade.

ICS Chairman Emanuele Grimaldi and UGS President Melina Travlos both emphasised the importance of working with—not around—the industry to create effective and practical maritime policies. The summit also welcomed new additions to the Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM-Hubs) initiative, with China and Malta announced as new participants to help accelerate zero-emission fuel deployment.

A significant update from the ICS Annual General Assembly included several leadership appointments:

• John Denholm CBE was named Chairman Designate, set to succeed Emanuele Grimaldi in June 2026.
• Thomas Kazakos officially succeeded Guy Platten as ICS Secretary General, following a formal handover attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
• New Vice Chairs were also appointed:
  • Dr. Gaby Bornheim (Germany)
  • Carl-Johan Hagman (Japan)
  • Claes Berglund (Sweden)
  • Metin Düzgit (Türkiye), who continues his current term.

For Emirates Shipping Association, the summit reinforced the importance of being part of global maritime dialogue — ensuring the UAE’s interests and contributions remain connected to the wider international shipping community. As the UAE continues to grow as a global maritime hub, these engagements offer valuable insight, strengthen international partnerships, and support the Association’s mission to unify and promote the sector.

The next ICS summit is scheduled for November 2025 in Hong Kong, continuing momentum on the priorities outlined in Athens.