email to a friend | user comments
Published: 02 February 2005

Sustainable Shipping

A Sustainable Shipping Conference was held at the City Conference Centre, London on Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd February.

Sustainable development has been applied to many industries, economies and communities around the world and this has led to many definitions of 'sustainability' and 'sustainable development'.

The government considers that, in order to maintain the shipping industry's position as a key contributor to the world's expanding economies, and as the provider of 85% of the worlds transport needs, it is essential that the industry meets the challenges and opportunities that sustainable development presents in the future - merging social, economic and environmental needs with the international shipping industry as a whole.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in partnership with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) organised the International Conference to stimulate debate on this issue.

Brian Elliott, Senior Policy Advisor in the Environmental Quality Branch of the MCA said:
"The application of the principles of sustainability to shipping poses many questions and problems and the MCA is eager to facilitate a significant debate on how shipping can adapt and embrace this principle to meet future customer demands, environmental challenges and public expectations.

This Conference was a unique opportunity to discuss and understand the challenges and opportunities presented in achieving sustainable maritime operations."

The aims of the Conference were to:

  • bring together all maritime stakeholders to understand the challenges and potential of working towards sustainable shipping operations;

  • identify and share current good and best practice and to learn the lessons from those who are successfully implementing sustainable practices and tools in both the shipping and other industries;

  • discuss and understand the challenges and opportunities presented in achieving sustainable maritime operations;

  • identify and discuss the key issues which will enable the industry to meet, or exceed, future customer demands and public expectations; and,

  • provide an opportunity to shape and build appropriate strategies for sustainable shipping


Further information
Conference programme

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)

Submit your comments

To find a business you can trust, click on the related categories below: