The Maritime Just Transition Task Force founded by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the UN Global Compact has announced that the Singapore Maritime Foundation has become its first public programme partner.
The Maritime Just Transition Task Force intends to launch a report at COP27 in November on the skills needed for a just and equitable green transition in maritime. The report will quantify the number of seafarers that will need to be trained or upskilled to handle the green fuels of the future and the findings will feed into the creation of policy development and provide clear steps for the shipping industry to take.
Singapore Maritime Foundation will play a key role in informing the Global Industry Peer Learning Group, and will act as a contributor to the Task Force’s work including its first project on skills in maritime.
Established at COP26 in Glasgow, the Task Force founding members include IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO). It brings together governments, maritime workers’ unions, and the shipping industry to pursue a fair and equitable green transition in shipping. Its purpose is to ensure that workers’ rights and developing economies’ access to zero-emission vessels and zero-carbon fuels remain at the centre of policy decisions.
Additional industry Project Partners include: Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, MSC, Ocean Technologies Group, Ocean Network Express, PTC, and knowledge partners including the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Ocean Conservancy, Carbon Trust and the World Maritime University. The Task Force is supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Guy Platten, Secretary General ICS said: “People are powering this green transition, and they must be set up for success. This is why we established the Just Transition Taskforce to ensure the seafarer workforce is supported. The first step is to quantify the skills needed for our workforce to be able to safely work on zero-emission vessels. We will collaborate with industry and governments to ensure no seafarer is left behind, and that developing nations will have equal access to the same training and support. ICS is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that developing economies are supported so we can make the green transition together.”
Stephen Cotton, General Secretary ITF said: “It is fantastic to have new partners like the Singapore Maritime Foundation joining the task force as its critical work begins to gather steam. Singapore continues to be a key global maritime hub, and it is clear that they want to be part of helping drive this industry transformation. “We can only decarbonise shipping if we have the buy-in of all those with an interest in the future of the shipping supply chain.”
Beng Tee Tan, Executive Director, Singapore Maritime Foundation said: ”Maritime Singapore is making a decisive transition towards sustainable shipping. As a conduit to connect the public and private sectors across the entire maritime ecosystem, the Singapore Maritime Foundation is privileged to be the first programme partner of the Maritime Just Transition Taskforce and to contribute to this global conversation. We recognise that sustainable shipping requires a workforce equipped with new skills. A key challenge therefore is to identify the suite of skills required for new talent, and how to reskill the existing workforce. This collaborative effort speaks much about the desire of the global maritime industry to come together to address the urgent task of preparing a talent pool to support the sector’s transformation in the years ahead.”
