On October 24 to 25, the APSN Forum on Green Shipping Corridors (APSN Forum 2024) was successfully held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The APSN Forum 2024 was co-hosted by APSN and Malaysia Marine Department (MMD).
About 150 participants from more than 10 APEC Member Economies attended the APSN Forum 2024, including Canada; China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Malaysia; the Philippines; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and Viet Nam. Representatives from leading international organizations such as International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and leading industry players such as 3COTECH Inc; LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (LR MDH) and Drewry were also present at the APSN Forum 2024.
The Forum consisted of Opening Session, GPAS 2024 Award Ceremony, Keynote Session I & II, Panel Discussion, Interactive Session, Presentation by APSN and Closing Remarks by the President of the APSN Council.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Sonya Read, President of the APSN Council, thanked Malaysia and Malaysia Marine Department for hosting this annual flagship Forum in Kota Kinabalu. Ms. Read emphasized the significance of collaboration and innovation in advancing Green Shipping Corridors, aligning with the APEC Putrajaya Vision for sustainable and inclusive growth. Ms. Sonya Read also commended the collaborative and innovative efforts of the Malaysia Marine Department and the APSN Secretariat in planning and preparing for hosting the APSN Form 2024.
Tuan Haji Dickson bin Dollah, Director-General of the Malaysia Marine Department, delivered warm welcome remarks, underscoring the critical importance of Green Shipping Corridors for advancing sustainable development across the region.
A total number of 16 speakers provided high quality presentations and discussions on “Global Landscape for Green Shipping Corridors”, “Status Quo of Green Shipping Corridors”, and “The Path Forward for Green Shipping Corridors – Challenges and Opportunities”, which are of common concern to stakeholders in the port and port-related industries in the APEC member economies. Speakers and panelists included senior officials from international organizations and port authorities, industry leaders from port operators and shipping lines, researchers from academic field, and other stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region.They are (in program order):
Keynote Session 1: Global Landscape for Green Shipping Corridors
Moderator: Ms. Sonya Read, President of the APSN Council
Mr. Francis Zachariae
Secretary-General, International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation (IALA)
Ms. Kat Janowicz
President,3COTECH Inc and author of “Chasing Zero”
Mr. Simon Bennett
Deputy Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)
Capt. K. Subramaniam
General Manager, Port Klang Authority
Former President, International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)
Ms. Ahila Karan
Senior Lead on Green Initiatives, LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (LR MDH)
Keynote Session 2: Status Quo of Green Shipping Corridors
Moderator: Mr. Jiravich Klomperee, 2nd Vice President of the APSN Council
Mr. Li Fengli
General Manager, Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd.
Mr. Francois Marier
Director, International Marine Policy,Transport Canada
Mr. Yang Zhiyong
Vice President, Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd.
Dr. Luo Xunjie
Vice President, Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd.
Capt. Muhammad Assuad bin Ahmad
Head Port & Terminal, MISC Marine
Session 3 Panel Discussion: The Path Forward for Green Shipping Corridors – Challenges and Opportunities
Facilitator: Capt. Abdul Samad Bin Shaik Osman, Deputy Director General of Marine (Operation), Malaysia Marine Department
Ms. HAN Ning
Principal Consultant of Drewry Singapore Office, Drewry
Mr. GUI Dong
Executive General Manager, Operations & Commercial Division, China Merchants Port, Hong Kong, China
Mr. LIU Hongming
Director, Carbon Market, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Beijing Representative Office
Mr. Benjamin Wong
Director (Strategy and Policy), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
Professor Ts. Dr. Mohamad Rosni Othman
Director General, Maritime Institute of Malaysia
Mr. CAI Ouchen
Deputy Director of APEC Port Study Center, APSN
Session 4: Interactive Session
Facilitator: Mr. Bui Van Quy, Chair of the Advisory Board of APSN
The two-day APSN Forum 2024 brought together the APEC port and shipping community, and provided a timely and important platform for all speakers and participants to exchange ideas and share views on developing green shipping corridors in order to help the port and related sectors to cope with the future challenges. The Summary Report on the APSN Forum 2024 will be posted on the APSN website.
