Asia/Pacific News
SSA: Asian Industry Must Unite
Asian shipowners must unite to advance the region's interests on international issues, Esben Poulsson, honorary secretary of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), told the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA), according to industry news site Seatrade Global.
Poulsson said Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore are key international shipping centres, but, despite the industry's growth the region, it does not always present a clear, unified position.
"It is thus important for our association to work ever more closely with other organisations in Asia to ensure the Asian message is heard internationally," he said.
"The need for a unified Asian voice has never been more important."
Poulsson said the industry faces environmental regulations and other global issues.
He said the Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) focuses on reaching consensus among its member groups and does not generally influence international matters on their behalf.
"In the area of shipping regulation it is essential that the views of Asian ship owners are heard loud and clear, especially on the many current issues such as piracy and armed robbery, the Ballast Water Convention, greenhouse gas emissions and so on," he said.
As Asian economies grow and shipping patterns shift, observers say Asia is poised to influence industry trends like the adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkers.
