Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 holds opening ceremony today

The annual highlight of the Hong Kong maritime and port industry, Hong Kong Maritime Week 2024 (HKMW 2024), held its grand opening ceremony today (November 18). Riding on the theme "Navigating to a Greener Future" and featuring the tagline "Propel Hong Kong", HKMW 2024 is showcasing the strong commitment of Hong Kong's maritime industry in sailing towards sustainable shipping and consolidating Hong Kong's status as an international maritime centre.
      
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said, "Sustainability - transforming Hong Kong into a green maritime centre - is at the heart of our policy priorities." He also mentioned that the Government had just promulgated the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering, which includes the development of essential infrastructure, encourages ports to reduce carbon emissions as well as provides incentives for using green maritime fuels. In order to underpin the aspiration of transforming Hong Kong into a green maritime fuel bunkering centre, the Action Plan also underscores collaboration with ports in the Greater Bay Area, as well as collaboration with other ports in the development of a green shipping corridor.
      
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB) and the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, followed with a speech. He said, "The global maritime sector is undergoing profound transformation in recent years, driven by digitalisation, decarbonisation, geopolitical and trade dynamics. The global maritime community is responding flexibly and effectively to the forces of change." He added that enhancing Hong Kong's role as a maritime "super-connector" has always been the Government's priority, and this is one of the purposes of HKMW. The programme of HKMW this year has seen even stronger connections with the international community, with the International Chamber of Shipping staging a two-day Global Maritime Trade Summit for the first time in Hong Kong. Government officials from around the world are expected to gather in Hong Kong to conduct dialogues on issues affecting the international maritime community.     
      
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Mr Arsenio Antonio Domínguez Velasco, emphasised in his recorded speech that the maritime sector is navigating to a greener future. He highlighted that maritime decarbonisation requires a collective effort, and must be inclusive and support developing countries. The transition to decarbonisation should facilitate technology trials to advance maritime decarbonisation, while the use of digital tools should also be supported to optimise operations, reduce fuel consumption, and monitor emissions in real time.
      
The opening ceremony was followed by the World Maritime Merchants Forum (WMMF) 2024 Main Forum which is one of the anchor events under HKMW 2024. With the theme "Navigating the Cycles", this forum aims to focus on the new opportunities and challenges faced by the maritime industry amid the changes in the global economy and trade and transportation.
      
The Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) 2024, another anchor event under HKMW 2024, also commenced on the same day. With a thematic focus on "Shaping the Future of Supply Chains: Resilience and Sustainability", this two-day conference brings together stakeholders along the supply chain, including aviation, maritime and logistics service providers and shippers from around the world, to exchange market intelligence and explore global business opportunities.
      
Apart from the WMMF and ALMAC, the Hong Kong Global Maritime Trade Summit for industry leaders and policymakers worldwide concluded this morning. Participants engaged in discussions on global trade and shipping issues, and exploring innovative solutions to address the most pressing challenges facing the maritime industry. The IMO will also host a forum on November 22 titled From Waste to Wealth: Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Ship Recycling, focusing on the sustainable recycling of ships and related prospects.
      
In addition, the world’s first intelligent research and training dual-purpose ship, Xin Hong Zhuan, will also make a debut visit to Hong Kong. Due to an overwhelming response to the Xin Hong Zhuan vessel tour, the registration quota is full. A video clip will later be published on the Facebook pages of the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the HKMPB so that members of the public will have a better understanding of the developments of intelligent shipping and the nurturing of maritime talent.
      
HKMW 2024 runs for seven days. Over 50 industry and public events will be hosted by more than 80 local, Mainland and international marine organisations, attracting the participation of about 14,500 industry professionals from around the world. Entering its eighth edition this year, HKMW is organised by the HKMPB and co-organised by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and continues to receive support from partners such as the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong. For more details of HKMW 2024, please visit www.hkmw.hk.

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