We recently received an invite to the launch reception for London International Shipping Week 2025. Held on the rooftop of the International Maritime Organisation, overlooking the Houses of Parliament and the Thames, the backdrop perfectly complemented the themes of this event. We met with many fellow innovators, industry leaders, academics and government officials focused on driving a more resilient and sustainable future for maritime and shipping. At the launch, we got a glimpse of the agenda for next year’s event. John Hulmes, Chair of LISW 2025 Steering Group set the tone for the week by unveiling the theme: ‘London: Managing the winds of change in global shipping’.
In recent years, the global shipping industry has faced numerous challenges, including rising security threats along key maritime routes like the Red Sea and disruptions such as the Suez Canal blockages. These events highlight the fragility of global shipping and the urgent need for more resilient and sustainable infrastructure. Several speakers referenced that these topics will shape LISW 2025, recognising decarbonisation targets, network resilience and digitalisation as subthemes.
Driving change for a more sustainable maritime industry
De-risking innovation and managing uncertainty
Geopolitical disruptions cause unparalleled uncertainty for shipping leaders. However, uncertainties also arise from daily unanticipated disruptions such as unstable climate conditions, strike actions and sudden policy changes.
To overcome these challenges, government and industry leaders alike must put uncertainty management at the forefront of their innovation agenda. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the IMO, spoke about how prioritising digitalisation will lead to the achievement of future proofed networks.
The path to Net Zero in shipping
The maritime industry must strive towards achieving its shared Net Zero targets to ensure a greener, cleaner future. The Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, shared that the government has made Net Zero central to its decarbonisation strategy, driving innovation and policy reforms across the shipping sector. The creation of green corridors will form part of this journey, encouraging dedicated maritime routes where zero-emission solutions can be rapidly deployed.
Overall, the London International Shipping Week 2025 launch reception set the stage for an impactful gathering of global maritime leaders and innovators. Highlighting London’s historical role in shipping and trade, speakers addressed the challenges brought by BREXIT, geopolitical uncertainty and the opportunities in digitising decarbonisation initiatives and building antifragile networks.
Data science for optimised shipping and logistics networks
We partner with supply chain, logistics and digitalisation leaders in maritime and shipping to tackle their most complex challenges. Using data science, simulation and scenario exploration, we empower our clients to explore, predict and understand the impacts of making changes to their networks, ultimately helping them better manage uncertainty. This enables risk-free change when it comes to the implementation of innovation initiatives, minimising disruption and loss of value while ensuring maximised ROI and CX.
If you are a supply chain leader interested in finding out how our technology can help you drive risk-free transformation, email info@hackandcraft.com today to speak to one of our experts.
