SHS to explore sustainability and crew welfare synergies at LISW23

The Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS) will host a virtual panel discussion on the opportunity for synergy between decarbonisation and crew welfare improvements en route to Net Zero at London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23). The panel will take place on Monday, September 11, 3.00 – 4.00 pm. 

Helio Vicente, Director of Employment Affairs at the International Chamber of Shipping, Captain Pradeep Chawla, CEO and Founder of Maritime Knowledge Ltd and Chairman of GlobalMET, Captain Jaquelyn Burton, Head of Creative Design at Kongsberg Maritime, Yrhen Bernard Sabanal Balinis, IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador and Chair at Royal Institute of Navigation- Younger Members’ Group, and Sandra Welch, CEO of Seafarers Hospital Society will explore contexts where shipping might benefit from proactively reassessing existing systems and methodologies for continued utility — with an emphasis on efficiency and crew welfare. Moderated by Catherine Logie, Director of Direct to Consumer Services at Ocean Technologies Group, panellists will be party to a wide-ranging discussion comprising onboard operations, ship design and ergonomics, regulations, crew uptake of new skills and methodologies, and seafarer welfare. 

Helio Vicente, Director of Employment Affairs at the International Chamber of Shipping,

Captain Pradeep Chawla, CEO and Founder of Maritime Knowledge Ltd and Chairman of GlobalMET

Captain Jaquelyn Burton, Head of Creative Design at Kongsberg Maritime

Yrhen Bernard Sabanal Balinis, IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador and Chair at Royal Institute of Navigation – Younger Members’ Group

Sandra Welch, CEO of Seafarers Hospital Society

Moderator: Catherine Logie, Director of Direct to Consumer Services at Ocean Technologies Group

Sandra Welch, says, “Happy, healthy, empowered crews will be the backbone of a sustainable shipping industry and we’re proud to bring this important discussion on decarbonisation and crewing strategies to London International Shipping Week. The global reach of our panel of experts demonstrates the international significance of the topic at hand, and our online platform will make their valuable insights accessible to industry peers at LISW23 and around the world.”

“In over 200 years of supporting seafarers, SHS has seen the wider benefits to society and industry from improving crew welfare, and we’re excited to identify and explore upcoming opportunities to enhance safety, wellbeing and industry efficiency.”

Catherine Logie says: “With so much set to change as the maritime industry decarbonises over the next few decades, it’s important that we interrogate these developments and look for opportunities to improve the lives of seafarers, ensure adequate training strategies are in place, and make maritime careers accessible to a wider and more diverse range of people.”

She continued “I’m excited to welcome our expert panellists to LISW and explore these themes together, applying their extensive knowledge and experience of seafaring, ship management, technology, crew welfare, regulation and more to some of the most pressing and least discussed issues we face as an industry.” 

Captain Pradeep Chawla says, “For a sustainable future, the industry needs to ensure that there is a proper transfer of knowledge between the developed countries where many new onboard technologies are being developed to the often less developed crew supply nations. I look forward to having an open and frank discussion of how we ensure that decarbonisation doesn’t further entrench disparities, particularly when it comes to funding a Just Transition.” 

Helio Vicente says, “This is a much-needed, complex discussion on how we as an industry are experiencing and anticipating the impact of decarbonisation from the top down and ground up. Balancing the needs of businesses, trade frameworks, and seafarers requires careful navigation, particularly as shipping faces a time of unprecedented change. I look forward to engaging with my fellow panellists on how we seek ways forward to achieve shared goals.” 

Captain Jaquelyn Burton says, “To reach our decarbonisation goals we need to support seafarer choices, and this applies as much to broad career decisions as it does to the constant operational choices seafarers make throughout every ship’s voyage. Well-designed and implemented technologies continue to increase in importance in our industry, and I’m happy to be joining a panel with so much seafaring experience to identify potential opportunities and solutions to challenges around these priority topics.”

Yrhen Bernard Sabanal Balinis says, “The changes the maritime industry needs to undergo during the course of my career to reach 2050 Net Zero targets will require communication and collaboration from the cadet on deck to the CEO in the office and the delegates at the IMO. I’m keen to discuss and demonstrate the part seafarers and younger people can play in the transition, explore how crewing agencies will engage where decarbonisation and crew welfare overlap, and consider the benefits to certifying different competencies for maritime professionals.”

Decarbonisation: Sustainability & Crewing en route to 2050 will be hosted online on September 11 from 3.00 – 4.00 pm BST. Register now at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EqQ54PJ5TmmzV5QOREUEPw