The industry and the world are facing a period of change. Could significant investments in key areas make that change easier? Perhaps. Certainly, investing in new technological solutions may improve compliance levels, or even revolutionise the way we think about sustainability and our industry’s impact on the world around us.

The $1bn question

This article is part of a series written by people across shipping in response to this question about how to deploy a hypothetical TradeWinds Sustainable Shipping Fund:

How, where and why would you invest $1bn for the best return in sustainable shipping, as the industry grapples with the need to cut carbon emissions, improve efficiency and keep cargoes moving in a world facing multiple economic and political challenges? The investment will be made now and ideally held for the next seven years to the end of the decade. As an added bonus, give one policy or regulation you would like to implement from 1 January 2023 to benefit shipping?

However, I would argue that the best investment we can make in sustainable shipping and in our future is an investment to attract the best and brightest to maritime. We need an international campaign and movement to showcase the career and innovative opportunities that exist in maritime. We are an industry of opportunity for those with a wide range of skill sets, from traditional seafarers to digital masterminds, and we are a place where old and new come together.

Looking beyond technological solutions to become more sustainable, we must consider the human element, and not just at those working on board vessels. We also need to nurture those creating new technology for ships, those designing the vessels of the future and those fuelling the ships of the future, to help the industry address the challenges we face. Our industry, and our world, need the next generation of thinkers, engineers, scientists and business leaders to see the maritime sector as one of opportunity, creativity and advancement. That is the only way for us to make the transition to becoming fully sustainable.

What does this investment look like? Some $1bn spent across the world educating, attracting, training and showcasing the diversity of jobs and careers in our industry. It looks like a conscious and concerted effort to invest in both traditional maritime-based economies and those that have little or no history of participation in shipping.

We must attract the best minds and people no matter where they come from, and we must be willing to step outside our comfort zone to reach out to those who do not look like us, do not speak like us, and come from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Change can be uncomfortable and it can be hard, but old ways of thinking will prevent us from reaching a sustainable future and that is not something we can risk.

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