London International Shipping Week 2023 – RMSC Business Lunch
On either side of the North Sea, the Netherlands and the UK are among each other’s main trade and investment partners, both sharing the drive to shape a sustainable and smart maritime sector. Therefore, during the London International Shipping Week (September 2023), the RMSC was a proud co-organiser of the maritime trade mission to London.
Owing much of its prosperity to the oceans, the Netherlands’ maritime sector strives to remain a strategic and innovative partner and seeks to join forces with UK parties to accelerate our course towards a sustainable blue economy, and unlock the full potential of healthy and productive oceans and seas.
Cross-border partnerships
With 15 companies joining, of which 10 were Rotterdam based, it was a great group of maritime enthusiasts.
By joining London International Shipping Week, The Netherlands is affirming our ambitions to work with the UK to address global challenges together. By complementing each other, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands can pave the way and form new cross-border partnerships to realise smart and zero-emission shipping, develop green and connected port cities and deliver world class legal and regulatory services. Together we can change course towards a sustainable blue economy.
As The National Pavilion Partner of LISW, together with RVO, NBSO and Rotterdam Maritime Capital of Europe, we organised a three day visit, with the main day being the “Netherlands Day” in line with the themes of the LISW:
- Innovation and smart ports (business and innovation technology)
- Sustainability (decarbonization either removing or reducing CO2 emissions)
- Laws and regulations (compliance, or complying with laws and regulations)
Business lunch
RMSC was responsible for the business lunch.Themed around maritime compliance. New technologies, new ways of working, and an increasingly complex regulatory landscape create both challenges and opportunities. Therefore we gave the floor to our members to share their views about changing rules and regulations.
After an introduction by RMSC chair Erik Witjens, Eva Klein Ovink, of ABN-AMRO, Henk Smith of Marine Masters and shipowner Samskip’s head of sustainability Pedro Mello Vasconcellos provided their perspectives and addressed which issues need to be tackled quickly.
Next to this, the trade mission entailed the “UK-NL Green Shipping Corridor Seminar”, a reception of the Dutch delegation of the IMO, a visit to the port the presence of the Dutch delegation at the #LISW Gala Dinner. A great way to informally connect to the UK industry as well.
Again, a heartfelt thanks for the organizers ROV, NBSO and RMCoE and we are looking into the possibilities for the next London RMSC business lunch in Sept/Oct 2024.
Get in touch with our members to discuss the theme of maritime compliance further!