Each industry is inherently associated with a flagship product that embodies its identity. The steel industry is synonymous with its diverse steel products, agriculture with its harvested grains, aviation with its aircraft, and similarly, the maritime industry is quintessentially represented by the ship.
The ship is an exemplary model of simplicity and innovation, playing a vital role in global trade while prioritizing sustainability. By transporting over 80% of global goods and emitting less than 3% of global carbon emissions, ships demonstrate their unparalleled efficiency and environmental stewardship.
The ship embodies the values of resilience, perseverance, and fortitude, as it navigates through treacherous waters, unforeseen challenges, and uncertain passages to deliver goods to every corner of the globe, serving the global population and economies.
It is intriguing to note that many positive aspects of life, characterized by resilience, perseverance, and strength, are metaphorically linked to ships. Examples include friendship, relationship, kinship, stewardship, and even spaceship. The ubiquity of ‘ship’ in these contexts underscores its symbolic significance.
The shipping industry, which encompasses the ownership, operation, management, hiring, and trading of vessels, shares the same resilient and adaptable spirit as the ships themselves. Having navigated numerous cycles, pandemics, and geopolitical shifts, the industry merits recognition for its tireless efforts in serving the global community around the clock.
The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a recent illustration of our collective resilience. Despite successive lockdowns worldwide, our fundamental needs and desires remained unchanged. We continued to purchase essential goods, order products online, and visit supermarkets as restrictions eased.
The shipping industry played a vital role in maintaining global trade during the pandemic. As airlines grounded their fleets and land borders closed, ships and their crews worked around the clock to deliver essential goods. Seafarers, in particular, demonstrated remarkable dedication, often spending over two years at sea to keep supply chains intact.
Despite their critical role in maintaining global supply chains, seafarers were not accorded the same status as frontline essential workers, such as medical professionals. Consequently, they were not granted the exemptions and recognition they deserved.
Unfortunately, the shipping industry is often viewed unfavourably by the public, who perceive it as a polluter and a contributor to global inflation. To counter this narrative, it is vital that the industry’s numerous positive contributions and initiatives be brought to the forefront, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
In its latest meeting, the governing council of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) has given its formal approval for the establishment of the ‘Shipping For Good Collective’.
ICS is an established body, with rich heritage and tradition in serving the industry, providing globally recognized professional qualifications for commercial shipping. Set up in 1911 and granted the Royal Charter in 1920, ICS is headquartered in London and has over four thousand members globally and operates through a network of twenty-seven branches across the globe from UK to South Africa to Singapore to Canada, and most of the continents in between. ICS’ membership is gained through Professional Qualifying Examinations and the Members get multiple opportunities to update their knowledge and skills as well as network and grow their business and careers.
Shipping For Good Collective will initially look at highlighting the stories of ICS’ Fellows and Members, who in the course of their jobs, are making a direct or indirect positive impact on the lives of common people across the globe. They are putting in “uncommon efforts for the common good.” This is important to highlight.
Whether they are doing deals to ensure that grain reaches the difficult & tough countries or ensuring that the energy is transported to countries thereby avoiding power cuts or taking across raw materials to build batteries, cars, or homes, they are the lifeline for the world & its people.
The ambition of The Shipping For Good Collective is to not only to build a collaboration platform for ICS Members, but also with the wider industry, be it organizations, companies, or individuals.
Initially, we will feature these human stories in ICS’ own publication, The Shipping Network as well as through the various ICS Social Media platforms, At the same time, we will also urge the maritime and mainstream media outlets to feature these stories, and through the 27 branches, reach out to their respective media outlets. ICS will also reach out to various stakeholders with collaboration ideas.
Eventually, we believe that we will have enough stories & content to launch an independent “Shipping For Good Newsletter.”
Such true & positive stories will go a long way in giving the industry its well-deserved positive reputation & image.
We urge all the stakeholders to help ICS with this initiative through either providing content or by disseminating it to the wider audience and masses.
At ICS, we are proud and privileged to launch the “Shipping For Good Collective.”
So, watch out for these stories as we strive to impress upon the world that Shipping is here and here for good!
Marex Media