The Global Maritime Forum is reaching out to young people for their view on the shipping industry, where emerging industry-wide issues such as decarbonisation, digital transformation and sustainable growth are expected to take decades to solve.
For the first time, the shipping body will survey targeting those aged between 18 and 30 to understand how they perceive the major challenges and opportunities for maritime transport.
Global Maritime Forum, which was launched in 2018, has had an annual survey of shipping executives on similar topics whose findings are published in its Global Maritime Issues Monitor publication.
The younger generation’s view will act as a counterpart to the survey of senior maritime stakeholders this year, the group said.
“It's important for them [executives] to understand what's the viewpoint of the future because it's most likely going to be their future employees that are going to answer [the survey],” head of communications Torben Vemmelund said.
“In order for them to recruit qualified people in the future, it's important for them to understand what's on their agenda.”
Vemmelund added that all people in the age group interested in maritime issues will be invited to participate in the survey this June.
“You don't need to be on a specific shipping track,” he added. “It's also important to have views from outside the industry on what the industry may look like 30 years from now.”
Separately, Global Maritime Forum is holding its third annual Future Maritime Leaders essay competition, inviting students and young professionals to share their vision of maritime transport in 2050.
Those who are 18 to 30 years old can use up to 1,000 words to explain how the industry should look at the mid-century point, and what concrete actions need to be taken within the next five years to achieve the vision.
“Listening to voices from outside conventional industry circles can help maritime decision makers understand and find ways to act on society’s expectations,” said Christine Loh, chief development strategist at the Institute for the Environment of The Hong Kong University and chair of the selection committee that will decide the winners of the competition.
“Who better to hear from than talented and ambitious aspiring leaders of the future on their vision of what the maritime industry should and can become in 2050?”
Three winners will be selected and awarded the opportunity to join the Global Maritime Forum’s annual summit in London between 27 and 28 October, with all expenses covered.
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Note: Those interested in the survey can contact Live Gilje at lg@globalmaritimeforum.org. The website https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/future-maritime-leaders-2021/ has additional information on the competition.
