The DP World Chief Executive and Chairman flew into London to officially announce £300m of investment into Thames Gateway and our President John Denholm oversaw the morning’s proceedings.

At the start of the week we hosted a wonderful event on the Monday evening at the IMO for the launch of our TV Programme Making Waves: The future of Shipping. We had more than 200 attend the launch event and I was delighted so many of our members participated in the film and the event.

On the Tuesday we held a fascinating debate on the future of global trade with the ICS Secretary General Guy Platten and Andrew Mitchell, Director General at the Department for International Trade. You can watch the session here.

And on the Thursday there was an incredibly well attended Voyage to Decarbonisation event at the Chamber. We were delighted to have the Shipping Minister Robert Courts provide the keynote speech on such an important subject. The event can be watched back here.

As part of the week the Chamber announced in a landmark decision, that the UK shipping industry has agreed that the international shipping sector must pursue a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

International regulations require the global shipping industry to cut their emissions by 50% compared to 2008 levels. But the UK Chamber of Shipping has now confirmed it wants the International Maritime Organisation to double this target and commit to net-zero emissions by 2050.

At the UK Chamber of Shipping we want to be at the forefront of the green agenda and now is the time to call for radical action. The aim of cutting shipping’s emissions by 50% just doesn’t go far enough. We need to show the world we mean business and it is imperative that the IMO commits to a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050.

During LISW the government announced the winners of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. A range of Chamber members including CALMAC, P&O, Carnival, Bibby, LR, Shell, and Schneider, amongst others, were all granted funding for a range of projects. Congratulations to all the winners.