'Just transition' for maritime decarbonisation wins support at Singapore Maritime Week

The shipping industry's Just Transition Task Force has announced the Singapore Maritime Foundation as its first programme partner – boosting the global initiative to make the decarbonisation process fair to maritime workers.

The Task Force made the announcement at an event during Singapore Maritime Week, and also welcomed private partners such as MSC, ONE and Anglo-Eastern Ship Management to the scheme.

The Singapore Maritime Foundation will play a key role in informing the Global Industry Peer Learning Group, and will act as a contributor to the Task Force's work including its first project on skills in maritime.

It was also announced that the Task Force will launch a report at COP27 in November on the skills needed for a just and equitable green transition in maritime.

We can only decarbonise shipping if we have the buy-in of all those with an interest in the future of the shipping supply chain ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton

The report will quantify the number of seafarers that will need to be trained or upskilled to handle the green fuels of the future, and the findings will feed into the creation of policy development and provide clear steps for the shipping industry to take.

Established at COP26 in Glasgow, the Task Force's founding members include the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization, and the International Chamber of Shipping. Its purpose is to ensure that workers' rights and developing economies’ access to zero-emission vessels and zero-carbon fuels remain at the centre of policy decisions.

ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton commented: 'It is fantastic to have new partners like the Singapore Maritime Foundation joining the task force as its critical work begins to gather steam. Singapore continues to be a key global maritime hub, and it is clear that they want to be part of helping drive this industry transformation.

'We can only decarbonise shipping if we have the buy-in of all those with an interest in the future of the shipping supply chain.

'Skills development and retraining is key. But what does that mean if you’re a seafarer? Workers want to know what a just transition means in practical terms for their jobs, for health and safety. That’s why the top research priority of the taskforce is to calculate the number and kinds of jobs that will be needed for the fuels and ships of the future. Our members are looking forward to seeing the results later this year.'