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Climate change: Hong Kong’s shipping sector ‘slow to the game’ with its environmental efforts, says industry body
- However, the city ‘is right on track on higher value maritime services,’ says Hong Kong Shipowners Association
- Chairman says the government’s strategy to procure greener marine fuel is the right move
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Hong Kong’s shipping sector has “a lot of catching up to do” in terms of its environmental efforts, especially given fast-changing regulations and technology advances, according to an industry body.
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The sector has done well, however, when it comes to driving higher value services even as its global ranking for container port traffic has slipped, the head of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association said.
“Hong Kong is right on track on higher value maritime services as the number of companies in the sector has risen to 1,200 from around 850 before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the number of shipowners in the city has also increased,” said chairman Angad Banga.
“On the green side of things, we are slower to the game and have a lot of catching up to do to get us back on track. The government’s action plan on maritime and port development announced late last year will help us to get there.”
He was speaking in an interview on the sidelines of an international conference organised by the Asian Shipowners Association on Tuesday.
Despite declining container port throughput, Hong Kong has great opportunities to transition from its historical roots and strengths in the maritime industry into more value-added services like ship management, brokering, insurance, besides legal and arbitration services, he said.
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