Seatrade Maritime Club Round Table sets scene for CMA Shipping 2025
A gathering of senior personalities from key industry players including V.Group, d’Amico, OL Shipping Group, Ardmore Shipping, International Seaways Inc, and AET Tankers have set the scene for three days of industry discussion at the 40th edition of CMA Shipping, which got underway yesterday at the Hilton Stamford Hotel & Executive Meeting Centre in Connecticut, USA.
Leading a discussion on ‘Geopolitics and the Future of Global Trade’, Chris Aversano, Partnership Lead, Maritime Operations, Wood Mackenzie and Seatrade Maritime Club Ambassador, said: “In an era of rapid geopolitical shifts, leaders across all sectors must be prepared not for hypothetical disruptions but for the inevitability of change at a pace that few have seen. This panel explored the evolving landscape of global trade, including shifting trade lanes, the formation of strategic alliances between nations and regions that are not only new but fly in the face of recent history, and the impact of tariffs on commerce.”
Part two, titled ‘The role of AI in Transforming Shipping’, was explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in shipping, while the third session saw ‘Seafarers Role in Decarbonisation’ under the spotlight.
Moderated by Darren Shelton, Director, Moran Shipping and Seatrade Maritime Club Ambassador, said: “Seafarers are at the frontline of maritime decarbonization, yet training, safety protocols, and career development are not evolving fast enough to support them in this transition. As alternative fuels, digital oversight, and emissions regulations reshape operations, we must strike a balance between technological progress and the expertise, autonomy, and well-being of our crews.
“Today we addressed the key question of ‘how do we invest in the future of shipping in a way that advances both sustainability and seafarer readiness—ensuring that decarbonisation is not just a corporate initiative, but a workforce-driven success?”
The Round Table was the latest in a series which has seen gatherings take place before Seatrade events in Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Dubai; the Philippines and London. At CMA Shipping it preceded both the main conference and a brand new, free-to-attend conference stream will place a focus on technical innovation across AI, decarbonisation, and cyber security in the shipping industry.