Environmental protection has long since arrived in the maritime industry – despite frequent perceptions to the contrary. The issue is very much a priority and is being implemented in all companies and organisations of the industry. The main focus is on increasing the efficiency of ships and at the same time reducing the impact of shipping on the environment. What has been missing up to now is global coordination, to provide the foundation for joint action and a level playing-field for the whole of the industry.
gmec, the first global maritime environmental congress, will be held in Hamburg on 7 and 8 September 2010, on the occasion of SMM, the world’s leading shipbuilding trade fair.
Representatives of IMO (International Maritime Organization), the European Commission and governments, as well as of the shipping and shipbuilding industries and various environmental NGOs, will discuss what has been achieved so far and set targets for 2020. These could be the key environmental indicators for the global maritime industry.