Posted on: 2 October 2025
Looking back at the London International Shipping Week 2025 (LISW25) Jos Standerwick, Chief Executive of Maritime London, thinks that once again it demonstrated the enduring strength of London as the global centre for commercial shipping. The week, which saw over 300 events delivered across the capital, was a timely reminder of the UK’s ability not just to convene but to lead. He said: “For Maritime London, LISW25 provides a unique platform to bring together our members, partners and stakeholders to engage with the defining issues shaping the future of global shipping.”
“Maritime London’s programme of seminars and forums, sought to do more than showcase expertise. Each was designed to ask difficult questions, to push debate forward, and to highlight the indispensable role that London’s cluster of services plays in helping the maritime industry navigate today’s uniquely complex operational and commercial environment.”
The week opened with the Shipping Risk Forum at Lloyd’s Old Library, supported by IGP&I, LIIBA, the LMA and the IUA, and sponsored by Lloyd’s Register. Speakers, including Nick Shaw (CEO of IGP&I), who chaired the event, Lord Simon Stevens (Chair of MCA) underlined the regulatory and safety imperatives that must underpin commercial progress, Steve Gordon (Clarkson Research) provided a market outlook, Elisabeth Braw (Atlantic Council) and Mark Church (NorthStandard), Richard Meade (Lloyd’s List) and Neil Roberts (LMA) explored geopolitical risk, sanctions enforcement and future fuel liabilities; and James Forsdyke (LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, Pedro Ascenso (Fortescue), Oli Beavon (ITOPF), Rosie Seville (UK representative to the IMO), and Haris Zografakis (Stephenson Harwood) explored the practical and legal liabilities of alternative fuels.
On 16 September, Director Mark Lloyd chaired “Navigating Crisis: The Vital Role of Maritime Pilots in Salvage” with contributions from Dr Stephan Hennig (SOSREP), Ashley Nicholson MBE (Port of Tyne) and UKMPA leaders Captain Alan Stroud and Captain Jason Wiltshire, highlighting the critical role of pilots as first responders.
On 17 September, DfT, Norton Rose Fulbright and Maritime London held “Investment in UK Maritime: Supporting the Zero-Carbon Future,” chaired by Harry Theochari, Chair of Maritime London. The session focused on how London’s financial and professional services can mobilise capital to support the $1.5–1.9 trillion global decarbonisation challenge.
Maritime London also supported “Climate Action in Shipping: Progress Towards the 2030 Breakthrough.” This high-profile event launched the Global Maritime Forum’s 2025 progress report, charting industry efforts towards the 2030 milestones for zero-emission fuels. See the event’s recording on LinkedIn here.
On 18 September, in partnership with NorthStandard, Director Mike Salthouse chaired the Sanctions Roundtable – The Government Perspective, with senior representatives from OFAC, OFSI, the FCDO and the DfT. The closed-door discussion examined sanctions complexity and the “dark fleet.”
“The LISW25 Headline Conference at the IMO, for which I had the privilege of chairing the Main Conference Working Group, which saw over 750 delegates, debated decarbonisation, finance, digitalisation and resilience, confirming London’s role as the place where global maritime solutions are shaped. We thank our members, sponsors, partners, speakers and attendees for making our LISW25 programme possible and impactful”, said Jos Standerwick in conculsion.
