London International Shipping Week 2025 once again demonstrated why Britain remains at the heart of global maritime dialogue. The industry flagship event brought together innovators, policymakers, and maritime professionals to address shipping’s most pressing challenges. As the UK’s largest ship manager, Zodiac Maritime played a prominent role throughout the week, contributing expertise across technology, sustainability, skills development, and regulation.
OPENING WITH AMBITION
LISW25 launched with a ceremony at the London Stock Exchange, where Zodiac Maritime Chief Operating Officer Tanuj Luthra joined maritime leaders for the Market Open Ceremony. The symbolic ringing of the opening bell marked the beginning of an ambitious week built on collaboration and industry momentum.
The momentum continued as Tanuj participated in a London Live Talks session exploring whether London has the ecosystem to lead in maritime technology. Rather than offering simple answers, the discussion challenged conventional thinking and mapped practical pathways to unlock the capital’s potential. The conversation spanned talent development, investment strategies, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure needs, bringing together diverse perspectives from policymakers, innovators, and industry veterans.
Meanwhile, Katy Ware, Head of Regulatory Affairs, addressed the XINDE MARINE Forum on how effective maritime policy can accelerate the transition to greener shipping. She later contributed to the ABS 2025 Sustainability Summit, focusing on practical compliance strategies in shipping’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape and examining the technologies already driving sustainability at scale.
The opening day concluded with the Zodiac Maritime leadership team attending the unveiling of the newly restored historic Lloyd’s Register building – a fitting end to a day dedicated to innovation and the future of global shipping.
PUTTING SEAFARERS AT THE CENTRE
One of the week’s most valuable sessions was the Voice of the Seafarer event, where Marie Cooper, Director of Crewing, participated in a unique forum bringing seafarers and senior industry leaders together for frank dialogue. The panel included representatives from Nautilus International, the Department for Transport, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the Merchant Navy Training Board, alongside working seafarers from across the sector.
The conversation tackled real issues affecting those who keep global trade moving: mental health and wellbeing at sea, better promotion of the Merchant Navy as a strategic national asset, and ensuring seafarers’ voices remain central to policy and industry decisions. As several participants noted, even focused conversations like these can begin bridging the gap between ship and shore perspectives.
DECARBONISATION: THE NEED FOR GLOBAL CONSISTENCY
At the LISW25 headline conference, Katy addressed one of shipping’s biggest challenges on a panel discussing “Decarbonising a global industry in the contemporary geopolitical environment.” She was joined by distinguished panellists including the IMO Secretary-General and senior industry leaders.
The discussion addressed how the industry can manage regulatory transitions while maintaining investment confidence and operational feasibility. A clear theme emerged: fragmented regulation is slowing progress when delays can least be afforded. The panel emphasised the urgent need for multilateral approaches that deliver consistent, workable frameworks for global decarbonisation.
There was shared recognition that developing a credible Net Zero Framework – one with the certainty and transparency needed to align decisions across the entire value chain – remains an industry imperative.
FINAL DAY: SKILLS, SAFETY, AND THE ROAD AHEAD
The week concluded with three pivotal conversations featuring Zodiac Maritime’s senior leaders:
– Upskilling for Tomorrow’s Maritime Workforce
At the SAFETY4SEA London Forum, Marie joined industry leaders examining how the sector can upskill and reskill seafarers for a rapidly evolving future shaped by digitalisation and green technologies.
Marie emphasised that while technical skills matter, leadership capabilities, soft skills, and cultural awareness are equally essential for building an inclusive, resilient workforce. The panel agreed real progress depends on engaged seafarers and embedding human factors throughout maritime culture.
– Navigating the Next Five Years
At the International Ship Owning and Ship Management Summit, Tanuj joined senior industry executives discussing the sector’s near-term challenges: decarbonisation timelines, talent attraction strategies, and technology pathways that deliver safer, cleaner, and more efficient shipping operations.
The conversation emphasised practical collaboration as the key to delivering sustainable operational improvements that work in the real world, not just on paper.
– Regulation and Alternative Fuel Readiness
Katy took on moderating duties for a dynamic session hosted by WISTA UK and The Nautical Institute, guiding a distinguished panel of industry experts through complex discussions about the regulatory landscape for decarbonisation.
The panel examined the current readiness of alternative fuels, explored the potential of shore power infrastructure, and highlighted both the significant opportunities and responsibilities ahead as the industry works toward a net-zero future.
LOOKING FORWARD TOGETHER
Zodiac Maritime extends sincere thanks to the many organisers, moderators, hosts, and contributors across LISW25 who created the conditions for productive, outcome-focused dialogue. As Britain’s largest ship management company, founded and headquartered in London, Zodiac Maritime was honoured to help convene perspectives and share practical insights in our home city.
The conversations at LISW25 reinforced that shipping’s future depends on collaboration across the entire maritime ecosystem. From technology innovation and regulatory alignment to seafarer welfare and skills development, the challenges ahead require industry-wide commitment to practical solutions that deliver real-world results.
As the maritime sector navigates an era of unprecedented change, events like LISW25 prove that London remains a vital forum for the conversations that will shape shipping’s sustainable future.