Chair’s letter

Dear friends and fellow IBIA members,

The second quarter of 2025 has already flown by, and it’s been another period filled with meaningful action and visibility for IBIA. Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of representing our Association at several key events, building bridges and voicing the concerns and aspirations of our industry.

After addressing the renowned Fujcon conference, I had the honour of speaking at Mare Forum in Athens, where a wide range of maritime stakeholders came together to confront the challenges of decarbonisation—an effort we all know is a difficult but vital journey. This was soon followed by the brilliantly organised, by the Turkish Bunker Association, 9th Bunker Conference in Istanbul, where IBIA proudly acted as the strategic partner and where I had the privilege of presenting the keynote speech sharing insights with an engaged audience.

Moreover, and whilst in Istanbul, I had the distinct pleasure of being warmly welcomed by the leadership of the Turkish Chamber of Shipping – Chair Mr Tamer Kıran; Mr İsmet Salihoğlu, Secretary General; Mr Ender Kahya, Deputy Secretary General; Mr İsmail Görgün; our esteemed board members Messrs. Ufuk Enrik and Mustafa Aslan. We had the opportunity for an open valuable exchange on the challenges and opportunities within the shipping and bunkering sectors, discussing the regulatory landscape, and reflecting on the strength of the Turkish bunker market.

Upon my return, I was honoured to be invited to a landmark event, the Shaping the Future of Shipping Summit in Athens – where government and the shipping industry came together to discuss, openly and without prejudice, our industry’s evolving landscape. Greece’s Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Ministers and foreign dignitaries, we all contributed to this discussion. Conversations were frank, constructive, and underscored what’s urgently needed: collaboration, transparency, pragmatic solutions, robust global regulation, and consistent enforcement.

Another important event to which IBIA provided its support and which I gladly attended was the East Med Conference in Athens, where the wider area of the Mediterranean was put under the spotlight, preparedness and challenges, plans and aspirations, in this transformative era.

IBIA’s voice is present at every turn, advocating for our members, sharing the tireless work of our global and regional boards, and championing the expertise of our Working Groups. It is a true privilege for me to carry this message forward, relaying our ceaseless work on all fronts.

Looking ahead, I am preparing for representing IBIA at the world-renowned event of APPEC in Singapore, whilst at the time we are getting ready for our meaningful participation during London International Shipping Week, which I will also attend.

Importantly, we are preparing for our Annual Convention in Hong Kong, deepening our engagement in Asia—a region of growing strategic importance. You’ll find a strong focus on Asia in this issue.

I’m also pleased to highlight the cruise industry’s increasing prominence in our conversations, and delighted to see Mr Bud Darr, CEO of CLIA, featured in this edition. His sharp observations during the Athens Summit reflected the cruise sector’s well-organised voice and valuable perspective.

As we navigate these times, we must speak up — not with noise, but with clarity, facts, and reason. We must not fall into the trap of complacency, assuming that “everything is all right.” Across every corner of the shipping world, from my own background as a fuel buyer to each of your unique vantage points, one truth stands clear: only openness, realism, and a shared vision will move us forward.

IBIA remains at the centre of these critical developments. With the dedication of our members, our volunteer board members, and secretariat, we are not only making ourselves heard at the IMO but preparing — thoroughly — for the tough discussions ahead, so to have a real impact. And beyond the IMO, we are engaging, wherever decisions are made which shape our industry’s future.

We are here — to listen, to act, and to make a difference.

With warm regards,

Constantinos Capetanakis

IBIA Chair