IBIA Convention 2025: Unity and Clarity in a Changing Maritime Landscape
More than 250 delegates met in Hong Kong as IBIA explored how collaboration, practical solutions and shared purpose can drive progress amid global uncertainty.
With geopolitical divisions putting the brakes on the global decarbonisation agenda and tensions threatening the security of shipping in various regions, IBIA’s most recent annual convention emphasised a united front from maritime industries as key to securing its aims.
Over 250 delegates registered to join IBIA for its Annual Convention in Hong Kong in November, with the event coming to Hong Kong in this instance for the event’s first return to Asia since 2017.
Decarbonisation and digitalisation remained key topics touched upon in almost every panel, but the overarching theme was of the need for stakeholders across the maritime supply chain to work together to face increasing complexity and division in the world.
The rollout of mass flow meters at ports around the world was also a frequent theme, with a couple of ports in Asia now reported to be making plans to introduce the measurement systems.
The event came just a month after the IMO’s surprise decision to delay a vote on its NetZero framework by at least a year, throwing into confusion the state of global efforts to decarbonise shipping.
IBIA Chair Constantinos Capetanakis said the industry body would continue to push for decarbonisation at the global IMO level.
“This delay, this pause button, should be seen as the starting signal for recalibration and renewed results,” Capetanakis said.
“It reminds us all that transformation is rarely linear.”
In a recorded address, IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said the UN body would use the coming months to work with member states to build consensus on decarbonisation and called the work of non-governmental organisations like IBIA vital to delivering a multi-fuel future for shipping.
In the keynote address on the first day Mable Chan, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said her government was committed to doing its part to decarbonise shipping. Hong Kong plans to pursue a multi-fuel strategy, including LNG, biodiesel, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen in the fuels it intends to make available to ships in its waters.
The event’s first panel session focused on the role of leadership in driving maritime transformation.
Much of the discussion was spent on the delay to the IMO NZF, with panellists expressing surprise at the successful push to put off the measure’s adoption, but also a degree of understanding of the concerns from the framework’s opponents.
Panellists also made the case for focusing on short-term decarbonisation strategies while the longer-term picture remains unclear and discussed the role of carbon capture and energy-efficiency measures.
The second session turned to the role of regional and global maritime associations in determining the future of shipping.
Decarbonisation was a central theme here as well, with some discussion focusing on what changes would be needed to the NZF for it to be adopted in 2026. The need for the development of ports, particularly in the global south, was one focus, as well as the need for training seafarers for the decarbonised future of their roles.
A session later on the first day brought together a group of bunker sellers to discuss the industry’s challenges. Key points included the impact of sanctions on Russian fuel supplies, the need for clarity on the IMO framework and the importance of mass flow meters. Panellists also addressed credit challenges for the bunker industry, and the need for long-term agreements and reliable supply chains to deliver the emergence of mature bunker markets for LNG and biofuel blends.
A session with a group of bunker buyers took on strategies in bunker procurement, focusing on regulatory compliance, financial risks, and new fuel standards. The panel examined the shift from price-based tendering to energy- and carbon-based sourcing, with new skills and tools needed to manage the new reality for buyers. The panel also suggested more training was needed for procurement teams in sustainability and data analytics.
At the end of the first day Dr Edmund Hughes, IBIA’s IMO representative, led a session on the regulatory environment for shipping and bunkering.
Hughes discussed whether powers beyond the IMO would need to take up the cause of global maritime decarbonisation regulation.
“I’m a great believer in the IMO, but maybe it’s beyond its abilities, and we have to accept that,” Hughes said.
The panel emphasized the need to understand the voting reasons for IMO member states opposed to the NZF, as well as discussing the challenges in implementing the CII regime and the role of digitalisation in compliance.
The second day was launched by Klaus Chan, principal assistant secretary for Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau, setting out his government’s plans for green bunker fuels.
Those plans include the rollout of mass flow meters, which Hong Kong plans to require for all barges delivering methanol as a marine fuel.
The first panel session of the day then looked at regional challenges in Asia. The discussion focused on the evolving maritime energy landscape in Asia, particularly Singapore and China, noting significant investment in the shift to alternative fuels.
The next panel then analysed the transition to sustainable maritime fuels, emphasising collaboration and digitalisation. The discussion also touched on the importance of training and education in future fuels, with Singapore’s strong ecosystem and public-private partnerships praised for their role in fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.
Finally, a group of digitalisation experts held a lively conversation on the digitalisation of the bunker value chain. The wider adoption of mass flow meters, e-BDNs, and the impact of AI services all came under discussion, with the panel pointing to a need for roles within the bunker industry to change as its buyers increased in digital maturity. The need for data security and transparency was also emphasised as a means of ensuring customers’ faith in the newly digitalised services.
As the Convention drew to a close, the message was unmistakable. Despite geopolitical headwinds and regulatory uncertainty, the maritime community remains determined to move forward together. IBIA will continue to champion collaboration, clarity and practical action, ensuring our industry is equipped to navigate complexity with confidence and purpose.
Short After Video: https://youtu.be/hF2sfB8YqwE
Long After Video:https://youtu.be/ZoN8GMNnvOY