Shipping Does Matter…and How!

A little bit of navel gazing is perhaps excusable in any organization contemplating a 20-year anniversary and the International Maritime Industries Forum is no exception. That the organization has survived is not just a tribute to the energy of its founders and officers, but probably an indication of how long it is taking shipping to lick its wounds from one blow after another in the last 20 years – financial and environmental.

So a more upbeat message was welcome and, despite urging caution in all matters maritime, the message delivered by Dr. Helmut Sohman of Hong Kong-based World Wide Shipping was: “Shipping does matter – and how!” illustrated by his estimation that the bulk trades alone contribute over $50 billion a year to the world’s economy. Using 1994 pricings and ignoring vessels under 15,000 tonnes deadweight for simplicity, Dr. Sohman commented that the figures would be even greater if the freight rates paid were anywhere near profit levels.

This is only an excerpt of Shipping Does Matter…and How!

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