GEAR | Talent pool expansion, green shipping covered in recently concluded Hong Kong Maritime Week 2023

Hong Kong Maritime Week 2023, which was held from November 19 to 25, included a range of activities that organiser Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board expects will help reinforce the special administrative region’s position as an international maritime centre.

During the opening ceremony, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee also took the opportunity to discuss items such as the National 14th Five-Year Plan, which supports Hong Kong’s role in the global maritime sector with a focus on the development of high value-added maritime services.

Mr Lee added that, in the coming weeks, the Transport and Logistics Bureau will publish a detailed action plan on maritime and port development strategy. In line with this, a feasibility study will be conducted to determine the viability of green methanol bunkering for both local and ocean-going vessels.

Key activities during the Maritime Week included the World Maritime Merchants Forum and the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, which discussed topics such as future-proofing supply chains and maritime technology.

Some 50 more activities organised by local, mainland, and international marine institutes were also held during the seven-day conference. Some of the themes included building up the maritime talent pool, education and career, bay area development, green shipping, maritime insurance, and ports and logistics.

During the conference, the public was also provided an opportunity to closely examine Yu Kun, the nation’s first developed ocean-going vessel dedicated for maritime training currently berthed in Hong Kong.