Ocean Network Express (ONE) proudly hosted the 3rd Container Shipping Summit at Dejima, Nagasaki on 26 March 2024, in collaboration with Anchor Ship Partners Co.,Ltd., The Juhachi-Shinwa Bank,Ltd., and KOZO KEIKAKU ENGINEERING INC. It has been a year since the first summit took place in Nagasaki in 2023. At the summit, ONE staff, industry experts and academic leaders from Japan, Singapore, and China discussed the challenges facing the container shipping industry regarding sustainable future of supply chains and society.

The mayor of Nagasaki City, Mr. Shiro Suzuki, said in his opening speech as the Guestof- Honour, “Dejima was constructed in 1636 and played a large role in the modernization of Japan, serving as its only window to the world. Being approximately 400 years since Dejima’s construction, it is very significant to see new people-to-people exchanges taking place and innovations being produced from this same Nagasaki.” And he said “I hope that this summit will lead to the development of the marine shipping industry, as well as the build-out of each other’s networks.”

The summit featured three topics of panel discussions, including "Examining Next- Generation Fuels: Trends, Risks & Safety Culture”, “Decarbonizing Maritime Supply Chain: An Ecosystem Development Approach” and “Nurturing Tomorrow’s Maritime Leaders: Talent & Development Strategies”.

The panel discussions were attended by many prominent researchers from Kyushu University, Kobe University, Nagasaki University, National University of Singapore (NUS), Shanghai Maritime University, University of Tokyo, and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, alongside distinguished experts from the shipping industry, including the National Maritime Research Institute, MTI, Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance.

The discussion on next-generation fuels explored current trends, prospects, policies and transitions towards next-generation fuels aimed at decarbonization in various countries. The panellists also stressed the importance of establishing guidelines for handling toxicity of ammonia fuel as well as the challenges in increasing the use of methanol fuel.

The session on industry-academia collaboration highlighted strategies for promoting decarbonization across supply chains and advocated for sustainable mechanisms to share environmental costs. Participants also mentioned the need to standardize global regulations and ensure transparency and fairness in promoting green fuels.

The talent development session focused on attracting and nurturing professional talent within the maritime industry through collaborations between companies, education institutions, and maritime stakeholders. Vibrant discussions included enhancing the industry’s appeal, defining required skill sets, and communicating its attractiveness.

In partnership with stakeholders from research institutions and the maritime industry, ONE offers a platform that transcends the boundaries of industry, academia, and nationality, fostering dialogue and solutions to address the developmental and challenging aspects of the shipping industry. By acting as a bridge between diverse perspectives and expertise, ONE aims to work with numerous stakeholders to address the various challenges within container shipping while enhancing supply chain efficiency and making meaningful contributions to society.