The UK Chamber of Shipping’s Chief Executive, Bob Sanguinetti, emphasized on climate change as the biggest challenge of today’s society and underlined the need for the UK to seize the opportunities going forward and work in closer partnership with the sector to meet its zero carbon emissions targets.
The energy transition in shipping is right at the top of our list. It is not just a policy issue. Climate Change is the biggest challenge our society faces, and we simply cannot afford inaction,
…he said.
These remarks were made on the sidelines of an annual event during the CEO’s visit to Aberdeen this week. Mr Sanguinetti spoke about the success of the Scottish maritime industry and the importance the UK Chamber puts on ensuring that the UK shipping industry is at the forefront of tackling climate change.
These words come as the UK Government launched its ambitious Clean Maritime Plan earlier in 2019, requiring all-new ships trading in UK waters, both international and domestic, to be designed with zero-emission capable technologies.
The UK has always been a great maritime nation, and, in my humble view, the UK will continue to be a great maritime nation. We need to seize the opportunities going forward. We need to develop new technologies and fuels. And we need to work in very close partnership across the sector, in order to meet the targets set and continue to be a world leader in the fight against climate change,
…he noted.
This week, the University of Aberdeen also announced its ambition to create a new Centre for Energy Transition. The Centre will align research and education programmes with the opportunities presented by the net zero agenda.
Mr. Sanguinetti also visited the Aberdeen South Harbour expansion to see how the £350 million project will provide increased capacity for vessels coming into the north-east of Scotland.
The expansion, which is the largest marine construction project underway in the UK, will see one of the UK’s busiest ports transformed with new facilities and infrastructure.
The new development will enable the harbour to diversify and take advantage of the future opportunities in oil and gas, renewables and the cruise industry.
Speaking after his visit, UK Chamber of Shipping CEO Bob Sanguinetti said:
At the UK Chamber of Shipping we know just how vital the maritime industry is to Scotland. From ship management, to maritime lawyers, ship builders and training colleges, Scotland is a world leader, and Aberdeen is at the beating heart of this.
