Plain as water: Shipping deserves its due credit

All industries are closely identified with the principal product that represents them. The Steel industry is represented by the various steel products it produces, the agriculture industry by the grains, the airline industry by the planes and in the same way, the maritime industry is represented by the ship.

The SHIP is a “Simple but Highly Innovative Product.” Carrying over 80 percent of the global trade, the ships are the most cost-efficient and sustainable way to transport goods across the globe. Emitting less than 3 percent of global carbon emissions, they are also the most environmentally friendly mode of transport. This is an amazing achievement.

The ship is a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and strength. Facing rough weather, unforeseen circumstances, insecure passages, and visible and invisible threats, the ship continues to work its way to carry goods all over the world, to normal & difficult parts of the world, to service the global population & economies.

Have you ever thought about it? Nearly every single positive aspect of life, which is associated with resilience, perseverance, and strength, has a “ship” attached to it – Friendship, Relationship, Kinship, Stewardship and even Spaceship. No one can imagine using a word such as “Friendplane” or “Friendtruck” to depict that aspect.

Related:Improving the image of seafaring – putting lipstick on a pig?

That is what a ship is and the industry that owns, operates, manages, hires & trades these ships is no different from the ship itself. Seeing through cycles and pandemics, adapting to geopolitical, regulatory & economic changes, serving the global good 24/7, the industry deserves as much credit as the workhorse which represents it.

Let us take the recent example of the COVID pandemic. As we faced one lockdown after another across the globe, did we stop eating? Did we stop buying essential goods? Did we stop ordering our favourite products online? Did we not venture into the supermarkets as complete lockdowns gave way to partial lockdowns?

We did not. Who do you think was bringing all the food & products from all over the world to your home & supermarkets? The land borders were sealed shut and the airlines were grounded. It was the ships & the industry that continued to work from home to secure deals to ensure that the flow of goods continued. Even more important was the contribution of the seafarers, the superheroes who ran these ships, sometimes having to stay on board the ship for over 2 years at a stretch, as against their normal contract tenure of 6-9 months. Facing the same restrictions as all of us, they continued to work tirelessly in adverse circumstances to keep the goods moving. Not having the deserved status of the frontline essential workers, they were not given the exemptions that other frontline workers such as medical workers were given. Taking nothing away from the medical and other frontline workers, the seafarers never got either the appreciation or accreditation to which they were entitled.

Despite this, Shipping’s image among the masses is one of the oil spills, polluters of environment, cause of global inflation and greedy and rich ship owners. This needs to change.

These real positive stories and countless instances of the industry stepping up to help the world must be highlighted & brought to the attention of the masses.

With this very intention, the controlling council of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), in its last meeting, gave the green light to launch the “Shipping For Good Collective.”

ICS is an established body, with rich heritage and tradition in serving the industry, providing globally recognized professional qualifications for commercial shipping. Set up in 1911 and granted the Royal Charter in 1920, ICS is headquartered in London and has over four thousand members globally and operates through a network of twenty-seven branches across the globe from UK to South Africa to Singapore to Canada, and most of the continents in between. ICS’ membership is gained through Professional Qualifying Examinations and the Members get multiple opportunities to update their knowledge and skills as well as network and grow their business and careers.

Shipping For Good Collective will initially look at highlighting the stories of ICS’ Fellows and Members, who in the course of their jobs, are making a direct or indirect positive impact on the lives of common people across the globe. They are putting in “uncommon efforts for the common good.” This is important to highlight.

Whether they are doing deals to ensure that grain reaches the difficult & tough countries or ensuring that the energy is transported to countries thereby avoiding power cuts or taking across raw materials to build batteries, cars, or homes, they are the lifeline for the world & its people.

The ambition of The Shipping For Good Collective is to not only to build a collaboration platform for ICS Members, but also with the wider industry, be it organizations, companies, or individuals.

Initially, we will feature these human stories in ICS’ own publication, The Shipping Network as well as through the various ICS Social Media platforms, At the same time, we will also urge the maritime and mainstream media outlets to feature these stories, and through the 27 branches, reach out to their respective media outlets. ICS will also reach out to various stakeholders with collaboration ideas.

Eventually, we believe that we will have enough stories & content to launch an independent “Shipping For Good Newsletter.”

Such true & positive stories will go a long way in giving the industry its well-deserved positive reputation & image.

We urge all the stakeholders to help ICS with this initiative through either providing content or by disseminating it to the wider audience and masses.

At ICS, we are proud and privileged to launch the “Shipping For Good Collective.”

So, watch out for these stories as we strive to impress upon the world that Shipping is here and here for good!

Punit Oza is currently the President of Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.