Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025: Navigating to a Greener Future
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Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025
16 – 22 November
The ninth edition of Hong Kong Maritime Week (HKMW) will be the largest in its history. The event is expected to attract thousands of participants from all over the world, including senior executives, government officials, and maritime professionals, thereby adding still more vibrancy to Hong Kong’s already dynamic and multifaceted maritime cluster.
Following six months of preparation, more than 70 organisations, government agencies and individual businesses will present a diverse programme of over 50 separate conferences, forums, seminars, and exciting participative activities across the city.
Going green is the premier theme
The main theme of this year’s HKMW, “Navigating to a Greener Future”, will be a recurring topic across several events. This reflects the global maritime industry’s ongoing determination and efforts to embrace the challenges and opportunities arising from maritime decarbonisation. It also showcases Hong Kong’s drive to become the first-ranked green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in Asia.
Diversity and inclusiveness
But the maritime sector is a broad church comprising multiple disciplines, the concerns and interests of which will each be addressed in a balanced manner on a range of platforms throughout the week.
From Belt and Road Development, Building up a Maritime Talent Pool, Education & Career, Greater Bay Area Development, Green Shipping, to Marine Insurance, Maritime Law & Arbitration, Maritime Technology, Port & Logistics, Ship Finance, and Ship Management, HKMW has ensured that every base is well covered.
As with all major international business events, providing ample opportunity for networking in both official and relaxing occasions is vital. HKMW abounds with such opportunities, where the exchange of ideas and best practices will help drive the development of a smarter, greener, and more resilient maritime industry, both regionally and globally, ultimately contributing to the sustainable development of the global industry.
With still 4 days to go before the Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025, the city is already buzzing with anticipation and the rush of last-minute bookings (where available) for favoured events or activities.
Rebekah Khew, Director at Vivace Insurance Partners is looking forward to joining the Lloyd’s List Intelligence Hong Kong Forum: “Geopolitical Shocks & Maritime Trade Risk Outlook 2026”.
"The Lloyd's List Intelligence seminar on geopolitical shocks and maritime trade will address the two most critical challenges facing our industry today - risk and uncertainty.
“In my area of expertise in marine war risk insurance, we've witnessed first-hand how conflicts around the world have altered shipping lanes, driven record premium increases, and forced cargo interests to reconsider routing strategies. Understanding the interplay between geopolitical instability and maritime operations is imperative for protecting assets, managing exposures, and maintaining supply chain resilience in an increasingly volatile environment."
The World Merchants Maritime Forum, being one of the anchor events of HKMW, is a conference on a grand and international scale, organised by a highly prestigious cast of business and organisations including Transport and Logistics Bureau of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China Merchants Group, the Baltic and International Maritime Council, the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, and the International Chamber of Shipping.
Captain Lothair Lam, Chairman and General Manager, World Merchant Maritime Forum, is looking forward to a packed week of events. He says:
"I am particularly looking forward to the World Maritime Merchants Forum 2025 Main Forum on November 17. This event is a critical platform for fostering the collaboration and innovative thinking needed to navigate the future of global maritime trade. It is a premier opportunity to engage with industry leaders and drive progress on the key issues facing our industry."
“The TradeWinds Ship Recycling Forum brings together industry leaders to address evolving regulations, market dynamics and sustainability practices.
“A standout moment for me will be William MacLachlan of HFW moderating a timely discussion on responsible ship recycling, evolving policy and its future in the maritime industry, as well as the increasingly complex regulatory landscape being navigated by those recycling end-of-life vessels following the entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention,” she says.
“Equally exciting is The Captain’s Table, where visionary start-ups compete in a dynamic pitch event. HFW proudly sponsors the winning start-up with a year of pro bono legal advice and Paul Dean, our Global Head of Shipping, is on the judging panel, demonstrating our commitment to supporting innovation in the maritime industry.”
Were we to elicit event preferences from other industry professionals, we could certainly get over 50 different answers. Such is the unvarying quality of this year’s programme.
Unlike many conventions, HKMW is not an industry-only closed shop. Shipping by its very nature is a business that can too often be out of sight and out of mind to the general public. HKMW, with a focus on nurturing Hong Kong’s younger generation, offers a range of activities that bring up close the excitingly diverse career opportunities that bridge multiple professions and span the globe.
Angad Banga, Chairman of the Promotion and External Relations Committee under Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board, explains further:
“Hong Kong Maritime Week celebrates the maritime industry’s critical contribution to Hong Kong’s economic success,” he says.
“The week-long programme combines boardroom-level industry dialogues with public exhibitions to showcase Hong Kong’s strengths in ship owning, finance, law, trading, and digitalisation – and how these elements connect to shape global commerce and the energy transition. The industry plays a vital role in our city, and by investing in the next generation of talent, encouraging curiosity, and building bridges between industry and society, we invite people in to discover and share in its success.” The much hoped for result is - Mr Banga says:
“Pride, confidence and possibility. Confidence in the business community – owners, financiers and innovators – to make decisions in Hong Kong and support growth. Possibility for students and families to discover modern, diverse career paths in the maritime industry – from green tech to data analytics, law, finance, conservation and more.
“I hope that Hong Kong Maritime Week instils pride in Hong Kong and momentum for the future. If people feel that, the Week has worked.”
HKMW organiser, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board, together with co-organisers Hong Kong Shipowners Association, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and partners Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, are confident that participants can expect a week that looks to the brilliant future of the global maritime industry, embracing new technologies, sustainable solutions, and global connectivity.