Ports as Green Pioneers: High-Profile Conference at Singapore Maritime Week 2025

SINGAPORE, 27 March 2025 — Global maritime leaders, academics, and policymakers convened today at the SMU Maritime Thought Leadership Conference, part of Singapore Maritime Week 2025, under the theme ‘Port Innovation for the Green Transition.’ Jointly organized by Singapore Management University (SMU) and CBS Maritime at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), the conference emphasized the importance of international collaboration in tackling the urgent challenge of maritime decarbonization.

03/27/2025

With around 100,000 ships contributing nearly three percent of global GHG emissions, the international shipping industry must rapidly transition to zero-carbon fuels to meet net-zero targets by 2050. This requires an estimated 5,000-10,000 zero-emission ships to be in operation by 2030 and core investments of $1.2-1.6 trillion towards 2050. Ports are central to this transition, not only as hubs for alternative fuel supply and infrastructure upgrades, but also as platforms for fostering collaboration among shipping lines, energy companies, fuel providers, regulators, and local communities.

Held from 2:00 to 7:00 PM, the conference featured two focused sessions exploring the often-overlooked but crucial role of ports in accelerating the green transition across global shipping and logistics. The first session, Stakeholder Views: The Port Ecosystem, brought together perspectives from port authorities, port operators, shipping companies, and NGOs to explore green fuels, sustainable infrastructure, and collaborative innovation. The second session, ‘Regional Pathways to Maritime and Port Decarbonisation,’ examined how innovation, digitalization, and workforce transformation are shaping regional efforts in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America.

Kicking off the day, Henrik Sornn-Friese, Associate Professor at the Department of Strategy and Innovation at CBS and recipient of the MPA Professorship in Maritime Business at SMU, introduced the conference framework and moderated the two high-level panel discussions.

In his opening remarks, Henrik Sornn-Friese emphasized the importance of partnerships and collaboration in driving maritime innovation:

"This collaboration between SMU and CBS Maritime reflects our shared commitment to supporting the shipping industry’s green transition. By combining regional insights and academic rigor, we are creating a platform where ambition turns into action for ports and maritime actors globally."

Speakers included senior representatives from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, DP World, A.P. Moller-Maersk, DNV, PSA Corporation, and Port Esbjerg, among others. Topics ranged from green investment strategies, the climate-biodiversity nexus, LNG and hydrogen trade pathways, digital port ecosystems, and skills for the future.

The conference concluded with a vibrant networking reception, reaffirming Singapore’s role as a global hub for maritime innovation and collaboration.

This was the third annual SMU Thought Leadership Conference held under Singapore Maritime Week, organized in collaboration between SMU and CBS Maritime.

The page was last edited by: Department of Operations Management // 03/31/2025