London Talks Live Day 2 explores diversity, energy transition, and safe operations for alternative fuels

Day 2 of LISW25’s London Talks Live, sponsored by NorthStandard, continued to deliver high-impact debate and forward-looking insights, with sessions focusing on the future of diversity and inclusion, the role of shore power in decarbonisation, and the safety challenges of operating alternative-fuelled ships. Once again, the free-to-attend seminars, held at the Global Hub, County Hall on 16 September, drew packed audiences and sparked meaningful dialogue across the maritime community.



In the first session,‘Postcards from the future of diversity and inclusion in shipping’  hosted by NorthStandard, the day opened with a keynote address from visionary futurist and founder of Kjaer Global, Anne Lise Kjaer, who examined how global megatrends are reshaping people, business, and society — and what this means for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in shipping.



She was joined by a panel of industry experts: Dr. Susanne Justesen (Director – Human Sunstainability, Global Maritime Forum), Helen Barden (Director, External Affairs NorthStandard), and Ann Pletschke (Director, Trinity Maritime), who explored practical strategies for embedding DEI into the maritime industry’s leadership cultures and future. 


As Anne Lise Kjaer told the session: “It’s ESG plus DEI and that is the only way we will move forward. All of us have a stake in the future, and we can actively engage in shaping it.” She added: “We really need to create a culture where people are energised and happy."



In Session 2 ‘Powering the energy transition – shore power and propulsion’, hosted by NatPower Marine – Stefano Sommadossi, Co-Founder, Partner & CEO, NatPower UK and NatPower Marine, highlighted in his keynote speech the critical role of shore power and cold ironing in reducing emissions and driving the maritime sector’s decarbonisation efforts. 



Drawing on his many years of experience across renewable energy development, finance, and advisory, Mr Sommadossi showcased real-world examples of large-scale clean energy projects and underscored how investment in shore power infrastructure can accelerate shipping’s contribution to the global energy transition.



The closing session, ‘Competence of personnel and safety management for safe operations of alternative-fueled ships’, hosted by DNV, focused on the safety implications of adopting new and often hazardous alternative fuels. 



In a keynote, Pierre C. Sames. Senior Vice President and Strategic Development Director, Maritime at DNV, laid out the risks and outlined a systematic approach for ensuring personnel and organisational readiness. 



A high-level panel featuring Mark O’Neil (President & CEO Columbia Ship Management), John Lloyd (CEO, The Nautical Institute), Lars Robert Pedersen(Deputy Secretary General BIMCO), and Steve Burthom (Manager Fleet Management, Shell Shipping and Maritime, Ship Management & Innovation) engaged in a robust discussion on how Safety Management Systems must evolve to ensure safe, reliable operations in the era of alternative fuels. Mr O'Neil said he believed that alternative fuels would arrive in "dribs and drabs" so there was no urgency at Columbia Shipmanagement to ensure all seafarers were ready for the transition in terms of training. "We are ready but we are realistically ready," he said. "The runway for adoption of alternative fuels feels longer and narrower than we first thought."



Commenting on the day’s discussions, Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, co-founder and co-CEO London International Shipping Week, said: “Day 2 demonstrated the breadth of challenges and opportunities the industry faces — whether embedding diversity and inclusion into our future, building the infrastructure for the energy transition, or safeguarding operations in a multi-fuel era. The insights shared today reinforce the critical role collaboration plays in shaping a safe, sustainable, and inclusive maritime future.”

 

For the latest updates on LISW25 visit www.lisw.com