The University of Gibraltar recently convened a high-level dialogue on the pressing  challenges and opportunities facing the global maritime sector, hosting the first outreach  event of the International Sea Power Conference 2025. 

A statement from the University of Gibraltar follows below:

Held in partnership with the Council on Geostrategy and the Royal Navy, the event, titled  ‘The Future of International Merchant Shipping’, brought together leading voices from  academia, industry and government to solidify Gibraltar’s position at the centre of global  maritime conversations. 

Gibraltar: A Strategic Maritime Hub 

As one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime hubs, Gibraltar provided the  ideal setting for this crucial discussion. Hosting the outreach event not only underscored the  Rock’s enduring relevance to global shipping, but also highlighted the University of  Gibraltar’s growing role in maritime research, education and skills development. 

The formal welcome was delivered by Professor Catherine Bachleda, Vice-Chancellor of the  University of Gibraltar, with Master of Ceremonies, Commodore Tom Guy, Commander of  British Forces Gibraltar, providing opening remarks and Chris Shirling-Rooke, CEO of  Maritime UK, giving the keynote address. 

Key Takeaways from the Discussion 

The conference featured three highly engaging themed panel sessions, generating  actionable insights into the future of the industry: 

Charting a Sustainable Course: Decarbonisation and Green Fuels 

Experts tackled the critical role of port authorities and the challenges of meeting IMO  2030/2050 decarbonisation targets. Discussions focused on the transition to greener fuels  and technologies, with contributions from the Gibraltar Port Authority (John Ghio, Captain of  the Port), the University’s School of Maritime Science (Behbood Issa-Zadeh, Head of  School), and key industry players such as Gibdock (Thomas Hannam, Operations Director)  and Peninsula360 (Jeroen de Vos, Global Head of Operations). 

The Next Generation’s Perspective 

A unique panel session offered powerful firsthand insights directly from the next generation  of maritime professionals. Cadets and a recent graduate from the University of Gibraltar’s  School of Maritime Science shared their vision for the future, emphasising the need for rapid  adaptation and technological investment across the sector. 

Building a Resilient Maritime Workforce 

Industry and academic leaders highlighted the urgent need to build a resilient and adaptable  workforce. Discussion covered the impact of geopolitical drivers on skills demand, the 

necessity of strengthening shore-side roles and the crucial importance of continuous  professional development. Speakers included the CEO of Maritime UK (Chris Shirling Rooke) as well as representatives from the University of Gibraltar’s Maritime Academy  (Aaron Lopez, Head of Maritime Academy), the Council on Geostrategy (Viktorija Starych Samuolienė, Co-founder) and the Gibraltar Port Operators Association (Ernest Morillo,  President). 

Reinforcing a Global Position 

Speaking after the event, Professor Catherine Bachleda, Vice Chancellor and CEO at the  University, spoke of the significance of the event: 

‘We were delighted to welcome such a diverse range of experts and industry leaders to  discuss the future of merchant shipping. For Gibraltar and the University, this event  powerfully reinforces our position at the heart of international maritime education and as a  convenor of vital global dialogue on sustainability, skills and innovation in one of the world’s  most critical industries.’ 

Viktorija Starych-Samuolienė, Co-founder (Strategy) of the Council on Geostrategy, spoke  about how important it is to have these discussions:  

‘We were proud to bring together academic leaders and industry experts to discuss the  future of international merchant shipping, a subject central to Britain’s national security and  prosperity. We were also pleased to hear from the next generation of maritime leaders, and  we look forward to continuing our university engagements in the lead-up to the International  Sea Power Conference 2025 in December.’