Image Caption: Global Maritime Forum All Aboard Alliance Launch Attendees

In late May, I had the pleasure of representing VIKAND at the launch of the Global Maritime Forum’s “All Aboard Alliance” held at the Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue in Rüschlikon, outside Zurich.  

Thirty-seven Global Maritime Forum member representatives, including major maritime organizations—Anglo-Eastern, Cargill, Bureau Veritas, Dorian LPG, Hafnia, Lloyds Register, Purus Marine, RightShip, and Stena to name but a few—convened to discuss an increased focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) in the global maritime industry. 

In this VIKAND Pulse, please scroll to our Featured Insight, Fostering Diversity in the Maritime Industry, for a closer look at the foundational principles of the All Aboard Alliance as well as VIKAND’s own point of view and our aspirations regarding DEI.   

Global Maritime Forum’s All Aboard Alliance is a direct outcome of its members’ 2020 identification of DEI as a central premise to achieve the sustainable, progressive, and innovative industry we can all be proud of. DEI applies both aboard and ashore. 

Featuring inspirational sessions and intensive workshops, the four central pillars include: 

• Making a career in maritime more attractive  

• Improving diversity in leadership 

• Addressing the gender imbalance at sea 

• Ensuring accountability towards DEI  

Next steps include a work plan for All Aboard, to initiate concrete projects, a future maritime leaders’ meeting, and the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit. 

For our part, we wasted no time. For the celebration of the opening of our Copenhagen offices earlier this month, we reached out to the Copenhagen Business School, inviting BSc International Shipping & Trade students and professors to attend and engage with local maritime stakeholders. The response was great and the diversity of attendees’ notable. Sustainability includes introduction of the maritime industry to the next generation. 

As a founder and an author of the Seafarer Human Sustainability Declaration which includes DEI, VIKAND is honored to be included in the Global Maritime Forum’s critical conferences, conversations and goals.