From October 17-20, IAPH president Jens Meier (CEO, Port of Hamburg) and IAPH vice-president for North America Gene Seroka (executive director, Port of Los Angeles) attended the 5th North Bund Forum in Shanghai – a global platform for maritime leaders to address the future of shipping. In his remarks, Jens highlighted that the growing adoption of alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol, and ammonia would fundamentally reshape port operations by bringing increased bunkering activity and new safety requirements. His key message was that only harmonized international standards can transform this complexity into a foundation for safe, reliable, and sustainable global shipping. In a public broadcast interview, Jens stressed that green investments are not sunk costs, but strategic commitments. With resilience now a core priority, he pointed to trust in digitalization and initiatives such as Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) as proof that ambitious collaboration could unlock tangible investment.
