THE president of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) has been elected as the new chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

Esben Poulsson was elected to helm the ICS at its annual general meeting in Tokyo on Thursday. Mr Poulsson will remain as SSA president, said the association in a press release on Thursday. Mr Poulsson takes over from Masamichi Morooka, who has stood down after four years in office.

ICS is the principal international trade association for shipowners, with a membership comprising national shipowners' associations from 37 countries representing all sectors and trades and over 80 per cent of the world merchant fleet.

Mr Poulsson said that he will focus on two main challenges in his new role.

The first is working with International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states to make further progress in addressing international shipping's carbon dioxide emissions.

This includes the ICS proposal that IMO should develop an "Intended IMO Determined Contribution" for reducing the sector's emissions, similar to the commitments already made by governments as part of the COP21 (Conference of Parties) Paris Agreement, said Mr Poulsson.

"But even more pressing, from an industry perspective, is making sure we are ready for the almost certain entry in force of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, and engaging with governments, especially the United States, to overcome some remaining but really serious implementation problems," he said.

Mr Poulsson will be supported in his important new role by four ICS vice-chairmen. He will also be assisted by two vice-presidents at the SSA, at least until the end of his current term in June 2017.