When cleaner ships may not be safer ships

IT seems the last four months of the year see more than their fair share of high-level shipping industry discussions. At least it seems like that this year. We have had a whole run of talks on cutting emissions, at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and European Union and then at the UN's Bonn Climate Change Conference.

Last week, the annual Tripartite Shipbuilding Forum ended in agreement that the industry needs to design ships differently and be more technologically innovative to reach world climate goals and counter cyber security risks.

For over 16 years, Tripartite has provided an opportunity for representative associations of the three main industry sectors involved in shipbuilding - shipowners, classification societies and shipyards - to discuss current issues related to design, construction and operation of new and future ships. This year's meeting Nantong, China, was hosted by the China Classification Society