Industry Calls for Coordinated G20 Action

Two leading shipping industry bodies have made a joint call on G20 leaders “to act quickly to protect global supply chains.”

The International Chamber of Shipping and the International Association of Ports and Harbours have jointly penned an open letter, calling for “a coordinated approach by governments” to ensure essential transport can continue.

“Shipping is the lifeblood of the world ... We need nations, led by the G20, to work together to provide coordinated rather than kneejerk restrictions to protect us all from Covid-19. We need pragmatic, science-based and harmonized guidance for the global maritime sector that ensures the safe delivery of the goods that we are all going to rely upon in the coming months,” said Guy Platten, secretary general of the ICS.

Headquartered in London, the ICS represents national shipowners' associations and accounts for about 80 percent of the world’s merchant tonnage. The organization covers regulatory, operational and legal issues related to the sector.