As one of the kick-off events of London International Shipping Week (September 9-12), a panel discussion on “Do Ports Need International Regulation” was taking place at the headquarter of International Maritime Organization, co-organized by Hutchinson Ports and IMO.
Sakura Kuma, the Executive director of YKIP was invited to the panel. She argued that, before any implementation of international regulation, first of all it is important to address what differences really matter and what the ultimate goal should be, and then dialogues need to be in place not only among the ports but also all stakeholders. Solutions based on seeking for mutual benefit should be pursued sufficiently which haven’t been done yet. International regulation might be necessary when other disposals don’t work, in which the case, the challenges in terms of the implementation of international regulation need to be addressed and dealt with carefully.
Discussion also extended to the topic of diversity in the maritime industry.

From left to right, Guy Platten, Secretary General at ICS; Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director Policy and Strategy at IAPH; Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid, Secretary General at Federation of European Private Port Operators (FEPORT); Frederick J. Kenny Jr, Director of Legal and External Affairs at IMO; Sakura Kuma, Executive Director at YKIP; Diana Whitney, General Counsel at Hutchinson Ports; Andrew Higgs, Consultant Solicitor at Setfords Solicitors
【More detail about the event】http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/WhatsNew/Pages/default.aspx