London is hosting the twelfth London International Shipping Week (LISW25) from September 15–19, with more than 300 official events across the capital and thousands of maritime leaders debating decarbonisation, digitalisation, safety and the future workforce.

Greek Shipping Minister Vasilis Kikilias will begin on Monday with a briefing at the UK Home Office on coastguard operations and a meeting with International Maritime Organisation chief Arsenio Dominguez.

He will later join the name-day celebration of Archbishop Nikitas of Great Britain and was guest of honour at a reception at the Greek Embassy.

On Tuesday he is due to give statements at BMA House, appear on Capital Link’s high-level panel with Cyprus Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and shipowner Nikos Tsakos, and conclude with talks at the Department for Transport with Deputy Minister Keir Mather.

Cyprus, meanwhile, is using the week to promote its registry and tonnage tax regime.

Hadjimanolis will speak at the Capital Link forum on ‘Shipping in a New Era’, deliver a keynote on women’s leadership at a WISTA UK event, host a reception at the High Commission, present the Cyprus Shipping Cluster at a press conference and attend a dinner with the UK Cypriot community.

In addition, she will use her meetings to promote Cyprus’ candidacy in upcoming IMO elections.

The wider programme began on Monday with the London Stock Exchange market ceremony at Paternoster Square.

This was followed by a Ministerial Maritime Regional Growth Roundtable, a Marine Energy Transition Forum at Norton Rose Fulbright, and safety and risk sessions including a London Maritime Arbitrators Association mock arbitration.

Later in the day, evening receptions were hosted by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Jo Malone London.

On Tuesday, attention shifted to BMA House for the 17th Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum, while the LISW25 Global Hub opened at County Hall.

Alongside these, the programme included a UK–China professional exchange seminar, sessions on geopolitics and sustainability, and the launch of DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 at IET London, Savoy Place.

Moreover, WISTA UK’s ‘Maritime Leaders: Fit for Purpose?’ ran at midday, while charterer receptions and rooftop drinks brought the day to a close.

By Wednesday, focus turned to the flagship Headline Conference at the IMO headquarters, which ran from morning until evening. In parallel, the day featured a Maritime Future Leaders Network meeting, panels on the cost of greener shipping, hydrogen fuels and safety lessons, as well as a wind propulsion session.

In the evening, networking continued with events ranging from innovation drinks on HMS President at St Katharine Docks to the Maritime Solent reception, the TradeWinds party, and Cyprus’ exclusive cocktail reception at County Hall. At the same time, CLIA’s ‘The Voyage’ exhibit remained open to delegates.

Thursday’s agenda centred on policy and regulation. Clean Maritime Day took place at Central Hall Westminster, complemented by a NorthStandard breakfast at the Gherkin and the International Shipowning & Shipmanagement Summit.

This was followed by legal and insurance sessions, a mock salvage arbitration, and panels on women in ports and career opportunities.

In addition, the Port of London hosted a river showcase, while an invite-only ammonia fuel assessment drew attention from specialists. The day concluded with the gala dinner and after-party at Evolution London.

Finally, on Friday, the Nautical Institute’s seminar Enhancing Navigation Safety Through Innovation closed the week at Lambeth Road, underlining LISW25’s emphasis on safety and innovation.