April 01, 2025 | Claire Jungman and Charlie Brown
As the maritime industry gathered for Singapore Maritime Week 2025, one of the industry's most important annual events, participants grappled with a central concern: the intensifying threat posed by the Iranian-backed ghost fleet. Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tension, sanctions enforcement, and growing environmental risk, the week's discussions reflected the urgency of safeguarding the integrity of global shipping.
A highlight of the week was a keynote speech by Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who underscored Singapore's enduring commitment to free and secure maritime trade. He acknowledged the challenges posed by today's strategic environment and warned about “Choppy waters ahead,” and that “it is a different world today. Attitudes towards trade have changed. Patterns of trade flows are shifting, too. Minister Lee emphasized the importance of rule-based maritime order and Singapore's role as a trusted maritime hub: “Singapore will continue to support a multilateral rules-based order, international co-operation and interdependence.”
Read more