The anticipation is palpable, with just two working days to go before the 10^th Anniversary celebrations begin for London International Shipping Week.

With attendance records smashed for the LISW23 Conference and Gala Dinner, and many of the hundreds of other events taking place during the week already sold out weeks ago, there is a huge sense of excitement in the air as up to 30,000 industry stakeholders prepare to descend on London for a momentous week of high activity.

There are so many highlights to look forward to, all outstanding and far too many to list individually. Some standout events include the LISW 10^th Anniversary launch reception on board the THV Galatea on Sunday, while Monday will see the Market Open Ceremony at the London Stock Exchange, the Ministerial Roundtable and Future Leaders Ministerial Roundtable at Lancaster House, a Maritime UK Parliamentary Cruise, a joint LISW23 and DESI reception on board a Royal Navy frigate; and the launch of Lloyd’s Register’s SHE_SEES exhibition Rewriting Women into Maritime History at the International Maritime Organization, amongst many other seminars, conferences, breakfast, lunches, receptions and dinners.

Tuesday will see more packed-out events, including Capital Link’s 15^th Annual Shipping & Marine Forum, IMPA London, the West Africa Shipping Assembly, ShipMoney’s Life in the F1 Fast Lane event, Mersey Maritime’s Mersey on the Thames reception at the House of Commons, the HM Government reception at Mansion House, and for the first time, a hugely popular Chartering Reception.

On Wednesday, the LISW23 Headline Conference at the IMO takes centre stage, followed by the HM Government of Gibraltar’s rooftop evening reception. A highlight of the week will, of course, be the LISW23 Champagne Reception, Gala Dinner and After Party at the stunning Evolution London on Thursday. We have even chartered boats to take dinner guests home.

Throughout the week the Daily Radio Show will be aired between 07:00 and 08:00 to keep everyone – in London and around the world – fully up to date and informed, while Maritime UK’s Global Maritime Hub will offer a very busy focal point for the week.

Foreign participation is particularly noticeable during this edition of LISW, with official events being held at embassies, residences, high commissions and elsewhere by the governments of Belgium, Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan and others.

But don’t forget the ships and boats that add even more colour to the week, including Type 23 frigate HMS Iron Duke, THV Galatea, HMS Belfast, Erasmus, the historic Havengore that bore Churchill’s coffin, the Golden Hind, Artemis Technologies’ Pioneer, the world’s first commercially viable electric foiling workboat, and of course Thames Clippers’ Uber Boats.

Check out the LISW23 Events calendar for more details of the hundreds of events taking place during the week.

See the events you could attend in the LISW23 Event Calendar here

London Still Top For Maritime Arbitration

A new report from LISW23 sponsor, law firm HFW, shows that London handled over 85% of the world’s maritime arbitration across 2022, with its closest competitor – Singapore – handling the equivalent of some 5% of the UK jurisdiction’s caseload.

The report – The Maritime Arbitration Universe in Numbers – analyses the latest figures from leading maritime arbitration associations and institutions, including those not yet publicly available.

London handled approximately 1,907 new cases in 2022, which is an almost 12% increase on the 1,703 cases in 2021. Singapore handled 96 new references, while Paris, handled 36, approximately 2% of London’s caseload, and Dubai handled 0.4% of London’s caseload.

Maritime and transport arbitration featured prominently in London arbitration institutions’ caseloads in 2022, with the LMAA seeing the highest volume of references since 2016 and 37% of the London Court of International Arbitration’s referrals for arbitration falling within this sector, an increase from 14% increase compared with the previous year.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS FOR THE LISW23 HEADLINE CONFERENCE

Calling All Charterers, Owners and Brokers

There are still some spaces available for the exclusive invitation-only Chartering Reception on Tuesday 12 September – but only genuine charterers, owners or brokers are eligible to come. If you fall into one of these ‘coalface’ activities and want to join us, please email events@shippinginnovation.com to receive an official invitation.