WISTA and BIMCO Sign MoU for Sustainable Maritime Future

WISTA International and BIMCO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen cooperation on research, education, and innovation aimed at strengthening diversity, professional growth and sustainability across the maritime sector.

The agreement, announced during Maritime Cyprus and publicised by WISTA on 14th October 2025, commits the two organisations to collaborate on joint research initiatives, share publications and data, and codevelop training programmes and seminars.

“We are delighted to align with BIMCO, an organisation that shares our commitment to advancing a sustainable and inclusive maritime industry,” said WISTA International President, Elpi Petraki. “In joining forces, we can amplify our impact by promoting knowledge exchange, professional development, and the collaboration that benefits the entire shipping community”.

BIMCO’s involvement brings the trade association’s policy reach and industry expertise to the partnership. BIMCO represents members controlling a substantial share of world tonnage and has long been a voice for standardisation, transparency, and professionalism in global shipping. 

“This partnership reinforces our shared goal of building a resilient and inclusive maritime workforce,” said Secretary General & CEO of BIMCO, David Loosley.

The MoU explicitly links workforce sustainability to the sector’s twin transitions of digitalisation and decarbonisation, recognising that ports, shipowners, and managers will need inclusive talent pipelines and targeted training to manage new fuels, automation and regulatory change.

Practical outputs planned under the two‑year collaboration include joint studies, training curricula, capacity‑building workshops and toolkits designed to influence policy and employer practice. 

Both organisations stressed the partnership will focus on deliverables that can be scaled through WISTA’s global network of women professionals and BIMCO’s membership base.

As shipping confronts rapid technological and environmental change, the WISTA‑BIMCO MoU signals a practical, people‑centred approach to reform: combining advocacy, research and training to make the maritime workforce fairer, more resilient and better equipped for the challenges ahead.

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