"Shipping is the lifeblood of our economy, connecting producers to consumers across the globe and enabling the movement of goods which are essential to our daily lives."
Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
"Shipping is the backbone of globalization."
Rose George, journalist and author
"The shipping industry plays a vital role in the world economy, carrying about 90% of global trade."
Peter Hinchliffe, former Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping
"Shipping is a vital component of any nation's economy, and it is essential to everything we do in our modern society."
Michael Sacco, President of the Seafarers International Union
"Shipping is a great industry to be in; it has helped the world go round for centuries and will continue to do so for centuries to come."
Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of BW Group
"Without shipping, all intercontinental trade, the bulk transport of raw materials, and the import/export of affordable food and manufactured goods would simply not be possible."
Mark Dickinson, General Secretary of the seafarers' union Nautilus International.