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FEATURES

Youth in Maritime Worldwide

Encouraging the next generation

into the maritime industry is vital

I
n a recent speech at the Connecticut Maritime Association we know it is, so we can attract the right talent to its doors.

(CMA) conference Esben Poulsson, President of the Singapore Tomorrow’s successful enterprises depend on this,” he said.

Shipping Association stated how important he felt it was to This view is shared not only by industry peers in Singapore, but
attract new blood into the industry.is universally felt, with societies being set up in maritime hubs

“We need to work with our regulators, customers and investorsacross the globe to cater for and to support young professionals

to make shipping the cutting edge, state-of-the-art industryin the maritime industry.

Shipping Professional Network cannot be maintained without regular Technical Controlling at TB Marine

Londoncommunication. For young professionals, Shipmanagement, describes how the
Founded in 2007, the Shipping meeting people early in their careers, Shipping Professional Network group is

Professional Network London (SPNL) iswhen they are typically more junior in diferent:

a networking platform which aims to their roles, is arguably easier in the sense “There are many diferent platforms

promote and connect the next generation that the connection is made with the around, which ofer their members
22 |of young shipping professionals. SPNL individual rather than the status. People

hosts a number of events throughout the do business with people they like, trust,

year including their lagship event at the conide in and feel comfortable around.
bi-annual London International Shipping Business is based on trust which is built

Week (LISW). At LISW 2015, the theme through personal relationships over time,

was Showcasing the Next Generation in so it really helps to start early”.
Shipping, with Board Members from four With the irst international branch

international youth societies discussing launched in Mumbai in 2011, SPNL has

the promotion of the maritime industry grown from strength to strength and

as an attractive career path for young now has further international chapters
high-lyers.in Hamburg and Copenhagen and

SPNL Chairman, Claudio Chiste, who regional groups forming across the

works at Investec Bank plc in Shipping UK, establishing a strong international
Finance, summed up the importance presence.

of SPNL’s role for youth in the maritime The Shipping Professional Network

industry as follows:of Hamburg (SPNH) Chair, Isabel
“The recipe behind SPNL is essentially Dressel, who works in

a ‘professional networking’ platform for Operations and

and run by young shipping professionals.

The real beneit to networking early
in your career is that strong

relationships take

time. They

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