Welcome to the Celebration of World Maritime Day 2026!
World Maritime Day was established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ specialized agency for shipping. Each year, the IMO selects a theme that highlights key challenges and opportunities facing the maritime sector. The theme for 2026, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” emphasizes how effective regulatory frameworks can be translated into practical action and tangible results across the industry.
This year’s theme aligns closely with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
- SDG 14 – Life Below Water
- SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
A warm welcome!
Preliminary Programme
11:30 Networking lunch
13:00 Opening and welcome
13:05 Welcome speech and official IMO speech – Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., President, World Maritime University
Malmö Stad – Tobias Nilsson, fastighets- och gatudirektör
13:15 IMO regulations on a general level – what does the framework look like today, and what can we expect in the future? – The Swedish Transport Agency
TBN)
13:30 SOLAS and the IMO’s work on safety issues
Introduction presentation: Professor Henning Jessen, Maritime Law and Digital Change, World Maritime University
Panel discussion: Cyber risk management, navigation, GPS interference
- Johan Wahlström, Head of Maritime Cooperation, Swedish Maritime Administration
- Alexander von Buxhoeveden, Safety and preparedness, The County Administrative Board of Skåne
- Professor Henning Jessen, Maritime Law and Digital Change, World Maritime University
14:10 MARPOL: Preventing pollution from ships – what does the development look like? – Christina Palmen, DNV
14:30 Coffee break
15:00 CII and EEXI: Energy efficiency and reduced emissions – how we contribute
- Jennie Folkunger, Sustainability Manager, Trelleborgs Hamn
- Annika Kristensson, Deputy CEO, Terntank
15:30 STCW: Regulations for seafarer training and certification – how do we prepare for the future?
- Jörgen Lorén, Stena, Chair of the STCW Group, Swedish Shipowners Association
- Fredrik Olindersson, Head of School, Chalmers School of Maritime Studies
- World Maritime University (TBN)
16:00 Panel discussion: From know-how to show-how – this is how we did it
- Ethan Faghani, CEO, Cetasol
- Amrit Bullar, CEO, Oceanbird
- Jörgen Karlsson, Head of Marine Sweden, ABB
- Andreas Bach, Managing Director, Lighthouse
17.00-19.30 Maritime networking dinner
September 25
09:00–11:30 Study visit – Saab Kockums Naval in Lund