Shippers gather in Sri Lanka

Shippers’ representatives from Asia, Africa and Europe will meet in Sri Lanka this week to discuss key issues affecting air cargo, including air transport emissions.
The Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF) holds its annual meeting on 28 and 29 July in Colombo, where a packed agenda will also cover pressing topics in the maritime sector, including mega-ships and alliances and container weight verification.
The event is hosted by the Sri Lankan Shippers’ Council, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and features prominent contributors such as Djibo Boubacar, director of the Air Transport Bureau at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
GSF secretary general Chris Welsh said: “There are some really crucial issues that we’ll be exploring in detail, not only for those who ship by sea but also concerning air cargo. The restrictions on transporting lithium batteries on passenger planes and the ban on direct flights from Bangladesh to the UK will be high on the agenda as will be the new emerging market structure for liner shipping and its impacts on shippers."
Those represented at the event include household names such as Marks and Spencer which sources goods from around the world and other prominent global shippers, participating in key sessions via tele-conferencing facilities.