The Baltic Exchange - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Baltic Exchange has launched a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) platform to give the maritime sector greater access to company data to support informed decision-making and meet increased regulatory obligations. KYC platform KYC is a regulatory requirement in the banking and financial services sectors to ensure businesses do their due diligence on customers to prevent fraud, money laundering, and terrorism financing. With shipping a vital part of global commerce, the need to manage the risk of fraud, and compliance with regulatory sanctions has become paramount, particularly surrounding reputational management and liability issues. Up-to-date and relevant information The Baltic Exchange seeks to ensure that members and non-members can efficiently and effectively conduct KYC The Baltic Exchange launched the platform following a multi-year development project. It seeks to ensure that members and non-members can efficiently and effectively conduct KYC procedures and due diligence checks tailored to the maritime industry and beyond. To provide the most up-to-date and relevant information available, The Baltic Exchange has partnered with Moody’s, the internationally recognised financial services and risk insight platform, to utilise its extensive Orbis for Compliance database, which covers more than 445 million entries both in shipping and non-shipping, along with its Global Regulatory Information Database (GRID), which provides more than 12 million records on known or suspected corrupt private and public sector figures, fraudsters, illicit financiers, money launderers and more. Due diligence checks The need for an extensive and maritime-specific KYC platform has been growing in recent years owing to the global rise of sanctions compliance, anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) requirements, and operational risk management needs that companies are continually having to comply with. "Due diligence has become an increasingly important aspect for all players in the shipping industry as they look to ensure they are aware of operational risks to their core business and drive compliance standards and practices," said Mark Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of The Baltic Exchange. Critical maritime data Mark Jackson adds, "With vessels carrying high-value cargoes and operating across international borders, we have responded to the needs of our members to develop a KYC platform to provide critical risk data to all, including small and medium-sized companies." He continues, "Crucially, the launch of this platform reinforces Baltic Exchange’s position as a provider of critical maritime data, enabling our members to make more informed decisions and mitigate any risks." Availability The Baltic Exchange KYC Platform is available to both members and non-members who can purchase credits to undertake the required checks and scans. The Baltic Exchange members receive a credit discount when using the KYC platform.

Mark Jackson, CEO of the Baltic Exchange, has been appointed Deputy Chair of the London International Shipping Week 2025 (LISW25) Steering Group. He will support LISW25 Steering Group Chair John Hulmes in overseeing the running of the 2025 event. International shipping knowledge Welcoming Mark’s appointment, John Hulmes said he would bring a wealth of international shipping knowledge and expertise to the role. He stated, "Mark’s international credentials are unquestioned and LISW25 will benefit strongly from the contacts and knowledge he has." John Hulmes adds, "The Baltic Exchange is a very important stakeholder in LISW and is a significant part of London and the UK’s international maritime deliverable. Mark’s strong involvement in LISW25 underlines the important role both the Baltic Exchange and LISW play in promoting London and the UK internationally." LISW25 in global maritime Mark Jackson said, "I am honoured to be appointed Deputy Chair of the LISW25 Steering Group. Having been a member of the Steering Group for several years and serving as Deputy Chair back in 2021, I am aware of the significant impact this event has on the international shipping community."  He adds, "I look forward to working closely with John and the team to ensure that LISW25 continues to highlight London's pivotal role in global maritime affairs."

Major international ship owners and charterers will play a significant role in the Headline Conference at this year’s London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23), which takes place at the Thames-side headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in London, United Kingdom (UK), on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. Environmental matters will be central to discussions, particularly following next week’s pivotal IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting (MEPC80). Taking part in the ground-breaking LISW discussions will be Jan Dieleman, the President of Cargill Ocean Transport, and Chair of the Global Maritime Forum. London International Shipping Week 2023 (LISW23) Mr. Dieleman will outline his vision for the future of the shipping industry Mr. Dieleman will outline his vision for the future of the shipping industry, when he joins a crucial panel discussion, which aims to identify potential solutions to address the challenges impacting global trade, particularly in relation to decarbonisation. Joining this panel, moderated by international lawyer - Siiri Duddington of Hill Dickinson, are Nick Brown, the Chief Executive of Lloyd’s Register, and Ben Palmer, the President of Inmarsat Maritime. Together, they will examine how to ensure shipping’s carbon transition can be done in an equitable way both for those in the industry and wider society. Key considerations Key considerations will include: Will the market or the regulator drive decarbonisation? And can this transition be achieved if it is not underpinned by a global liberal trading regime? Threats posed to global shipping by the geopolitical environment will be scrutinised by a panel including Karrie Trauth, Shell’s Senior Vice President of Shipping & Maritime, a passionate leader in energy transition. The panel, moderated by Steven Davies, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anglo International Shipping, will also include Elisabeth Fauvelle Munck af Rosenschöld, the Global Sustainability Manager for IKEA Transport & Logistics, and Andrew Cutler, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Britannia P&I who also chairs the International Group of P&I Clubs. Expert panel discussions Questioning why the shipping industry is largely reactive to disruptive foreign policy Questioning why the shipping industry is largely reactive to disruptive foreign policy, the panel will debate whether the industry could, or should, be more overt in how it communicates its global strategic importance. Prominent Greek Ship Owner - Nick Tsakos, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tsakos Energy Group Limited, brings his vast experience to a panel chaired by Martin Crawford-Brunt, Director of The Baltic Exchange, to explore the relationship between regulation and market response, examining what are the implications for investors, financiers, charterers and ship owners. London and the UK’s role in the maritime industry’s future With UK Government Ministers expected to be in attendance, the Conference will highlight the central role of London and the UK in the maritime industry’s future. Sean Moloney, Co-Founder of London International Shipping Week (LISW), commented: “With a premier line-up and significant maritime industry venue, the LISW23 Headline Conference is taking place at a decisive moment for the shipping industry. We look forward to some hard-hitting discussions with enthusiastic participation from the delegate floor.” Registration for the LISW23 Headline Conference is now open.