HONG KONG, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's blend of strengths gives it a rare edge in green shipping, Emanuele Grimaldi, chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), recently told Xinhua, voicing hope that the city will step up its role in this pivotal global transition.

In a recent exclusive interview, Grimaldi said that as a hub bridging the Chinese mainland and global markets, "Hong Kong is well-positioned to become a promising green maritime fuel bunkering and trading center."

Grimaldi underscored what distinguishes Hong Kong from other global shipping hubs: its multi-faceted standing as a top-tier international shipping center and a preeminent global trade and financial hub. Ranked among the world's top four international shipping centers, "Its ports, shipowners, and maritime services community embody the international spirit of cooperation that our industry depends upon."

The industry is currently navigating a storm of uncertainty. Geopolitical conflicts disrupt key sea lanes, while protectionism and deglobalization gnaw at trade flows. Add in the upheaval of energy transitions and a chronic shortage of seafarers, and the uncertainty in the industry continues to intensify.

He believed that Hong Kong's commitment to openness, collaboration and practical reform has made it a steadying influence and a source of confidence in a jittery sector.

The ongoing "Hong Kong Maritime Week 2025" has provided a key platform for efficient industry communication and cooperation. Participants reaffirmed their strong support for open free trade, consolidated consensus on decarbonization, and demonstrated ambition and responsibility in advancing the industry's green transition, he said.

"China is not only the world's largest shipbuilder but has also made many interesting developments in new fuels," he said. China's competitive advantages in production capacity and pricing for green fuels such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen present critical opportunities for the global shipping industry, which is in urgent need of expanding supply and demand, he added.

Shipping corridors, the arteries of global trade, now need ports that can bunker these new fuels. It is crucial for China, the world's largest goods-trading nation, to have ports capable of providing this specialist service. Hong Kong -- one of the world's most important ports -- thus faces both an imperative and a unique opportunity to emerge as a hub for green fuel bunkering and trading, the ICS chairman noted.

Addressing the global seafarers shortage, Grimaldi said that the industry currently employs around 2 million seafarers, with a deficit of at least 100,000. The adoption of new engines and fuels will render approximately 40 percent of seafarers -- nearly 800,000 people -- in need of skill upgrading and retraining to ensure safety, a demand closely tied to their career development.

China's large population is a lifeline here, Grimaldi said. The Chinese mainland has a big labor pool to replenish seafarer ranks, clear goals for green shipping and a well-established vocational education system. It can tailor training to new fuels and equipment, turning out the versatile seafarers the industry needs, he added.

"None of this will happen without clear policy," Grimaldi said, stressing, "Decarbonization depends on policy certainty -- it gives investors a compass."

He pointed to signs from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, such as the chief executive's policy addresses in recent years and documents like the "Action Plan on Green Marine Fuel Bunkering," which show a focus on cooperation between the authorities and the industry. Tax breaks, regulatory tweaks and policy guidance are all part of Hong Kong's strategy to nudge the sector towards sustainability.

Under the "one country, two systems" framework, Hong Kong's unique role as a bridge connecting the Chinese mainland and the world, along with its geographical advantages, provides a solid foundation for consolidating and enhancing its status as an international maritime center.

Grimaldi expressed anticipation that Hong Kong will continue upgrading its ports and optimizing shore power facilities, integrate deeply with the Chinese mainland's comprehensive industrial and supply chains as well as strong R&D capabilities, and collaborate with other ports in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to advance the energy transition of this port cluster.