"Global Port Cooperation"
Presenting an Innovative and Sustainable Future
The 13th Busan International Port Conference (BIPC), hosted by Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Song Sanggeun), was held at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal from September 23 to 24, 2025.
This year’s BIPC was themed “An Innovative Leap towards Sustainable Voyages.”
Recently, the global trade environment has been facing unprecedented challenges. Rapidly changing international dynamics and the restructuring of global supply chains may lead to a contraction in trade volume and a decrease in cargo throughput, raising concerns throughout the shipping and port industries.
Busan Port Authority believes that, amid the instability of the global trade structure, close cooperation and solidarity among global ports are essential. Against this backdrop, the authority organized this year’s BIPC to enable the shipping, port, and logistics industries to seek joint responses. The event focused on presenting practical solutions for how ports can innovate and collaborate in the face of these challenges.
The most notable sessions at this year’s event included discussions on the outlook for the global container shipping market, as well as the sharing of experiences and achievements in digital transformation and decarbonization by major ports.
Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime and known as a pioneer in quantitative analysis of the container shipping market, addressed various variables affecting shipping and ports. He emphasized that, as uncertainty has become a constant in the market, ports and shipping companies must strengthen their resilience and prepare scenario-based response options, grounded in flexibility, cooperation, and visibility.
Jens Meier, president of the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) and CEO of Hamburg Port Authority, stressed, “Without digitalization, the implementation and measurement of sustainability are impossible. Digitalization must be pursued within the framework of international standards and global cooperation to ensure its sustainability.”
The International Association of Ports & Harbors is the world’s largest international consultative body representing ports globally and plays a key role in establishing global port policies and standards.
Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, who has led decarbonization strategies, highlighted that from 2005 to 2023, air pollutants were significantly reduced while container throughput actually increased by 15%. He emphasized, “Decarbonization is not an obstacle to growth, but a foundation for sustainable growth.”
In a media interview at this year’s BIPC, Song Sanggeun, president of Busan Port Authority, highlighted Busan Port’s leadership in digital transformation.
He introduced the blockchain-based port communication system, “ChainPortal,” which has led data collaboration among stakeholders. He noted that this achievement has been recognized as an exemplary case by both the World Bank and the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH).
He added, “Busan Port is an active member of the international digital consultative body ChainPORT and Port Call Optimization (PCO), contributing to the global digital transformation of ports and discussions on international standardization.”
ChainPORT is a global network of port authorities established in 2016 under the leadership of Hamburg Port, focusing on digital transformation in ports through data collaboration and the adoption of new technologies. PCO, founded in 2014 by the Port of Rotterdam, is a consultative body that promotes the international standardization of port call data among vessels, ports, and terminals.
Song Sanggeun, president of Busan Port Authority, stated, “Now in its 13th year, BIPC has established itself as a platform leading cooperation among ports even in a rapidly changing global environment. Building on this foundation, we will continue to work closely with port leaders from around the world.”
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