The future of shipping hinges on digital and green transformation, according to a key gathering of global maritime leaders held in Shanghai on Oct 19.

The 2025 North Bund International Shipping Forum spotlighted the evolving trends and outlook of the shipping industry, with a focus on sustainability.

Wan Min, chairman of the board of COSCO Shipping, highlighted digitalization as the core engine for transformation. He pointed to the Global Shipping Business Network, which has significantly streamlined trade by issuing 680,000 blockchain electronic bills of lading and reducing import document processing time from days to hours.

On the green transition, Wan noted that over a third of COSCO's new vessels on order will use new or clean energy. A recent milestone is the successful refueling of China's first methanol dual-fuel container ship with domestic green methanol. He emphasized the need to cultivate high-caliber, interdisciplinary talent through collaborations with universities and research institutes.

Song Xiaodong, president of Shanghai International Port Group, showcased achievements in automation and green energy.

As the operator of the world's largest container port, SIPG's smart equipment, including unmanned container trucks, has already transported 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, alleviating port congestion.

Shanghai Port has normalized simultaneous ship-to-ship refueling of liquefied natural gas and green methanol, with bunkering volumes ranking among the highest globally.

"With the massive production of green methanol and the continuous increase in China's green methanol production capacity, Shanghai Port will be able to provide more stable and regular green methanol bunkering services for global ships," Song said.

Looking forward, he proposed a three-point initiative for global collaboration: promoting open technical standards, building an international green energy network, and creating digital supply chain platforms.

He called for deepened cooperation across the supply chain using technologies like blockchain to "create a more transparent, efficient, and collaborative digital supply chain ecology and eliminate information silos."

Stephen Gordon, managing director of Clarkson Research Services, identified the energy transition as a key future trend. He revealed that 50 percent of the current new shipbuilding orders are for alternative-fuel vessels.

"There is uncertainty around energy transition, but we feel it is a vital underlying trend," Gordon said.