MISA 20th Anniversary Exchange of Views “Shaping the Future of Shipping”

To mark its 20th Anniversary, MISA organised a high-level Exchange of Views, “Shaping the Future of Shipping”, held at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, with the institutional support of the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI).

IMLI contributed its academic leadership to the Exchange, with its Director, Prof. Norman A. Martínez Gutiérrez, serving as a session moderator and Prof. Elda Belja, Professor at IMLI, acting as Master of Ceremonies together with the MISA Secretary General Dr Claudia Vella Casagrande, who coordinated and guided the proceedings at the opening and closing of the Exchange. The Exchange was also attended by IMLI Master’s students, reinforcing the link between policy dialogue and the next generation of maritime professionals.

MISA also records its sincere appreciation to Mr David Kerr, European Commission official and previous maritime attache and Ms Anna Maria Darmanin, Secretary General of the European Tugowners’ association and former Vice Chair of the European Economic and Social Committee that kindly accepted to moderator sessions, contributing their experience and professionalism to the quality of the discussions.

Thematic focus The Exchange of Views was structured around three thematic sessions:

1. Rule of Law, Security and Multilateralism: Securing Global Shipping in Times of Turbulence

2. Decarbonisation and Sustainability — Driving Global Solutions, Sharing Responsibilities

3. Safeguarding the Competitiveness of EU Shipping: Malta’s Role in a Changing Global Landscape

Participation and Speakers

Despite a relatively short preparation period, the Exchange of Views brought together a broad and high-level group of speakers and contributors from government, international organisations, industry and the maritime services sector.

The programme included addresses and interventions by Ms Marily Fragkista, President of MISA; Mr William Spiteri Bailey, President of the Malta Chamber of Commerce; Hon. Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport; Hon. Miriam Dalli, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise (via video message); Hon. Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade; Mr Ivan Castillo, Shadow Minister for Transport; and Mr Daniel Attard, Member of the European Parliament.

Senior policy-level participation also included Dr Aaron Farrugia, Malta’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization and former Minister for Transport; representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister, including the Envision 2050 team; and senior officials from the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade. Institutional participation included Mr Kurt Farrugia (pictured below), Chief Executive Officer of Transport Malta; Dr Ivan Tabone, Registrar of Shipping; Dr Geraldine Spiteri Lucas, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Business Registry; Ing. Abigail Cutajar, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Climate Action Authority; Mr Kenneth Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Valletta; and Mr Ivan Sammut, Director of REMPEC.

The shipowner perspective was represented through MISA, including contributions by members of the MISA Executive Committee or their representatives, namely Mr John Lyras, Mr Metin Düzgit, and Mr Georgios Poularas of the Enesel Group, representing Mr Filippos Lemos. The Exchange was opened by the MISA President, while Dott. Emanuele Grimaldi, Vice President of MISA, delivered the closing address.

European and international perspectives were further provided by Mr Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); Mr Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of European Shipowners (ECSA); and Prof. Dr Alexander Proelss, expert on the law of the sea.

The Exchange also included specialist contributions by Dr Ramon Garcia Gallardo, Partner at G-Gallardo Legal, and Mr Martin Cauchi Inglott, Director of the Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring and CRIMARIO.

Mr Lino Vassallo, former Secretary General of MISA and former Registrar of Shipping, participated separately, contributing reflections grounded in Malta’s long-standing maritime administration and international engagement.

The Exchange was further enriched by the presence of representatives of the diplomatic corps, EU representations in Malta, maritime education institutions, the maritime cluster, the Malta Chamber of Commerce, trade unions, WISTA Malta, and officials from several Ministries and public bodies with which MISA works closely.

The Exchange of Views and the AGM were supported through kind sponsorship by the Grimaldi Group of Companies, whose contribution was instrumental to the successful delivery of the day’s programme.

Annual General Meeting

MISA held its Annual General Meeting on the afternoon of 28 October 2025.

Matters discussed and decisions taken are recorded separately in the formal AGM minutes.

20th Anniversary Celebration – Malta Maritime Museum

The day concluded with a 20 Anniversary Gala Dinner held at the Malta Maritime Museum, marking two decades of MISA’s service to shipowners flying the Malta flag.

The evening featured musical performances by soprano Christine Dalli and the Accordia String Quartet, as well as a maritime heritage narrative presented and curated by a historian of Heritage Malta, guiding guests through the maritime-themed menu.

Addresses were delivered by Ms Marily Fragkista, President of MISA; Mr Emanuele Grimaldi, Vice President of MISA; and Hon. Chris Bonett, Minister for Transport.

Selected messages of appreciation and support:

As part of the Anniversary, MISA received messages of appreciation and support from Maltese and international stakeholders, recognising both the milestone anniversary and the quality of the engagement achieved.

In particular, MISA received a video message from Mr Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, and a written message from H.E. Joseph Cuschieri, Ambassador of Malta, acknowledging MISA’s work and its 20-year contribution to Malta’s maritime sector.

A selection of these messages may be viewed by clicking here.