On 22–23 October 2025, the city of Busan, South Korea, hosted the latest meeting of shipowners, shipbuilders, and classification societies – “TRIPARTITE 2025.”
This year’s event was organized by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in cooperation with the Korean Register (KR), the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA), and the Korea Shipowners Association (KSA).
A forum connecting three sectors
TRIPARTITE is an international forum that, for more than two decades, has brought together three key stakeholder groups of the maritime industry:
- shipbuilders,
- shipowners,
- classification societies, including Polish Register of Shipping (PRS).
The forum serves as a platform for collaboration and dialogue on developing common solutions to major technological, environmental, and regulatory challenges faced by the global shipping sector.
What was discussed at TRIPARTITE 2025?
More than 70 participants from 13 countries attended the meeting in Busan. Discussions focused on some of the most pressing issues in modern maritime operations, including:
- report on progress from working groups,
- decarbonisation,
- reduction of CO₂ emissions from ships,
- autonomous ships,
- biofouling and biological pollution,
- ballast water treatment,
- underwater noise emissions,
- maintenance and cybersecurity of software systems,
- management of grey water discharges.
In the context of IMO’s recent decision
The meeting took place shortly after a widely discussed decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to postpone by one year the implementation of the global emissions trading system for international shipping.
At the April meeting, the IMO had planned for the global carbon pricing mechanism for maritime transport to take effect in 2027. However, during its October session, the Organization decided to delay the start to 2028, with fee collection under the system expected to begin in 2029.
Participants of the TRIPARTITE meeting reaffirmed the forum’s support for IMO’s efforts to establish effective regulations developed in close cooperation with the maritime community.
PRS participation
Polish Register of Shipping was represented at the meeting by Mr. Leszek Pokora, Executive Director of PRS (Shanghai) Vessel Inspection Company Limited.
Looking ahead
The next TRIPARTITE Forum is scheduled to take place in Japan in the fourth quarter of 2026.
