On 3 February, the World Maritime University (WMU) delivered a public webinar on Contemporary Maritime Governance: Bridging Global Standards with Strategic Public Management. The webinar examined the transformation of the maritime sector from traditional administrative models to New Public Management and agile governance frameworks. 

Discussions focused on systemic governance gaps identified through IMO audit processes. The panelists, of which three are alumni of WMU, offered strategic insights into strengthening national maritime administrations and improving cross-sectoral coordination. The governance principles explored were applicable across the full spectrum of ocean industries, including shipping, ports, fisheries, marine tourism, offshore energy, and renewable marine resources.

The event convened government officials, maritime professionals, academics, alumni, and students from around the world to address how States can move beyond compliance-based approaches toward more effective, coordinated, and performance-driven maritime governance. An interactive question-and-answer segment enabled participants to engage directly with the panel, reinforcing the webinar’s role as a platform for high-level dialogue and international knowledge exchange.

The webinar programme and list of panelists is available here.  To view the recorded webinar, click here.