Durite warns of changes to traffic safety laws
Apr 9, 2026 at 7:43 AM
Digitalization in logistics industry stagnates
Apr 9, 2026 at 9:24 AM
The International Association of Maritime Clusters (IAMC) has announced its first members. A total of 17 national and regional maritime clusters have joined the organization to promote collaboration and the exchange of best practices on a global level. Further memberships are expected in the coming months.
New members include the European Network of Maritime Clusters as well as clusters from various countries, including De Blauwe Cluster from Belgium, Marine Cluster Bulgaria from Bulgaria, the French Maritime Cluster from France, STRATEGIS Maritime ICT Cluster from Greece, the Federazione del Mare from Italy, the Maritime Cluster Luxembourg, the Maritime Forum Malta, the Baltic Sea & Space Cluster from Poland, Fórum Oceano from Portugal, the Clúster Marítimo Español from Spain, and the Ukrainian Maritime Cluster. Additionally, the Isle of Man Maritime, the Ethekwini Maritime Cluster from South Africa, the Chambre Monegasque du Shipping from Monaco, Mersey Maritime from the United Kingdom, and NYMAR – New York Maritime from the USA have also joined.
Peter Shaerf, Chairman of NYMAR and President of the IAMC, expressed positive sentiments about the increase in new members and emphasized the need for collaboration at the cluster level within the industry. “When we reached out to the global network of clusters, we were pleased with the interest they showed in promoting the IAMC agenda, which primarily aims to enhance the global maritime ecosystem,” said Shaerf. The IAMC board is currently being established and will include representatives from around the world.
Membership in the IAMC is free for international, national, and regional clusters. Companies and individuals can also join and benefit from an extensive network and cooperation opportunities for a small annual fee. Shaerf added that there are numerous commercial and business advantages associated with IAMC membership, including faster access to markets and partners, as well as stronger value chains through collaboration among shipping companies, ports, energy providers, and service companies worldwide.
The IAMC represents a unified voice on a global level that can communicate more effectively with organizations such as the International Maritime Organization. It provides coordinated contributions on issues such as decarbonization, digitalization, and safety regulations, representing not only shipowners but the entire maritime value chain. The IAMC is also tasked with acting as a bridge between regional and global political challenges, translating local issues into global policy recommendations while ensuring that smaller or emerging maritime nations are heard.
The founding of the International Association of Maritime Clusters took place in September during London International Shipping Week 2025. The early engagement of numerous cluster organizations confirms the value of the association.
