Busan Port Authority holds port CEO roundtable on Monday

'Busan Port Declaration 2026' sets out global maritime innovation agenda

The Busan Port Authority holds a port CEO roundtable on Monday, where leaders of the world's top ports join in announcing the "Busan Port Declaration 2026: Global Port Innovation Compact." [Busan Port Authority]
The Busan Port Authority holds a port CEO roundtable on Monday, where leaders of the world's top ports join in announcing the "Busan Port Declaration 2026: Global Port Innovation Compact." [Busan Port Authority]

The Busan Port Authority (BPA) marked the 150th anniversary of Busan Port by hosting a port CEO roundtable on Monday, where it joined leaders of the world's top ports in announcing the "Busan Port Declaration 2026: Global Port Innovation Compact."

The roundtable, held Monday, was organized to allow Busan Port — which has grown by overcoming numerous challenges — to present a new vision for the future of ports alongside global counterparts. CEOs from Hamburg, Los Angeles, Rotterdam, Barcelona, Haropa and Ningbo Zhoushan attended, along with senior officials from the ports of Seattle, Long Beach, Singapore and Antwerp-Bruges. Lim Ki-taek, former secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), also took part.

Through the Busan Port Declaration 2026, the participating ports agreed to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of global supply chains through innovation and to share the results of those efforts so that all ports can grow together.

The declaration calls for linking digital platforms across ports and using AI to predict supply chain risks, boosting crisis-response capabilities. The ports also agreed to deepen cooperation on expanding the use of eco-friendly fuels and transitioning toward energy self-sufficient port operations.

Alongside this, the ports pledged to work through the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and the IMO to share technology and experience so that the gains from innovation can spread beyond leading ports to those at different stages of development — helping them build the capacity needed for digital and green transitions.

"Over the past 150 years, Busan Port has grown by learning from the experience of advanced ports around the world," BPA President Song Sang-geun said. "For the next 150 years, we will work together to lead innovation in global ports, share the results, and support the development of ports with strong growth potential."


alsgp9737@heraldcorp.com