Genoa, October 14, 2025.
The Ligurian capital has once again turned into the beating heart of the global maritime industry as the Genoa Shipping Week 2025 officially set sail this morning. For one week, shipowners, port authorities, technology firms and policymakers from across Europe and beyond will gather in the city’s historic port to discuss the forces reshaping the shipping world, from artificial intelligence and automation to decarbonization and digital transformation.
This year’s edition, organized by the Associazione Promotori Musei del Mare and Clickutility Team, places innovation firmly at the centre of debate. More than three hundred international speakers are expected to take part in conferences, panels and workshops, all united by the same question: how can the maritime sector reinvent itself to remain both competitive and sustainable?
At the opening ceremony held in the elegant halls of Palazzo San Giorgio, Paolo Emilio Signorini, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, reminded the audience that the time for gradual change has passed. “Innovation is no longer optional; it’s a necessity for the competitiveness and sustainability of our ports,” he said, highlighting Genoa’s ambition to become a European leader in digitalization, automation and environmental responsibility.
The program of events reflects that ambition. The Port&ShippingTech Forum, the flagship conference of the week, is set to explore topics such as AI-driven logistics, hydrogen-powered vessels and the use of blockchain technology to ensure supply chain transparency. Alongside established industry players, dozens of startups are presenting smart-port solutions designed to reduce emissions and increase operational efficiency, giving the event a dynamic and forward-looking energy.
The green transition remains a central theme throughout the week. With the International Maritime Organization’s stricter emission rules coming into force in 2025, shipping companies are under growing pressure to cut their carbon footprint. Italian shipowners, while recognizing the urgency of the change, are calling for stronger European support to speed up the adoption of alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol and bio-LNG, all seen as key to achieving carbon-neutral shipping.
Yet Genoa Shipping Week is about more than technology and environmental policy. It also embodies the city’s determination to reclaim its traditional role as a gateway to the Mediterranean and a strategic hub for global trade. Recent infrastructure investments, from the modernization of port terminals and intermodal links to the introduction of digital monitoring systems, are helping Genoa align its ancient maritime heritage with the demands of twenty-first-century logistics.
As the shipping world converges on Genoa’s waterfront under a bright autumn sky, one message resonates through every discussion and corridor conversation: the future of maritime transport will depend on innovation, collaboration and the courage to navigate uncharted waters. For the industry, the course ahead may be challenging, but the winds of change are clearly blowing from the port of Genoa.
