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this progress is clearly documented in INTERCARGO%u2019s Bulk Carrier Casualty Report 2025, which highlights the continued reduction in vessel losses and improved safety performance across the sector. This progress reflects the industry%u2019s ongoing commitment to higher standards in vessel design, cargo-handling practices, crew training, and operational management.Digitalisation and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, have the potential to further enhance these improvements. Data-driven tools can assist with predictive maintenance, voyage optimisation, cargo monitoring, crew training, and risk management, while digital platforms can simplify regulatory reporting and improve operational transparency.That said, industry-wide adoption still faces challenges. Shipping remains a fragmented sector, where many small and medium-sized operators must carefully evaluate investment costs. Key issues include system standardisation, data governance, cybersecurity concerns, and the practicalities of onboard implementation. Technology should ultimately support seafarers and operators by making shipping safer and more efficient %u2014 not by adding unnecessary complexity. The recent expansion of INTERCARGO%u2019s Associate membership over the past year, through reaching out to many physical and digital innovator companies in the maritime sector, is directly aligned with these strategic goals.Shipping has faced significant crises in recent years that have directly affected seafarers. What lessons has the sector learned regarding crew welfare, and what message would you like to convey to governments and regulators?The past few years have reinforced a fundamental truth: shipping cannot function without seafarers. They are the backbone of global trade, ensuring that essential commodities continue to move around the world even during times of crisis.INTERCARGO has repeatedly highlighted this through public statements and interventions, stressing that seafarers must be recognised, respected, and protected. As we have stated on several occasions, %u201cseafarers are key workers who must never again be placed in situations where their basic rights, mobility, and welfare are compromised%u201d.The crew change crisis during the pandemic demonstrated how fragile the system can become when governments fail to coordinate. Seafarers faced contract extensions, mobility restrictions, and significant mental and physical strain.More recently, the deteriorating security situation in parts of the Gulf region has once again highlighted the risks faced by seafarers who continue to operate in volatile environments to keep global trade moving. INTERCARGO has reminded members that the safety and wellbeing of crews must remain the overriding priority when operating in high-risk areas, and that seafarers should never be exposed to unacceptable danger as a consequence of geopolitical tensions.Going forward, governments must ensure that seafarers are treated as essential workers, that crew changes can take place without unnecessary obstacles, and that seafarers are protected from unfair criminalisation and undue risk when employed on law-abiding merchant vessels trading in international waters. Ensuring their welfare, safety, and dignity is not only a moral responsibility but also essential for the resilience and reliability of global supply chains.Representation of dry cargo shipowners42 NX