Capt. Belal Ahmed takes over the helm as Chairman of the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC) from Capt. Rajesh Tandon on 10 April. Having joined the Council for over a decade, Capt. Belal held several leadership positions, including being on the Board of IMEC and being the Director of IMEC. Capt. Belal is also the Managing Director of Western Shipping, an owner-management tank company.

Apart from strengthening IMEC’s profile in the Asia-Pacific region, Capt Belal’s aspires to further strengthen the excellent ties with IMEC’s social partners—International Transport Workers’ Federation, Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, Singapore Organisation of Seamen, and other affiliated unions. He believes an outstanding relationship between IMEC and its social partners can better encourage, support, and coordinate the development of collective bargaining arrangements between employers’ and seafarers’ organisations.

By strengthening the existing relationship with IMEC’s social partners, Capt Belal’s aims to ensure that seafarers are fairly treated by all member companies. This includes safeguarding the seafarers’ wages and working conditions.

Capt. Belal intends to enhance the existing training and welfare schemes while also promoting high standards of training and safety among seafarers of all nationalities employed by its members. Seafarers will then be better equipped with updated skills relevant to the maritime industry.

As IMEC’s new Chairman, Capt. Belal believes IMEC needs to continue working with relevant governments, national shipowners’ associations, and industry bodies to improve the human element side of the maritime industry.