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A new global report from the Ocean Centres, a network of nationally led partnerships working to strengthen safety across ocean industries, is calling for safety to be recognised as a foundation of sustainable ocean development rather than an afterthought.
Drawing on evidence gathered through Ocean Centres in Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines, the report brings together insights from more than 4,100 workshop participants across businesses, governments, academia, civil society, labour organisations and coastal communities.
The report brings together findings from the Ocean Centres initiative, established through a partnership between the United Nations Global Compact and Lloyd's Register Foundation. It identifies common challenges affecting ocean industries including workforce capability, ageing infrastructure, climate pressures, governance and access to finance, while highlighting opportunities for safer and more resilient growth.
While each country has its own context and priorities, stakeholders identified several common challenges, including workforce capability and safety, ageing infrastructure, climate-related risks, fragmented governance and barriers to finance and investment.
The report argues that safety is not only about preventing harm. Stronger safety systems can improve resilience and productivity, support investment and access to finance, and create the conditions for long-term sustainable growth.
Ocean Centres Kenya positions safety as an economic enabler: stronger systems can reduce losses, improve reliability and strengthen risk information for lenders and insurers, supporting inclusive and investable blue-economy growth.
The report synthesises the collective intelligence of the Philippine maritime ecosystem to provide a strategic roadmap for sectoral transformation from the eight national workshops conducted from August 2025 to March 2026.
Ocean Centres India is a multi-stakeholder platform driving India's transition to a safer, more sustainable ocean economy, fostering dialogue, responsible business practices, and enforceable standards across four priority areas: Shipping and Ports, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Offshore Renewables, and Finance and Investment.
Ocean Centres Indonesia highlights two priority sectors: Shipping & Ports, and Fishing & Aquaculture. They were prioritised because they are central to Indonesia's ocean economy and face persistent safety challenges.
Through Ocean Centres Ghana, stakeholders identified practical priorities across shipping, fisheries, offshore renewables and blue finance. The report shows that stronger safety improves resilience, protects people and ecosystems, reduces investment risks and enhances competitiveness.
Ocean Centres Brazil convened a national multi-stakeholder platform to address systemic safety challenges across the country's ocean economy, with a focus on four priority areas: Shipping and Ports, Fishing and Aquaculture, Finance and Investment, and Offshore Renewables.
Ocean Centres Bangladesh prioritises ports, shipping, fishing and aquaculture to boost exports, reduce reliance on foreign vessels, safeguard marine biodiversity and build a resilient, safe and sustainable blue economy.
A major step forward for ocean sustainability will be launched at the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025: a global network of Ocean Centres designed to put safety at the heart of the blue economy transition in emerging ocean economies.
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