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Speaker: Carl-Johan Hagman, former CEO of the Stena Group

The world has experienced a golden age of unprecedented economic growth and prosperity during the past 30 years. During this period the average life span on earth has increased from 50 to 70 years, it can be argued that many of the UN Millennium Development Goals set year 2000 have been fulfilled and while it is a moral collapse that 700 million people are still living in extreme poverty, we should celebrate that 7.3 billion people are not. This has been made possible by the fall of the Berlin Wall, China joining the World Trade Organisation and a flurry of bilateral Free Trade Agreements. But also by the fact that the International Maritime Organisation successfully sets rules and standards for 73% of the world’s surface in accordance with the principles formulated in Mare Liberum from 1604 — 60 000 ocean going vessels, serviced by three million seafarers, operate in a near perfect free-market system. This has established some time tested truths about the global shipping industry: its cyclicality, its volatility and its extreme capacity to adapt to change, while continually delivering ever cheaper transportation for 90% of the world’s traded goods .

However, through history, these systems and principles have been challenged. Coastal states challenged the all-important Baltic trade some 300-years ago. Chat-chewing pirates in dinghies or local corruption in the Gulf of Guinea are serious work hazards for modern day seafarers, but do not threaten global trading systems. However, Iranian actions in the Hormuz strait, or other coastal states in other narrows, could well do so. Modern shipping companies respond in roughly the same way as Dutch, English or Scottish traders did in times past. If threatened, the inability to provide physical protection to seafarers, their vessels and cargos, will instantly halt sea transportation and trade. Rich, trade dependent nation states of today are probably grossly underestimating that eventuality.

About the speaker

Carl-Johan Hagman has been in the shipping industry during his professional career, a trained maritime lawyer, he has lived half his life in Asia, particularly in Japan and Korea. During the past ten years he has been responsible for the shipping activities of the Swedish Stena group, serving as chairman of the board of companies such as Stena Line, Stena Bulk, Concordia Maritime and others. Previously he has been CEO of the Norwegian shipping company Hoegh Autoliners, the Korean company Eukor Car Carriers and Wallenius Lines of Sweden. Prior to entering the shipping industry Hagman served in the Swedish navy, in amongst others, anti-submarine warfare positions. He is a fellow of the Royal Swedish Academy of Maritime Sciences and Royal Academy of War Sciences.

This King's Maritime History Seminar will be held online and in-person. For those joining online, the Zoom link will be sent by email two days before the event.

Event details

K6.07, Dockrill Meeting Room
Strand Campus
Strand, London, WC2R 2LS