Speaking at the closing session of the Danish Maritime Forum in Copenhagen, Sekimizu said the industry faced a "significant challenge" if it is to train enough seafarers to IMO's international standards of competency by 2030.

The forum, a Davos-style gathering of more than 200 stakeholders in the industry, including top shipping company executives and government ministers from several countries, had already heard predictions of world trade doubling and with it demand for ships by that date.

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