Columbia Group Asia Region chief executive Demetris Chrysostomou has rejected claims that Asian shipowners lag behind their Western counterparts, calling such views “outdated and misleading,” report the Cyprus Mail.
Mr Chrysostomou, whose company is headquartered in Limassol with 33 global offices, said leading Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and China have embedded safety, quality and performance into their maritime operations.
He highlighted Japan and South Korea’s long-standing reputation for rigorous standards and praised China’s rise as the world’s largest shipowning nation, driven by international competitiveness, local regulation and maritime technology.
“Chinese owners know that to compete globally, they must meet and often exceed industry standards,” Mr Chrysostomou said. He added that even developing Asian nations are producing reputable, forward-looking shipowners who benchmark against global leaders.
He urged the global shipping community to view Asia as a source of innovation and resilience, not concern. “Asia is quickly becoming a powerhouse of maritime innovation,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mr Chrysostomou identified digital integration as the key disruptor to ship management in Asia by 2030. He said success will depend on how organisations adapt their mindset and structure to use technology effectively.
“The most successful managers will master the intersection of digital tools and human capital,” he said, stressing the need to reshape workflows, build digital literacy and embed predictive intelligence.
He concluded that Asia’s ship management sector is well positioned to lead the transformation. “Many companies here are younger, more agile and less tied to legacy infrastructure,” Mr Chrysostomou said. “We must prepare our people, not just our platforms.”
