Capt. Belal Ahmed

Chairman at Western Shipping

Speaker

Captain Belal Ahmed is an esteemed maritime executive, Master Mariner, and the Chairman of Western Shipping Pte Ltd in Singapore. With a distinguished global maritime career spanning nearly five decades, he is highly regarded for his leadership in ship management, seafarer training, collective bargaining, and international industry advocacy.

Early Sea Career (1978–2000): Captain Belal began his maritime journey in 1978 as a deck cadet trained at the Bangladesh Marine Academy. He spent 22 years at sea, ascending to the rank of Ship Captain and sailing worldwide on various type commercial vessel on global trade.

Transition to Shore & Executive Rise (2000–Present): Moving ashore in 2000, he joined Western Shipping in Singapore as a Marine Superintendent in 2001. He climbed into senior executive roles, serving as the company's long-term General Manager / Managing Director before stepping into his current role as Chairman. He also serves as the Chairman of Byzantine Maritime Gas Pte Ltd.

Global Industry Leadership: Captain Belal spent over a decade in major leadership positions at the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC). He served as the Chairman of IMEC from 2019 to 2025, where he steered the industry through the critical COVID-19 crew-change crisis and championed global partnerships alongside the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

IBF Negotiations & Global Collective Bargaining [6]

As the spokesperson for the Joint Negotiating Group of maritime employers (JNG) and Chairman of IMEC, Captain Belal has been a central figure in the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) negotiations.

Fair Wage Advocacy: He has historically led high-stakes pay negotiations with the ITF to protect responsible employers and seafarers' livelihoods.

Social Partnership: He has dedicated his leadership to reinforcing bonds between employers and social partner unions, successfully fostering sustainable shipping models that safeguard fair working conditions and crew welfare.

Western Shipping Fleet Operations

Under Captain Belal’s executive direction, Western Shipping transitioned from a modest operator into a premier, highly reputable Singapore-based ship management enterprise.

Diverse Fleet Portfolio: He oversees the strategic management of a modern, high-performance fleet engaged in worldwide trade. This includes Medium Range (MR) oil/chemical tankers, Panamax (LR1), Aframax (LR2) vessels, and dual-fuel LPG carriers. The company has effective crew management solutions for all types of ships including historical attachment to large fleet of dry bulk carriers.

Seafarer Welfare & Industry Recognition

Missions to Seafarers Singapore: Deeply dedicated to maritime charity, Captain Belal actively serves as the Vice Chairman of The Mission to Seafarers Singapore, contributing to shore-based and shipboard welfare networks.

Secretary General’s Award (2024): In October 2024, his steadfast devotion to crew well-being was honored when he won the prestigious Secretary General Award at The Mission to Seafarers Singapore Awards. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary efforts to improve the lives of seafarers.

Lifetime Achievement Award (2025): In late 2025, his decades of impact were cemented globally when he received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global event in Manila.

Cadet Training: A key contributor for IMEC Cadet training initiative, has evolved into an excellent model for future of seafarers.