Why We Need Regional “OCEAN-like� Groups Worldwide: Insights from My Time on the OCEAN Board

Keijo Hiltunen, ISSA Executive Vice President shares his views on how ISSA members can strengthen collaboration across their regions

In this blog entry, ISSA Executive Vice President Keijo Hiltunen proposes creating regional "OCEAN-like" groups for ISSA members worldwide, drawing on the principles of OCEAN's cross-border collaboration while adapting them to local contexts. He emphasizes the potential for these groups to foster cooperation, share best practices, and tackle industry challenges at the upcoming ISSA66 Convention in Seville.

As the ISSA66 Convention in Seville approaches, I can’t help but feel excited. This year’s convention promises to be a must-attend event, full of valuable insights, powerful networking opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of our global industry. Having experienced the immense value of cross-border collaboration during my time on the OCEAN Board, I believe now is the perfect moment to extend that spirit of cooperation to new regions worldwide and to invite ISSA members to form their own “OCEAN-like” regional group.

Allow me to explain why.

Learning from OCEAN’s Success — Not Copying It

First, let me be clear: our goal is not to copy OCEAN – The European Ship Supply Organization.  Recreating OCEAN precisely as it is in other regions is impossible and unnecessary. OCEAN has its own unique strengths and operates within the specific context of Europe. It’s also been around for 50 years, in 2026. Instead, I’m advocating for the drawing from OCEAN’s key principles and adapting them to your regional context. It’s about taking what has worked for us in Europe—particularly the collaboration across borders, the exchange of ideas, and joint work on cross-country policy initiatives—and making it work for your region.

To me, OCEAN’s most significant achievements have been its ability to bring together ship suppliers from across Europe to share best practices, learn about new challenges, and explore opportunities for working together on significant policy matters, like customs or trade facilitation. Imagine how powerful it would be if your region could replicate that success in a way that makes sense for your unique circumstances.

Regional “OCEAN-like” Groups: An Opportunity For ISSA To Demonstrate VALUE

Regional "OCEAN-like" groups could be a game-changer for the global ship supply industry and for ISSA alike.  I envision, just like OCEAN, creating ISSA working groups to offer a platform for ship suppliers in each region to come together and discuss shared challenges, best practices, and potential cross-country policy initiatives. This isn’t about ISSA or anyone dictating what needs to happen in these groups—it’s about creating a space to talk and exchange views. In this virtual room, set up and managed by the ISSA Secretariat (at least initially), suppliers can come together, learn from each other, and decide their priorities for subsequent meetings.

What ISSA Working Groups Should We Create?

I thought more about this, and I drew inspiration from the regional working groups following the World Customs Organization (WCO) model. These are:

Group 1: South America, Central America (minus Mexico), and the Caribbean

Group 2: North America, including Mexico

Group 2: Europe (OCEAN + non-EU countries including the UK, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the Caucasus region)

Group 3: Far East, South and South East Asia, Australasia, and the Pacific Islands

Group 4: North of Africa, Near and Middle East

Group 5: West, Central Africa, East, and Southern Africa

Of course, these groups are not set in stone, and we can debate the regional composition.

Voluntary and Flexible: Everything Can, Nothing Must

What’s important to remember is that everything about these regional working groups would be voluntary. The ISSA Secretariat may be ready to assist in setting up these groups and facilitating the first meetings. Still, after that, it’s up to the members of each region to decide what they want to achieve. The first agenda could be a simple "get-to-know" meeting, where participants can introduce themselves and start reflecting on what a regional group could look like, what challenges they face, and how they might collaborate. There’s no pressure—everything can, but nothing must.

The groups can meet virtually, making it easy and accessible for everyone to participate, regardless of where they’re based. We know that ship suppliers are busy people, and flexibility is critical. The ISSA Secretariat could support the initial setup and guide the discussion, but each group's direction will be shaped by its members.

The Power of Collaboration Across Borders

From my experience on the OCEAN Board, I can’t stress enough how much can be achieved when suppliers come together to work on cross-country matters. We could push forward with initiatives that would have been impossible for any one country to succeed on its own. For example, we tackled the complexities of European customs rules and worked on standardising regulations to benefit suppliers in multiple countries. That success came from a shared understanding that, although we represented different nations, our ultimate goals were the same: to make the ship supply industry more robust, efficient, and competitive.

The same can be true for regional groups within ISSA. You’ll have the chance to network with peers, explore best practices, and even work together on issues like customs procedures, port fees, or environmental regulations—challenges that often transcend borders. The regional groups will be designed to help ship suppliers collaborate, advocate for better policies, and, most importantly, learn from each other’s experiences.

Join OCEAN’S session in Seville – to get started on setting up regional ISSA groups

There’s no better place to kick off these conversations than at the ISSA66 Convention in Seville. I am glad that my friend, OCEAN Chair Costantino Zavoianni is travelling to Seville to share a panel with OCEAN’s Executive Director, Arne Mielken, to offer thoughts on this. The session takes place early in the morning on a Sunday, so you really need to try not to miss it. It will be worth it!

Don’t miss ISSA 66

If you’ve never been to an ISSA convention before, I promise you—it’s an event you won’t want to miss. Seville is the perfect setting for what will undoubtedly be our industry's highlight of the year. Whether you're a seasoned ISSA member or new to the organization, this will be your chance to network, learn, and shape the future of our global industry.

Join the conversation, be part of the change, and let’s make the most of this fantastic opportunity to connect and collaborate.

Hasta luego!