Maritime Personality of the Week: Capt. James Foong

This week, we spotlight Capt. James Foong, a distinguished maritime professional dedicated to safety, sustainability, and leadership. His expertise in maritime operations and advocacy makes him a champion of the seas. 🌍🚢 A Trailblazer in Maritime Excellence 🏆

Capt. James is the only Penang-born Malaysian selected by the United Nations 🇺🇳 as an Expert Assessor for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS). He is a Fellow of The Nautical Institute UK ⚓ and a Research Fellow at the Center for Ocean Policy & Economics (USA) 📚.

In 2021, MarineTraffic named him one of the world’s "Top Maritime Influencers You Should Follow." 🌟

Advancing Maritime Safety and Culture ⚠️🛟

As an International Ambassador for CHIRP Maritime 🇬🇧, Capt. James promotes safety reporting through CHIRP and The Nautical Institute’s MARS programs, fostering a just safety culture.

Championing Leadership and Sustainability 🌎♻️

Capt. James is Malaysia’s Ambassador to the National Young Leaders Committee at the World Leader Summit 🌍, uniting leaders across 90+ countries. He also serves as an Ambassador for The Great Ocean in the Industry 5.0 Network, advocating for sustainable maritime practices 🌊🐠.

Through social media, awareness campaigns, and podcasts, he promotes a cleaner ocean and emphasizes that seafarers are essential to global trade:

🛳 “No seafarers = No shipping = No shopping.”

Academic and Professional Excellence 🎓🌟

📜 Diploma in Nautical Studies (Malaysia)

⛵ Master COC Class 1 (New Zealand)

📚 MBA in Shipping & Logistics (UK)

⚓ Fellow, The Nautical Institute UK

🌊 Fellow, Center for Ocean Policy & Economics (USA)

🧭 Associate Fellow, Royal Institute of Navigation UK

He has navigated ice-class vessels ❄️🚢 in -32°C temperatures in the St. Lawrence River, Montreal 🇨🇦.

Corporate and NGO Leadership 🏛️⚓ Previously, Capt. James was Group Lead Auditor at MISC Group ⚙️, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Today, he holds key roles in maritime organizations:

🏛️ Board Council Member, The Nautical Institute Institute UK

📜 Peer Reviewer, United Nations DOALOS

🌍 Ambassador, World Leader Summit (Malaysia)

⚠️ Ambassador, CHIRP Maritime UK

🌱 Ambassador, INDUSTRY 5.0 AMBASSADORS NETWORK

Inspiring Through Public Speaking and JAMTALK Podcast 🎙️🌊 As a Professional Speaker at Marine Insight 🎤, Capt. James supports maritime education. He also hosts JAMTALK, a LinkedIn podcast 📺 raising awareness of maritime issues and humanity. A True Maritime Leader ⚓🥋 Beyond maritime, Capt. James is a black belt holder in karate 🥋, earning his first-degree black belt at 18. Capt. James Foong'sdedication to safety, sustainability, and leadership continues to shape the future of maritime operations.