(SINGAPORE) The Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) - representing nearly half the world's cargo carrying fleet - has appointed the first secretary general for its nearly established permanent secretariat here.

Wang Cheng, currently a vice-general manager, Transportation Division, of the China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (Cosco) was appointed to the position on Wednesday, according to an ASF statement yesterday.

Mr Wang's first task will be to set up the permanent secretariat office in Singapore after the landmark decision was reached in May at the 16th ASF meeting in Busan, Korea.

ASF members, which include shipowners' associations from Australia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Asean - including the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) - unanimously agreed to set up the permanent office here. The move was yet another feather in Singapore's global maritime cap and also ushered in a new era of engagement between Asian shipping interests and the global maritime community.

'We hope that, through this arrangement, the Asian owners will be able to engage in more consistent and regular dialogue with all the other players in the international maritime scene for the benefit of the entire global maritime community,' said International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos, following the May announcement.

Although Asia is a major force in global shipping - with ASF owners and managers controlling and operating nearly 50 per cent of the world's cargo carrying fleet, 45 per cent of its manpower, the majority of the world's shipyards and nine of the top 10 busiest ports - its voice is seen to be disproportionately small.

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