Show’s biggest ever conference programme promises plethora of thought-provoking discussions

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A diverse range of challenges and issues confronting global shipping will be tabled by industry leaders and debated by delegates at the most extensive Posidonia Conference Programme ever scheduled to take place alongside the Posidonia Exhibition at the Athens Metropolitan Expo from June 6-10.
 
With over 40 confirmed conferences, seminars, workshops and press conferences covering every aspect of shipping, organisers have expanded venue facilities to meet strong delegate demand. And with most presentation themes and titles echoing the global maritime community’s prime focus and key priorities, the conference programme looks set to be a highly coveted affair for the industry’s decision makers, analysts and the media.
 
The significance of the Posidonia Conference Programme for the global shipping community is underlined by the high profile presence of Lim Kitack, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at the Posidonia Opening Ceremony, who will also be delivering the key-note speech at the TradeWinds Shipowners Forum, which will be held on June 7. The Forum will address the most hotly debated issues including newbuildings, second-hand and demolition markets, investor sentiment and the paucity of finance, vessel valuations, the opportunities and risks of technology and the ‘connected’ ship. Delegates at the Forum will have the opportunity to hear the views of influential shipowners on topics as diverse as investments, acquisitions, commodity demand and the price of oil.
 
Later in the same day, at the Japanese Shipbuilding and Ship Machinery Technology Seminar, some of the world’s most profound experts in newbuildings from Japan’s shipbuilding industry will be sharing the latest technological innovations and modern machinery deployed to design and build vessels that are technologically superior and have advanced efficiency, safety and environmental standards. Remarks by Kazuo Tsukuda, President of Japan Ship Exporters’ Association (JSEA) and Motoyoshi Nakashima, Chairman of the Japan Ship Machinery & Equipment Association (JSMEA) will give attendees additional reasons to remain seated throughout the half day event following nine back-to-back specialist presentations from Nippon Paint Marine Coatings, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Marine United Corp, Daihatsu Diesel, Yanmar and other household marine equipment makers from the country of the rising sun.
 
The oriental charm offensive will continue the next day, June 8, with the 2016 Korea-Hellenic Maritime Cooperation Forum, a new addition to the Posidonia Conference Programme. The Korean Embassy in association with IOBE, Greece’s Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research, will provide guests with a detailed look at the current situation and prospects of Korea’s shipbuilding industry through speeches by SEO Young-ju, Vice President of the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA) and KIM Young-moo, Vice-Chairman of Korean Shipowners’ Association (KSA) as well as senior leaders from the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association (KOSHIPA), Hyundai Maritime Research Institute, Korea Marine Equipment Association (KOMEA), Korean Register of Shipping, Korea Eximbank and others.

An issue of increasing importance due to ongoing discussions between the US and IMO on the framework pertaining to an internationally acceptable framework for the treatment of ballast water will be debated at the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Summit organised by Newsfront / Naftiliaki under the auspices of Greece’s Marine Technical Managers Association (MARTECMA). Under the title ‘Updates on BWM’, the summit will host the views of classification societies DNV GL, ABS, LR, Rina and BV and will conclude with an Argo Navis workshop on retrofit engineering studies and installation planning.
 
With constantly evolving regulation on various aspects of the shipping industry comes the need for classification societies to be ahead of the game and alert to any changes at any given moment. This is the job of the IACS Quality Systems Certification Scheme (QSCS) which helps classification societies effectively address current and impending shipping industry regulations and thereby assures shipowners and shipmanagers that IACS classed ships will be in compliance with current requirements but also that any impending requirements are identified in good time to enable calculated and measured decisions to be made regarding future compliance needs. Posidonia Conference delegates will be able to attend the IACS seminar to stay ahead of what’s coming from an international regulatory vantage point and how classification societies will best address the challenges.
 
And from international waters to North America’s Atlantic and Pacific oceans for a seminar titled ‘Trading in US Waters’ organised by the American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce under the auspices of the Embassy of the United States to Greece. The seminar will focus on the rules and requirements pertaining the navigation of ocean going vessels around US coasts and territorial waters in order to assist maritime stakeholders acquire a fully integrated approach to US requirements when visiting US ports.
 
‘Smart Ship Solutions’ is the title of the Posidonia Conference event that is organised by the Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers & Exporters (HEMEXPO), an organisation which aims to offer shipowners integrated solutions based on Greek innovative technologies for vessels that are built or repaired all over the world. Some of the innovations to be presented are a split air condition unit for the demanding environment of marine applications by Psyctotherm, Prisma Electronics’ information intelligence platform LAROS, innovative coatings by Nanophos, Elvik’s incombustible materials and an engineering simulation by Feac which explores the design, performance and environmental impact of a vessel.
 
Solutions of a different kind will be presented at the 5th Analyst & Investor Capital Link Shipping Forum, which addresses the issue of access and availability of finance for shipping companies. Participants will exchange views on the shipping, financial and capital markets, private equity as well as investor attitudes towards shipping.
 
A practical roadmap towards the adoption of LNG as a safe, environmental friendly and viable alternative fuel for shipping, contributing to the development of a lower emission profile for the East Mediterranean marine transportation sector will be in the spotlight of the Poseidon Med II awareness seminar on June 7th. The 26 partners of Poseidon Med II from Greece, Cyprus and Italy will discuss LNG supply, technical and financial aspects of the LNG bunkering, raising awareness to the latest innovations and trends in the market.
 
Staying with the theme of green shipping, an international conference titled ‘Where is Shipping heading after COP21’ is organised by HELMEPA on Wednesday 8th June with an impressive array of speakers from the IMO, the European Commission, ICS, IACS, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO and USCG. Following the adoption of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, last December, this conference will explore how international shipping can further contribute to global efforts to address climate change.
 
Not to be missed are the UKHO ECDIS seminars, which are designed to ensure that the navigational benefits of ECIDS are achieved in an efficient and compliant manner but will also demonstrate how ECDIS goes beyond compliance. Titled "Implementing ECDIS" and "Living with ECDIS", the two seminars will take place every day from Tuesday 7/6 to Thursday 9/6 in the UKHO sponsored Posidonia Seminar Room 3.
 
Finally on Friday 10th, the last day of the programme, two more seminars will attract the interest of the maritime community present at the Posidonia 2016. The Hellenic Management Association will offer an interactive course titled ‘Master The Seas’ through a marine management framework designed by EFQM and The Carbon War Room will organise a panel discussion that explores the technological and financial opportunities for applying green solutions to the international maritime fleet.
 
The inaugural Young Executives Shipping (YES) Forum, sponsored by Posidonia, will highlight potential career opportunities in the maritime sector for young professionals and graduates, both at sea and ashore. The YES Forum aims at serving as an open and long-lasting dialogue among the principals and decision makers of the shipping Industry and university students.
 
Posidonia 2016 will be held from June 6 – 10 at the Athens Metropolitan Expo. The event is organised under the auspices of the Greek shipping community and the five major associations representing Greek shipping interests: Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, Municipality of Piraeus, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Union of Greek Shipowners, Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association and Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.
 
 
For additional information, press enquiries should be directed to:
Artemis Vamvacopoulou, Posidonia Press Officer, Extrovert Business Communications, tel. +30 210 6724265, posidoniapress@extrovert.gr
Maria Photou, Marketing and Advertising Coordinator, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A, tel.: +30 210 4283608, mphotou@posidonia-events.com