Posidonia 2018 Conference Program Set to Shape Global Shipping Agenda

Photo source: Posidonia Exhibitions

The conference program of Posidonia 2018, the world’s most prestigious shipping exhibition in Greece, was announced on Monday by organizer Posidonia Exhibitions S.A.. The program includes conferences, seminars, workshops and interesting panel discussions which are yet again expected to set to shape the global shipping agenda and define the future of an industry that sits at the core of world economic developments.

The events planned during this year’s Posidonia at the Athens Metropolitan Expo, during June 4 – 8, are organised by companies and organisations from around the world; from Brazil to France, Panama to Poland, from Mexico to Korea and Japan and from South Africa to the United Kingdom.

The 2018 program will tackle shipping issues spanning shipping policy, trade and finance, energy, technology, port development, fuels and lubricants, water ballast treatment, the tanker and dry bulk market, hull performance, scrubbers, the environment, human performance and employment in shipping as well as claims and dispute resolution.

Photo © Posidonia Exhibitions

A must-attend event, as it has become accustomed at Posidonia since 2012, is the TradeWinds Shipowners Forum, which is expected to offer inspiring and insightful debate. This year, the focus is on how advances in technology and alternative business models are rewriting the rules over how ships are owned, operated and traded. With more shipowners than ever before participating, the programme consists of two panel-led sessions; dry bulk and tankers.

Photo source: Pixabay

A similar topic will be tackled during BIMCO’s “Power Panel” which will debate some key developments impacting shipping business today with the focus being on challenges and future prospects for the dry bulk and oil tanker shipping markets, including the 2020 global sulphur cap experiment.

The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) are organising, under the auspices of the Embassy of the United States in Greece, the “Trading in US Waters: Priorities and Solutions” seminar that will take place on Thursday, June 7. The event is designed to assist the local shipping community and maritime stakeholders to acquire a fully integrated approach to U.S. requirements for vessels visiting U.S. ports.

This year the Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) is organising its seminar on “Energy and Shipping”. The seminar’s theme will focus on the new bunkering fuel specifications, in view of latest IMO agreed measures soon to be implemented.

Other highlights include HELMEPA’s conference “2020 is closer than we think: Scrubbers, Fuels and BWT” as the deadline for compliance to the new sulphur regulations is fast approaching.

The “Japan Seminar at Posidonia 2018” will focus on the role of innovation in the maritime industry and its impact on environmental conservation and technology.

One more seminar which is expected to draw in crowds and highlight the long-standing cooperation of the two nations in the maritime sector is the “Korean-Hellenic Maritime Cooperation Forum”. This event will focus on Korean shipbuilding industry and in cooperation with Greek shipping companies and will also provide insight in Korean ship finance and Greek maritime policy.

Photo source: Admiralty

Admiralty will again be organising a series of “Living with ECDIS” seminars at Posidonia. Operating ECDIS requires a ship manager and the ship’s officers to be constantly aware of changes in legal requirements and maintenance issues. Admiralty “Living with ECDIS” Seminars are designed to help understand these issues to ensure the individual and their fleet can remain compliant whilst getting the most from their ECDIS.

The press conference of the Greek Shipowners Association will be held on the last day of Posidonia 2018, which is expected, once again, to set the agenda of the shipping industry, for the next two years.

Posidonia is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Union of Greek Shipowners and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.