SUNY Maritime Free Conference: Cutting-Edge Issues in Shipping

At 8:00 am, on Groundhog Day, Wednesday, February 2, 2011, Maritime College will kick-off the 6th annual Groundhog Day Event, Conference on Cutting Edge Issues in Shipping. Admission is free and open to all interested in the business of shipping. The event will take place in the lecture hall of the Science and Engineering Building, Maritime College campus, Throgs Neck, The Bronx, NY 10465.

The day begins with a complimentary continental breakfast, registration and welcome.  The event will be hosted and directed by co-chairs SUNY Maritime College professor and maritime attorney, Jeffrey A. Weiss, as well as Professor Larry Howard, Chair of the College’s Global Business and Transportation department. 

The first presentation will begin at 9:00 am when 2010 Mystic Seaport Research Fellow and Maritime College professor, Ira Breskin will lead a lively historical discussion entitled: “What is Old is New Again: a Comparison of The Containership Company’s (TCC) No Frills Service Between China and the US with the 1818 Ball Packet-Ship Service Between Britain and the U.S.”  (The Containership Company provides scheduled containership service between Los Angeles and two Chinese ports.)

At 10:00 am, OSG Ship Management Company’s Director of Chartering, Fred Gordon, will address “US Flag - Jones Act Tanker: Commercial Aspects.”

Maritime Security will be the next maritime topic at 10:45 am.  Maritime security expert, author and SUNY Maritime College professor, Captain Joe Ahlstrom will discuss: “ISM: The Safety Management System: Costs Versus Benefits.”

The final morning speaker will focus on tankers.  At 11:30 am, US Merchant Marine Captain Eric Wiberg, author of “Tanker Disasters – U Boats in the Bahamas and Bermuda Triangle” takes the podium.
For lunch, speakers and attendees will adjourn to the Maritime Special Events room for lunch ($7.00 guest fee at Maritime College mess deck) before returning to the Lecture Hall for the afternoon session.

At 1:30 pm, keynote speaker, Llyod’s List, (the leading daily newspaper for the maritime industry) North American correspondent, Rajesh Joshi, will discuss the changing world of media and how it is impacting communication at all levels, within the maritime industry.

Following Mr. Joshi’s keynote address, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), Deputy Director, Center for Transportation and Logistics, James B. Rice, will discuss: “Port Resilience: Issues and Steps Forward.”

Maritime law will be the focus of maritime attorney and SUNY Maritime College professor and conference co-host, Jeffrey Weiss’ talk entitled: “The Rotterdam Rules – Changes to the Shipper/Carrier Relationship.”

A special student presentation, nominated by the Society for International Transportation and Trade (SITT) will end the day at 4:00 pm.

Contact Dr. Larry Howard at: 718-409-2977 or [email protected]

www.sunymaritme.edu