Background to Shipping Initiative Seminar Scheduled

Just three years after its introduction, the five-day Background to Shipping seminar from leading training provider Lloyd’s Maritime Academy is now established as a major foundation course for both experienced practitioners and industry newcomers. Enrolment is under way for the ninth seminar in the series, which takes place in central London from December 3-7 and, like its predecessors, is attracting staff from some of the world’s best-known shipowners, ship managers, and related service providers. Almost 200 delegates have attended the eight previous courses, with shipping professionals joined by support sector personnel ranging from bankers, insurers and lawyers to freight forwarders and port operators. The syllabus provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the maritime industry including shipping’s role in the global economy, regulatory authorities, shipbuilding, sale and purchase, commercial management, ship operations, and maritime emergencies. Each day features a case study session in which participants progressively put the lecture information to active use by setting up a tramp trade shipping company. Apart from new entrants to the industry, the course is aimed at seasoned professionals who require a refresher or who want a broader understanding of how their area of expertise fits into other disciplines. The course is accredited for 16 hours CPD by the Law Society of England & Wales. Legal issues are covered in the commercial management session on Day 3, which also includes charterparties, insurance and bunkering. This is followed on Day 4 by ship operation presentations ranging from crew management to sea and cargo worthiness, vessel maintenance and port issues. The course starts by analysing shipping in the context of world trade, discussing the industry’s main players and looking at the regulatory framework enforced by authorities such as the IMO, flag states, port state control and P&I clubs. Session two examines building or buying a ship, with presentations on how and where ships are built, vessel types and design trends, the role of shipbrokers, the role of classification societies and ship finance options. Session five focuses on maritime emergencies, with input on crisis planning and media response, salvage and wreck removal, maritime security – covering crime, piracy and terrorism – and environmental management. The December course will be chaired by Rodger MacDonald, secretary general of the International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations, who heads a speaker team of more than 20 industry leaders from the shipping, professional services, consultancy and academic sectors. Background to Shipping is running simultaneously at London’s New Connaught Rooms with two further courses – the Maritime Executive MBA and Introduction to Ship Finance seminars. They share the same breaks and course dinner, offering an exceptional networking opportunity to discuss common issues with industry peers.