Challenging Themes at BIMCO’s Vancouver General Meeting

Climate, energy and demographics are to be discussed by industry leaders in Vancouver BC, when BIMCO, the world’s largest representative shipping organisation holds its General Meeting in the Canadian city in June this year.
 
Issues of sustainability are never far from the thoughts of ship operators these days, especially when contemplating the purchase of new ships, which may well have a 25 year lifespan. Shipping people have to look further ahead than most, as they contemplate the future demand for their ships , the probable regulatory changes they will face over the years and what exactly the world will look like, as these capital-intensive investments mature.
 
Nobody can ever “future-proof” their business, but the best prepared to meet future challenges will be those who have at least anticipated some of them. Within the broad theme of sustainability, the BIMCO General Meeting on 6-8 June will gather some world-class expertise to advise BIMCO members on their future direction, as climate change, the fast-moving energy situation and the important matter of demographics influence their business strategies.
 
In a full day seminar, presentations on these three all-important subjects will be given by HE Jose Maria Figueres, Chairman of the Carbon War Room, Dr Fatih Birol of the International Energy Agency and Dr David Foot, the world-renowned expert on demographics. Panel discussions led by some of the world’s best known shipping industry leaders , including COSCO Group Vice-President Dr Sun Jia Kang, Dr Helmut Sohmen , Chairman of  BW Group, Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, Chairman of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group and Hapag-Lloyd’s Executive Board Chairman Michael Behrendt, will then confront these issues and produce valuable pointers as to how these challenges can be overcome.
 
BIMCO General Meetings have a reputation for inspiring thought and encouraging ideas and Vancouver is expected to be no exception. The programme, says BIMCO Secretary-General Torben Skaanild “focuses attention on a number of vital issues which shipping people need to consider as they take their businesses forward”.
 
The meeting, which is expected to bring together shipping industry leaders from around the world, will also provide a day-long event for BIMCO 39 members, the networking platform operated by the shipping organisation for younger shipping professionals. “Green Shipping seen from the Perspective of Ports and Shipowners” will feature President Designate of BIMCO Yudhishthir D. Khatau, Vice Chairman and President of Varun Shipping Co. Ltd and expert speakers from industry, who will include Seaspan’s President and CEO Gerry Wang.  There will be presentations on clean air, regulatory changes that will impact upon shipping and ports, environmental policy, future fuels, ship design and other important topics.

The BIMCO General Meeting will also see the introduction of the new BIMCO Web-Based Diploma Programme, in which expertise and modern technology blend to provide the latest in distance learning.
 

Source: BIMCO