MS&D 2011: Hamburg Conference on Maritime Security
June 15-17
Stéphane Beemelmans, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Defence, is to open the second MS&D, international conference and exhibition on maritime security and defence hamburg, in Hall A4 of the Hamburg Fair at 9:00 am on Wednesday 15 June. Other speakers at the Opening of this three-day international conference are Senator Michael Neumann, Hamburg Minister of the Interior and Sport; Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress, who will give a welcoming address; and Vice Admiral Axel Schimpf, Chief of Staff of the German Navy, who will give a keynote speech.
The conference starts with introductory remarks by Vice Admiral (rtd) Lutz Feldt, Chairman of the Conference, which is split into two sections – a Security Panel and a Defence Panel. It features leading international speakers from government, navies, and military and civil institutions, from industry, science and research establishments, addressing currently topical issues of maritime security and defence. They will cover subjects such as defence against asymmetric threats by piracy and terrorism, security of shipping routes and ports, different aspects and developments in maritime defence, cooperation in naval operations, and advanced weapon systems and surveillance technology. The Chairman of the Defence Panel is Ulrich Otto, Rear Admiral (rtd) of the German Navy; focal areas in this Panel include training, advanced naval ships and new technologies for communication, weapon, sensor and protection systems.
The exhibition showcases innovation and new solutions, products, technologies and processes from leading suppliers, helping to reduce asymmetric threats to international shipping routes from piracy and terrorism, and new developments in naval ships. There are 60 exhibitors from 11 countries, including companies from the USA, the United Arab Emirates, and Europe. There is also a Special Exhibit Zone, which includes for example a newly developed sonic cannon, and a captured pirate boat (skiff).
There will be a Senate Reception on the evening of the first day of the exhibition. A panel discussion for invited guests will be held on the second evening, with high-ranking experts from government, international alliances and industry. Its subject is “Military and Civil Cooperation – Development of Future Capabilities”.
The Panellists at this event, which receives major support from the Federal Economics Ministry, are Dr. Dirk Tielbuerger, Director des NATO Undersea Research Centre (NURC); Vice Admiral (rtd.) Sir Anthony Dymock, Wise Pen Team, European Defence Agency (EDA); and Christoph Kautz, Deputy Head Security Research and Development, Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry, EU Commission. The introduction will be given by Ulf Zumkley, Head of the Maritime Economy Section at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. The discussion will be chaired by Vice Admiral (rtd) Lutz Feldt. Christoph Kautz, considering synergies between the civil and the military sector, will focus particularly on the use of public funding for research and development (R&D) and possible cooperation. He will also consider whether coordination of standards might be useful and cost-effective in some areas (e.g. for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance of maritime borders). Dr. Dirk Tielbuerger will talk about civil and military cooperation, considering the existing areas of responsibility and tasks of the institutions involved (local and national shipping authorities and the Navy) and indicate areas of shared responsibility.
Two further conferences will be held in parallel to MS&D 2011, on complementary subjects. The German Near and Middle East Association (NUMOV) is holding the first German Near and Middle East Port Conference at the Hamburg Fair site on 15 June, with a range of leading speakers and conference delegates from Germany and the Arab Region, including Sheikh Sabah Jaber Al Ali Al Sabah, Chairman of the Arab Sea Ports Federation; H.E. Abdulaziz Al-Tuwaijri, President of the Saudi Port Authority; and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulaymen, Chairman of Dubai World Ports.
The AIS Summit on “Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)” is being held on 15 and 16 June, bringing together speakers from all parts of the world, including from China, the USA, the EU States, and Russia. The participants are mostly experts from AIS network and satellite operators, from the shipowner community and security institutions, and consultants and software developers.
MS&D 2011 is expecting more than 20 international navy delegations, other participants and experts from organisations, governments, scientific institutions, merchant shipping and industry which are concerned with the security of ports and shipping routes. Hon. Assuncao Anjos, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is expected from Angola; and Hon. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is expected from Djibouti. Accredited media representatives are welcome to attend the opening of MS&D. The opening times of MS&D are from 09:00 to 17:30 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and 09:00 to 16:00 on Friday.
