It attracted a high quality audience of around 150 people, including delegates from leading owners and operators from across the region.
Indeed Dubai-based operator, GNH Maritime Ship Management and Operations, a subsidiary of Gulf Navigation Holding, signed a contract for the construction of an MR type chemical tanker. The vessel will be built by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International and Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group.
A high quality line up of speakers at the conference, organised by Flagship Events, provided a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, not just for tanker owners and operators, but also companies providing services to the tanker sector.
Two leading figures from the region’s shipping and maritime sector gave keynote addresses. H.E. Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the board at ASRY in Bahrain, gave a valuable perspective as one of the leading tanker repair yards in the region. Shaik Daij set out some of the factors he expected to see influencing the business over the next few years.
He was followed Ali Shehab, deputy, chief executive of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) who set out his views on the market and the need for a new public dialogue around tanker freight rates. He also set out KOTC’s plans to upgrade its fleet following earlier successful investment completed in 2014.
Speakers in the lead session on tanker market prospects included Khamis Juma Buamim, managing director and group CEO of Gulf Navigation; Naser Al-Abdulkareen, president of Bahri; and Philip Tinsley, maritime security manager at BIMCO.
Jasmine Fichte, of Fichte & Co, chaired a lively session on investing to service this market, with presentations by Petros Doukas, former Greek Finance Minister; another by Ali Shehab, deputy CEO of KOTC; and Thomas Kriwat, chief executive of Mercmarine Group.
A final session on servicing the needs of the regional tanker market, chaired by Clive Woodbridge, editor of The Maritime Standard, featured an overview from Amir Mosadeghi, chief executive, Islamic P&I Club; and Captain. Harihar Prasad, managing director of McQuilling Shipping Serrvices.
Trevor Pereira, managing director of The Maritime Standard, said: “This is our first dedicated tanker conference and we believe it is very well timed, as this is probably the only shipping sector that is doing relatively well at the moment. We managed to gather together a high quality cast of speakers and the 150 or so attendees found their insights to be enormously valuable I am certain. The networking opportunity was exceptional with delegations from Iran, China and Turkey in the room, for example.”
TMS plans to build on the success of this inaugural event by organising a second one in 2017. Details will be available on the TMS website.
Image Caption: H.E. Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Keynote Speaker at The Maritime Standard Tanker Conference
Editor’s Note: About The Maritime Standard
Flagship Events is a Dubai-based events management company, which organizes high quality conferences, exhibitions and awards, both in-house and for third parties. It operates across a wide range of business sectors and industries and has staff with extensive experience in running events of various types, ranging in size from tens of attendees to over a thousand participants.
TMS Events-A division of Flagship Events, TMS Events focuses specifically on the requirements of the shipping and maritime sector. The company has organized a series of industry-leading events across the Middle East and can also organize occasions for third parties in the shipping and ports business. It has for example been responsible for running the BIMCO 2014 AGM and Awards in Dubai, the Islamic P&I 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner and the DNV GL 150th Anniversary Gala Dinner in Dubai.
The Maritime Standard (TMS) publishes a regular e-newsletter aimed specifically at the shipping and maritime community. It is delivered fortnightly, on the 1st and 15th of every month, and has built up a circulation of more than 40,000 recipients. The newsletter includes up-to-date news and analysis from the shipping and ports industries and related sectors in the Middle Eastand Indian Subcontinent. Topics that are covered include tanker, container, dry and liquid bulk, ro-ro, and cruise shipping; terminal operations; port development; classification; ship repair and conversion; shipbuilding; ship agency; finance and insurance; maritime law; and transportation & logistics. The publishing portfolio will be expanded in 2016 with the publication of the first TMS magazine, focusing on the UAE. This will be a yearbook style publication that will give in-depth analysis and reports on key developments in the country’s maritime sector.
Website: http://www.themaritimestandard.com/
The Maritime Standard Awards:
The not-to-be-missed TMS Awards recognizes and celebrates success in the shipping, ports and related sectors across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. The Awards are held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman, Emirates Airlines and Group. The inaugural event was held at the iconic Atlantis Ballroom, on The Palm with PR guru, journalist and writer Alastair Campbell as master of ceremonies. One of the most famous football players of all time, Ruud Gullit hosted The Maritime Standard Awards in 2015. The 2015 Awards were attended by over 600 guests from across the world, including senior figures from ports and shipping companies and public bodies in the region. As well as over 19 general awards categories, the TMS team presents a number of individual special achievement awards recognizing the contributions made by high profile industry leaders and innovators. The Awards attract the region’s elite, including chairmen, chief executives and directors from all of the leading shipping companies, ports, terminal operators and maritime companies and organizations
Website: http://tmsawards.com/
The first Maritime Standard Ship Finance and Trade Conference was held in Abu Dhabi on November 26th 2015 at the Park Hyatt. This was attended by a high level panel of speakers and over 150 senior executives from across the Middle East, Indiaand Europe. Hosted by Abu Dhabi Ports, the event boasted one of the highest ranked panel of speakers which read like a ‘who’s who’ of the region’s shipping and ports industry. The audience were treated to some detailed, expert presentations on the challenges facing the industry by these executives who were joined on stage by representatives of several leading banks and law firms.
Website: http://tms-shipfinanceandtrade.com/
The inaugural The Maritime Standard Tanker Conference will take place on 25th October this year in Dubai and is an event that nobody with an involvement in this important sector of the shipping industry will want to miss. Aimed at key decision makers and opinion formers, the one day conference will highlight the main regional trends in crude, chemical and products tanker operations.
Attendees will be given a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead, not just for tanker owners and operators, but those who provide services to this sector. You will leave the conference with a clear idea as to how you and your company can support, and benefit from, regional growth opportunities.
Website: http://www.tmstankerconference.com
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