Conference Programme 2008
The last two years have seen a transformation in the way that investors and business leaders in the Middle East view the shipping industry.
The emergence of a strong diversified independent shipowning sector, to match the established expertise of the region's oil company fleets, has made Dubai and the Middle East Gulf one of the most active and vibrant international maritime centres in the world. Dubai now occupies third or fourth position in the world as a ship management centre, and the maritime services sector is expanding rapidly too.
As well as its pivotal role in energy transportation, massive economic growth across the region has driven port and terminal expansion, to handle record volumes of containers and an increasing amount of bulk cargos too. Shipping and offshore activity has also fuelled a boom in ship repair, conversion, and most recently ship building.
This year's conference programmes at Seatrade Middle East Maritime, now in its fourth edition, will examine the implications of this remarkable upsurge in maritime activity in the Middle East both for the region and for trading partners around the world. What are the challenges for this region's new and self-confident maritime sector and what role will it play in world shipping?
Click here for a list of confirmed speakers to date
SUNDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2008 |
Afternoon session
1430 – 1700 hrs
MONEY & SHIPS
The State of the Industry across the region – sponsored by Dubai Maritime City (DMC)
Some of the leading voices from the region's shipowning groups will discuss an agenda of subjects including:
- The main drivers of fleet expansion in the region; will tighter credit inhibit growth?
- Investor sentiment for shipping; how it has changed and what this means for the pattern of ship ownership in the Middle East for the future
- Shipyard capacity, deliveries and newbuilding prices; the implications for Middle East owners with expansion in mind
- Regional trade flows and the outlook for container demand across the region
MONDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2008 |
Morning sessions
1000 - 1230 hrs
(Sessions will run concurrently with cruise programme)
MONEY & SHIPS
Energy Transportation (including LNG) – Sponsored by ABS
- The supply/demand outlook for energy transport
- Refinery construction in the region and its implications for the transport sector
- The chemical carrier market
- LNG shipping: the next phase in its development
OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Shipbuilding and Repair including Offshore
- The growing role for an expanding regional industry
- The outlook for shiprepair in the Middle East and its position in the global repair market
- Newbuilding and conversion: the region's growing capability and its likely future role
- Demand from the offshore sector
Afternoon sessions
1430 – 1700 hrs
(Sessions will run concurrently with cruise programme)
MONEY & SHIPS
Finance for Shipping
- Financing needs of the region's owners
- Debt versus equity finance for Middle East owners
- How regional banks view the marine sector
- Shari'ah compliant investment instruments
OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Fuel, Emissions and Green Technology
- Ongoing regulatory moves to cut SOx, NOx and Greenhouse Gases
- Implications for refineries of increased demand for low sulphur fuel
- Emissions reduction technology
- Advanced wastewater purification and other ocean conservation measures
- Fuel economy
TUESDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2008 |
Morning session
1000 - 1230 hrs
(Session will run concurrently with SuperYacht programme)
OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Port Construction and Development
- The scale and nature of port development across the region
- The pattern of container movements and prospects for the future
- Middle East raw materials imports and terminal construction
- Cargo handling
Afternoon session
1430 – 1700 hrs
(Session will run concurrently with SuperYacht programme)
OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
The manning challenge
In common with shipowning companies across the globe, the region's shipowners face a major challenge in the recruitment, training and retention of high quality crew. This session will focus on the manning challenge from the perspective of Middle East shipowners, where they can find quality crew in the future and how they can be trained and motivated.
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AHMED AL FALAHI, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Energy Maritime PJSC (GEM)
SALEH AL SHAMEKH, President – Oil & GAS, NSCSA
CAPT MARTIN BURLEY, Training Director, V Ships
NICK DEARDEN, Project Director, Greenwave
BOB DEERING, Partner, Ince Al Jallaf & Co
FRED DOLL, Managing Director, Doll Shipping Consultancy
DAGFINN LUNDE, Chairman & CEO, DVB Bank NV
MARCUS MACHIN, Director, Tufton Oceanic (Middle East) Limited and Director - Alislami Oceanic Shipping Company Limited and KFH Oceanic Portfolio Company Limited
JAMAL MAYAHI, Technical Director, National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC)
CAPT JITENDRA MISRA, Managing Director, Emarat Maritime
DENIS PETROPOULOS, Executive Director, Braemar Seascope and joint Managing Director, Braemar Seascope Limited
GENERAL SHARAFUDDIN SHARAF, President, UAE Ship Owners Association
ANDREW SILLITOE, Product Specialist, Human Elements, Lloyd’s Register
MOHAMMAD SOURI, Chairman & Managing Director, National Iranian Tanker Co (NITC)
PETER SWIFT, Managing Director, Intertanko
PROFESSOR JOHN TZOANNOS, Secretary General, Ministry of Mercantile Marine, Government of Greece
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This programme may be subject to alteration and additions