MPA gears up for Maritime Week

Singapore: Singapore will play host to a major gathering of maritime industry players during the inaugural Maritime Week from 25 to 29 September 2006. Maritime Week 2006, an initiative by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), will bring together leading players from the maritime industry, to discuss current developments and issues facing the industry. The event is intended to showcase Singapore as a choice regional and international venue for maritime events and highlight Singapore's attraction as an International Maritime Centre beyond port operations. Some 3,000 local and international participants are expected to attend some nine main events.
The diverse range of events to be presented will cater to core maritime sectors such as shipping, port, bunkering as well as maritime policy and business services. These forums and conferences will be complemented by networking platforms including gala award dinners and receptions throughout the week.
BG (NS) Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive of MPA says MPA hopes to "reinforce Singapore's attraction as ... a hub which draws important global maritime organisations to organise their meetings and activities here. This is another value proposition that Singapore can offer as an International Maritime Centre. The bringing together of key maritime personalities from all over the world to meet and network allows for the exchange of ideas and knowledge of best practices on port and maritime matters. It will also create buzz for the maritime industry." In a way, the week is a precursor to SeaAsia which will be held in April next year, he added.
The wide range of events to be presented will cater to core maritime sectors such as shipping, port, bunkering as well as maritime policy and business services. These forums and conferences will be complemented by networking platforms including gala award dinners and receptions throughout the week.
Events scheduled in Maritime Week 2006 include the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) World Maritime Day Parallel Event (Forum and Evening Reception). Singapore is the first Asian host for this event. The forum's theme is "Shipping for Growth and Development", and aims to generate ideas to improve the shipping industry. The round table panel consists of IMO representatives and key decision makers from shipping companies. Some of the key personalities scheduled to be at the Singapore-based event, include IMO Council Chair Johan Franson; IMO Secretary General designated representative David Edwards.
The week also includes the 14th Singapore International Bunkering Conference 2006 (SIBCON). SIBCON hopes to position Singapore at the forefront of global and regional bunkering issues and Singapore strengthen its standing as one of the world's top bunkering ports. The theme for this year's conference: "Bunker Outlook: Managing the Evolving Business and Regulatory Environment" will take a look at the most recent developments in energy markets, shipping and bunkering. Participants can also expect to gain insights into issues faced by regulators and businesses at the conference.
Other events include:
· 3rd Singapore International Maritime Awards (IMA)
· Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Annual Conference 2006
· 3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Ballast Water Management (ICBWM)
· Marine Money 5th Annual Singapore Ship and Offshore Finance Forum
· 6th International Dry Bulk Review
· Tanker Outlook 2006
· The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) Maritime Security Seminar
Singapore's maritime industry is seeing robust growth and contributes 7% to GDP. According to BG Tay MPA is working on all maritime areas as it wants Singapore's maritime industry to multidimensional. He sees MPA's efforts bearing fruit as in the last few years the number of entrants into the industry have been "staggering". [24/08/06]

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