Singapore: Ron Widdows, Group President and CEO of NOL, is the latest in a string of high-profile names from Asia's maritime community to confirm they will be speaking at the Sea Asia 2009 event.
Building on the highly successful inaugural event in 2007, the conference
takes the theme "The Asian Voice in World Shipping: Clearer and Stronger".
As global trade patterns have shifted eastwards and more and more decision-making takes place in Asia, the Asian shipping community needs to clearly express an "Asian voice" at international shipping organisations and achieve a greater influence in global policy-making.
Sea Asia 2009 will be the perfect platform for this. After a stellar debut in 2007, the biennial conference and exhibition returns to the Suntec City Convention Centre from 21 to 23 April 2009.
The morning session on the first day will bring together industry heavy-weights to discuss the Asian voice in world shipping from the container shipping and logistics angle, including Widdows. The session will be chaired by S.S. Teo, Managing Director, Pacific International Lines, Singapore, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation, and President, Singapore Shipping Association.
Comments Teo: "Top Asian shipowners and leading maritime operators will congregate in Singapore for Sea Asia 2009. They will share insights of the maritime issues pertinent to this region to develop the voice of Asian shipping. The event epitomizes the unity and professionalism of the Singapore maritime community, both government and the private sector, in presenting an international maritime event of world-class standing."
In the afternoon, top-level executives such as Klaus Nyborg, Deputy CEO, Pacific Basin Shipping (HK) Limited, and Lee Jeong-Hwa, Chief Executive Officer, S K Shipping, will discuss the Asian voice from the bulk market's perspective. This session will be hosted by Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Managing Director, BW Shipping.
"Asian companies play a key role in the maritime sector," explains Sohmen-Pao. "Although it is important to think in global terms, it is beneficial for the industry to have Asian based companies participating in the debate about future direction and policies."
The "Asian Voice" theme will continue into the second day to touch on the offshore market. Controlling over 70% of the global rig building and FPSO conversion market, Singapore is certainly suitably placed to discuss this topic. The afternoon will see a dedicated session on finance for Asian shipping, whilst a parallel stream will tackle technical issues such as emissions, ballast water treatment as well as shipbuilding and conversions.
The closing day will hold a charterer's forum in the morning, which will present an outlook for the major bulk trades, both dry and liquid. A separate session will discuss the currently very hot topic crewing and manning. The afternoon sessions will deal with LNG shipping as well as marine insurance.
At the accompanying exhibition visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the most recent product and service developments for the maritime industry. As at August, eight months out from the event, the organisers have already achieved equal the size of Sea Asia 2007. [01/10/08]
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