The 3rd European Shortsea Congress was, again, held in Dublin. Around 200 senior industry representatives discussed a range of topical issues concerning market trends and opportunities, collaboration, EU policy, legal and environmental issues. Networking opportunities included a drinks reception, a gala dinner anda tour of the port of Dublin. This event is now firmly established as the industry's premier shortsea gathering.

Attended by senior representatives of the world's chemical & product tanker fleet, this event provides delegates with an overview of the commercial and technical issues facing them. Topics covered included biofuel and vegoil trends, shipbuilding market, piracy, environmental legislation, finance, kpis, vetting and TMSA. This event is held in association with the International Parcel Tankers Association.

For the first time, this brand-new conference brought together the relevant supply chain partners to examine, debate and learn how effective port centric logistics solutions are changing current distribution systems, improving effectiveness and generating competitive advantage. In a carbon constrained society, the port centric model can make a significant contribution to supply chain improvements.

This conference brought elegates up-to-date with the latest environmental initiatives at IMO, provided a unique insight into the current thinking of active participants, and suggested what might be next on the environmental agenda. It was designed to give busy shipping people a clear, succinct and comprehensive briefing on current environmental policy and future direction and equip them with the knowledge to plan ahead with confidence in a changing environment.

CSR is on the rise around the world and a growing number of shipping companies are taking serious steps to ensure that their businesses act responsibly.

Held in conjunction with DNV, this conference equips those forward thinking companies with the tools to implement a succesful CSR programme that will improve the bottom line and enhance competetiveness.

The European Shortsea Congress has rapidly become established as the industry's definitive event catering for bulk and unitised cargo interests.

This year's programme examined the future of the shortsea trades into the next decade and included the ever popular conference dinner, port tour and networking receptions.

Navigate and the International Parcel Tankers Association (IPTA) are running a high level conference looking at the issues which really matter to chemical and product tanker operators.

Covering charter market, commercial, operational and regulatory issues, this top quality programme was put together by leading market analyst Fred Doll.

.As the world begins to understand the importance of this renewable energy source, the maritime industry is gearing up to play an increasing and central role in handling and transporting the associated raw materials and finished products. And that means new business for shipowners (dry & wet), charterers, port and terminal operators, storage facilities and all those involved in maritime transport and commodities.

Securing the quality of the cold chain is critical for all those involved in maintaining the supply of temperature sensitive products from source to destination. But with growing environmental constraints, evolving food safety regimes and transport shortages, can cold chain quality be maintained at a reasonable cost? This conference investigated all aspects of the temperature controlled supply chain, emerging technologies and best practice in an attempt to find the answer.

The European shortsea community gathered in Dublin to debate the many issues surrounding this demanding and hugely important maritime sector. Defining what the customer wants formed the core of the conference and related issues such as future opportunities, intermodality, ports & terminals and promotion featured in the two-day programme. A dinner, port tour and golf tournament were also on offer.

In 2008 China grew at an unprecedented rate with GDP growth exceeding 10%. This level of GDP growth reflects China's huge and growing demand for raw materials and its export of commodities and finished products.

This 2nd China conference provided an insight into future growth and the many commercial opportunities still available for western based shipping, ports & logistics businesses.

Corporate Social Responsibility is fast becoming a top agenda item for all forward thinking shipping and logistics companies. This new conference will investigate business ethics, human value, environmental leadership and economic reality to provide practical advice to all those with an interest in ensuring their organisation is a leader in this vitally important area.

As one of the word's most exciting emerging markets, India presents some impressive opportunities for western based shipping, ports and logistics companies. This conference identifed those opportunities and gave an insight into what it is really like to do business in that country.

The first major UK event linking the emerging biofuels sector with maritime trade and transport. Over 150 industry leaders met in London to discuss this growing opportunity.