Key conference themes

* Markets & opportunities for unitised & bulk cargoes
* Shippers' views on role of shortsea in their logistics chains
* Optimising and greening shortsea supply chains
* Future influence of EU policy on the shortsea sector
* Development of European emission control areas
* Raising finance in a tough market
* Development of offshore energy projects
* Impact of Rotterdam Rules

Overview

Once again IMDO and Navigate Events invites the European shortsea industry to gather in Dublin for two days of top-level discussion and networking at the third European Shortsea Congress.

More than just a conference, this popular annual event offers a packed conference programme, dinner, networking receptions and a port tour. The European Shortsea Congress takes place every other year in Dublin, one of Europe's leading maritime centres and home to a range of companies involved in the shortsea supply chain.

Whether you are a provider or end user of shortsea services, a port or supplier of commercial services to the shortsea sector, the European Shortsea Congress will give you the opportunity to learn,network and contribute to the debate.

The Congress kicks off with an evening reception sponsored by Matheson Ormsby Prentice, one of Ireland's leading legal firms.

The next day we open the Congress with a welcome address from the Irish Minister for Transport and then move into a thought provoking programme which covers the key issues facing this diverse market.

What do shipowners think of the future prospects for the unitised and bulk sectors? Where will the future cargoes come from and which routes are under threat? What does the customer want from shortsea providers and are they making unrealistic demands? What sorts of pressures do shippers face and why should they care about the shortsea options? How can shortsea be integrated into deepsea transport? How can port centric logistics solutions link with shortsea services? What is Brussels doing for the sector and could their efforts be re-focused to encourage modal shift?

After a stimulating day of debate, delegates will be treated to a three course dinner in the rarefied surroundings of Trinity College Dublin.

The second day starts with an opportunity to tour Dublin Port and we start the conference again mid-morning for more presentations, discussion and debate.

We look forward to welcoming you to Dublin in June.

Navigate Events & IMDO

Kindly sponsored by:

Conference Agenda
Tuesday 9 March

Welcome & keynote speeches

Chairman:Chris Bourne, Executive Director,
European Liner Affairs Association

Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport,
Republic of Ireland

Markets & Opportunities for Shortsea

The markets have not been kind recently and the general economic conditions have cast uncertainty over most shortsea routes. This session will examine a range of unitised and bulk sectors to provide an insight into current conditions and what we might expect over the coming period including concerns, obstacles and opportunities.

Feeder & shortsea market review and future trends
A review of the European feedering and the shortsea container sectors by a company which connects more than 30 ports from the Iberian Peninsula up to the Baltics. How will the shortsea and feeder market fare over the next decade?
Soren Pedersen, Managing Director,
Team Lines Deutschland

The ro-ro market
One of the leading carriers on the Western and Central Channel looks at how has the market has faced the recession and asks what will drive the market over the next decade, where will the opportunities come from and how will ro-ro compete with road and rail in the future?
Christophe Mathieu, Group Strategy & Commercial Director,
Brittany Ferries

The vehicle sector
With many sectors of the automotive industry struggling to survive the economic downturn, how has this affected the shortsea car carriers and dedicated seaport terminals / compounds and what are the prospects for the coming decade?
Oliver Fuhljahn, Sales & Business Development
Rhenus/Cuxport Port Logistics

Shortsea bulks
An examination of the shortsea bulk market focusing on current and future market drivers and influencers by one of the shortsea sector's leading shipbrokers. Under the spotlight will be steel, coal, sugar, grain, and scrap. Where will the future cargoes come from and how should participants position themselves for success?
Mark Harrison, Director,
HC Shipping & Chartering

Forest products and paper
The forest products, timber and paper markets are growing. Where is that growth coming from and what will be the future shortsea requirements for this important buyer of transport services?
Paul Dean, Logistics Manager
Iggesund Paperboard

Offshore energy and wind farms
The need to supply the rapidly growing offshore energy industry is providing new opportunities for shortsea shipping. Where are they coming from, what is required and can they be quantified?
Speaker tbc

Liquid bulk - feedstocks and biofuels
Although the biofuel industry continues to grow, controversy is never far away. But the market for the shortsea transport of biofuels and their liquid feedstocks is presenting new and interesting opportunities.
Fred Doll, Managing Director
Doll Shipping Consultancy

What Do Our Customers Really Want?

The customer is king and in these challenging times it is especially important to give customers what they want. But at any price? Are customers making unrealistic demands on ports, carriers and 3PLs or is the industry simply uncoordinated and unresponsive?

This session will provide a unique insight into the requirements of the customers and the pressures that they face when optimising their supply chains. It will be a chance to champion partnerships and further the dialogue between supplier and purchaser.

Perspectives from a unitised cargo owner - Diageo
How important is shortsea to the overall logistics chain. What are the barriers to a shipper using shortsea and what should the industry do to encourage more shippers to use their services?
Larry Kirwin, Head of Logistics
Diageo

Perspectives from a unitised cargo owner - Wellman International
Wellman International is Europe's largest producer of high quality polyester staple fibres. What does a company that is proud of its environmental credentials want from the shortsea sector?
Sean Montgomery, Supply Chain Manager
Wellman International

Perspectives from a bulk cargo owner - Cemex
A global building solutions company and supplier of cement, ready-mixed concrete and aggregates looks at how it utilises shortsea, coastal and inland shipping as well as road and rail. Under discussion will be how Cemex selects the optimum mode and what will influence it to take more of its cargo onto the water?
Mark Grimshaw-Smith, Head of Rail & Sea
Cemex

Perspectives from a bulk cargo owner - Rusal
The world's largest aluminium and alumina producer describes how it utilises the shortsea mode and what drives it to consider using water over other modes? How does Rusal integrate its shortsea requirement with its need for global ocean transport?
Alexander Avdeev, Head of Department, Dry Bulk Chartering
Rusal

Optimising Shortsea Supply Chains

Building efficiencies and synergies into supply chains is especially important in the current recessionary climate. The shortsea mode can help achieve this as well as adding the much sought after "green" dimension. But shortsea also has to link to rail and road modes without generating unwanted complexities or costs.

Rail connected freight terminals; bringing ports closer to the customer
Current investment in rail freight infrastructure at Irish, UK and continental ports enables the international supply chain to move to new levels of efficiency. A competitive rail freight environment drives environmental and cost efficiencies. Road tolling and the collapse of public investment in roads drive shippers to shift to rail.

Howard Knott, Director,
IEA Rail Freight Group Irish Exporters Association

Shortsea shipping services linked to port centric logistics solutions
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 linked to shortsea services can make a significant contribution to supply chain improvements.
Stephen Taylor, Director
UK Ports & Logistics

Developing sustainable supply chains in a low carbon environment
How to introduce 100% renewable energy into your supply chain without significantly building in costs and adding complexity.
David Surplus, Managing Director
B9 Shipping

Conference Agenda
Wednesday 30 June

EU Strategy
& Policy

For many years the European Union has been promoting the water option as the way to get freight off its highly congested road network. But is it doing enough and are its efforts being directed where they are most needed? Does state aid simply distort the market and unbalance competition or is it a vital element in the drive to achieve modal shift?

How the EU intends to promote and assist shortsea throughout the coming decade
An overview of how the EU currently promotes and encourages shortsea shipping and modal shift together with its plans for future support.
Dimitrios Theologitis, Head of Unit, Maritime Transport Policy, Ports & Inland Waterways,
DG Mobility and Transport European Commission

Marco Polo - Motorways of the Sea
What has been their true impact on shortsea? Are they the best way to promote shortsea shipping? Perspectives from carriers, ports and other participants
Ellen Naaykens, Senior Consultant
Buck Consultants International

Debate:
The case against state aid
Is shortsea still a somewhat pitiful industry that always needs to be subsidized - how can that be changed?
Johan Wagelaar, Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers

The case for state support - but not in its current form
With an overhaul of the current state-aid initiatives, shortsea and inland shipping could make a significant impact on modal shift with dramatic environmental consequences.
Bill McCormack, Chief Financial Officer
Maritramp

Questions and discussion
The panel will be joined by Tim Lowry, Managing Director Armac Marine Management

Industry Collaboration

Although a highly competitive industry, there are many examples where collaboration is delivering enhanced services to the end-user. Will collaboration between and amongst carriers, ports and 3PLs become the norm in the coming decade?

What can we learn from the hare and the tortoise?
Achieving synergy through industry collaboration at all levels in the supply chain
Clive Kessell, Chief Associate
The Really Useful Advice Company

Is there a business case for shortsea ports to operate more closely together?
Dryports, the public/private sector EU Interreg North Sea project looks at why should ports collaborate and in which areas will collaboration deliver savings and synergies? What are benefits to the customer?
Richard Morton, Project Director
Dryports/Port Integration

Carriers, ports, 3PLs and end-users working together to shift freight from road to water
Peter Ward, Executive Director
Freight by Water (tbc)

Hot Topics

There are many issues currently exercising the shortsea industry. This session highlights and examines a few of the most pressing.

Vessel emissions
Emission control areas, the use of low sulphur fuel, the cost of compliance and alternative options
Confirmed speaker
ABS

World Port Climate Initiative & the role of seaports in the development of intermodal shortsea transport
Ports participating in the WPCI program are working closely together on several projects to reduce CO2 including the role that port authorities can play in shifting freight off the road. The Port of Amsterdam will give some practical examples of how a port authority encourage shortsea shipping and benefit from it.
Mannes Boelen, Commercial Director
Shortsea Port of Amsterdam

Rotterdam Rules
How this new and significant piece of regulation will impact on shortsea practicioners at all levels
Helen Noble, Partner
Matheson Ormsby Prentice

Raising finance
An examination of traditional and innovative ways to raise finance in the current economic climate of reduced lending
Paul Packard, Head of Maritime Industries
Bank of Ireland

The continuing demise of the sub 3000 tonner
Is this a continuing trend and how will its demise affect smaller shortsea ports, supply chains and the struggle to discharge seafreight further inland.
Leo Lokker
ZHD Dordrecht (tbc)

Who should attend?

European shippers
Financiers
Freight forwarders
Lawyers
Legislators
Logistics providers
Market analysts & consultants
Ports
Shipbrokers
Shipyards
Shortsea shipping companies

Registrations

Fee:
Euro 675 + 21% VAT = Euro 820.12

To book your place email: conferences@navigateevents.com

or call +44 (0)20 7369 1656

Please note that accommodation is not included in the fee. We have however negotiated reduced room rates (€150 per night) at Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Golden Lane Dublin 8
Tel: +353 1 898 2900 and quote ref: European Shortsea Congress.