Session three's panel with (from the right) Jannis Kostoulas, Christian von Oldershausen, Stefano Bertilone, Warwick Norman and Tore Longva whilst Kirsi Tikka was at the podium
This was the Second Blue Shipping Summit meticulously organised by Mare Forum and Blueship at the Divani Apollon Palace Hotel in Vouliagmeni, Athens last Thursday. The respective teams of Jannis Kostoulas and Karen Kokabi “did” the trick and produced a great program with four Sessions where the experts of the Environmental Shipping Sector delivered interesting and challenging papers, whilst others had the task to co-ordinate a very delicate theme, which will bother the industry to all intents and purposes for the foreseeable future.
Following the welcome of the organisers and George Gratsos’ keynote speech Session One Analyzing the Progress of the Environmental Regulation
- What are the developments of IMO and EU regarding the environmental regulations?
- What are the benefits of IMO and EU working together on the best implementation strategies, rather than separate?
- What can we take away from other industries’ shift to lowering emissions?
- How can we harmonize the international shipping community for a more sustainable shipping and operations?
- How feasible are the goals set by regulators and what are the long-term implications of these regulations for the maritime industry?
- What are the benefits of a global regulation scheme network to reach an international solution as opposed to the European network alone?
- What are the pros and cons of emissions trading?
- What difficulties does the emissions trading present to the shipowner, and what are the hidden costs of doing this?
Speakers included Colin Cridland form Clarksons, Roxana Lesovici from the Policy Office of the DG MOVE EC, Rear Admiral (USCG Rt) Robert C. North, Lars Robert Pedersen Deputy Secretary-General of BIMCO, and Helena Athoussaki from Carbon Positive; the session chairman being Philip Embiricos BIMCO.
Investing and financing blue shipping was the second session
- Why Protecting the Environment makes Good Business Sense?
- Can Bankers, Insurers and others provide substantial incentives to shipowners to build environmental friendly ships?
- What is the best source of finance for applying new technologies in ships?
- What are the benefits and the competitive advantage for companies implementing the new environmental regulations?
- How big role should governments play in financing, subsidizing and sponsoring this shift to blue shipping?
- What are the leading banks that are interested and have specific departments that deal with the issue of going “blue” and sustainable?
Speakers included XRTC’s supremo George Xyradakis, Eliza Petritsi from Holman Fenwick Willan LLP in London, peter Boyd, COOO from Carbon War Room Shipping operations with George Gourdomichalis being the sessions chairman.
After lunch which was sponsored by the Marshall Islands Registry, Session three begun based on Market Approach to Shipping Innovations. A seascape of inventions, incentives and technologies for sustainable shipping and ports.
- Is the environment becoming a commodity?
- Who are the major stakeholders in the environmental industry and what they are working on today?
- What are the classification societies, ship-yards and marine equipment efforts and initiatives towards energy efficient ship design?
- What are the cost savings, commercial advantage and values of environmental standards for new quality ships?
- What are the tangible benefits of new ship designs?
- Green measures gaining ground, how to combine the regulations with the market for optimum result?
- What are ship recycling technologies?
- What are the pros and cons of Bunker Levy vs. Emissions Trading Credits?
- Looking back on other industries, what lessons can we learn from them?
A view of the conference hall whilst Kirsi Tikka delivers her paper
This session was successfully chaired by RINA’s General Manager for Greece, Middle East and Africa Stefano Bertilone, speakers included the up and coming Kirsi Tikka, ABS’ President for Europe. Warwick Norman Rightships’ CEO, Christian von Oldershausen, GL’s Senior vice president head of global Sales and Tore Longva, senior consultant International Affairs form DNV. We have a small video from this session; very challenging too.
After a networking coffee break the final session was more than challenging: Innovations on Air Emission Solutions technologies; same goals different approaches.
- Emissions target for 2020: is it realistic? What will it take to achieve that goal?
- The Zero emission ship design.
- What are the tried and tested emissions reducing technologies on the market today?
- How much do they cost? Can we afford them?
- What are the benefits of installing them before the regulations take place?
- LNG Analysis: is it the new era for LNG fueled engines? LNG fuel as an alternative energy source for ships and its impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Lower sulfur fuels vs. use of leaner engine technologies: low sulfur fuel savings, benefits and reduction of your emissions by installing scrubbers on newbuild and existing ships?
- Examples of ships that already installed scrubbers and their experience
- How can we avoid achieved lower emissions and not making these credits just another financial instrument or commodity?
- Is there news from the world of clean indexes?
l to r: Peter Glass, Tom Evensen, Apo Poulovassilis, Stian Aarke, Karen Kokabi and Jannis Kostoulas
This final session was well performed by the chairperson Apo Poulovassilis from Lloyd’s Register with a simple key-note message, which you can also see in the attached video.
Other speakers included Peter Glass from Marine Exhaust Solutions form Canada replacing his colleague peter Tobs. Stian Aarke, senior manager from Wartsila Hamworthy and Tom Evensen from Jotun’s Hull Performance Solutions.
All in all the event was great and should be repeated. Conclusion remarks by Karen Kokabi and Jannis Kostoulas both on a great day and managed well with nearly 200 delegates from all over the place. Questions? Well, too difficult ones but also interestingly the panel’s questioning the delegates produced great results and asymmetrical replies too. Remember though the LNG – the AAS attendant was right!
Spotted amongst others Michalis Dalacouras, Konstantine Adamantopoulos, Nicki Pappadakis, Elina Barbini, Christina Bezantakou, Yanna Pavlopoulou, Debbie Foros-Tsirozides, Markos Kantzios, Dimitris Lyras, Heidi Papadakis – very proud for Karen Kokabis’ performance, Dimitri Patrikios, Athanassios Reisopoulos, Alek Tomazos, Yiannis Triphylis, Dean Tseretopoulos, Akis Tsirigakis, Vanessa Tzoannou with her father John Tzoannos former Secretary-General of the then Greek Ministry of shipping, Natassa Vassilaki, Manolis Vordonis, Angeliki Xylaki, and Spyros Zolotas.
Jannis Kostoulas with Holman Fenwick and Willan's Yiannis Pelekanakis, Eliza Petritsi and Konstantinos Adamatopoulos
Worth mentioning the great number of internatioal sponsors- nearly thirty, leading to the logical explanation that this subject, is good business too; watch this space.
Afterwards a drinks and dips reception followed in the lower balcony with the best ever weather conditions and time for networking and reflection!
Finally, I guess we have a long way to go, but things are of essence and a lot has to be resolved in a very short period of time; is there a will or political intrigues will enter the game? That will remain to be seen! All papers will be soon on Mare Forums site for viewers and deleagtes to see.
Warwick Norman with Nicky Pappadakis
