NORFOLK, Va. – May 9, 2016 – (Marine NewsWire) SHIPPINGInsight today announced the agenda and identified keynote speakers for the fifth Fleet Optimization Conference & Exhibition. The annual event will take place Oct. 18-19, 2016, at the Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa in Stamford, Conn.
Capt. Michael Wilson, president & COO of Laurin Maritime (America), will serve as conference chairman. John D. (Jack) Noonan, COO of Chembulk Tankers, and Capt. Norbert Aschmann, CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, will deliver the keynote addresses on Days One and Two. James Watson, president of Americas Division at ABS; Esa Jokioinen, head of the Blue Ocean Team at Rolls-Royce, Frank Coles, CEO of Transas Marine Ltd., and Angus Campbell, managing director of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (UK), will be session keynoters.
The conference agenda will consist of four themed sessions: Regulatory Compliance, Connected Ships & Cybersecurity, Big Data & Shipping Intelligence, and Fuel & Propulsion. Each session will include two panels followed by an open-discussion Q&A-driven roundtable of experts. The third annual SHIPPINGInsight Award will be presented at a gala luncheon to a shipowner and technology partner(s) for achievements in ship and fleet optimization.
New for 2016 will be a special interactive roundtable of shipping company executives, who will share their perspectives and answer questions from conference delegates.
The exhibit hall is being expanded to accommodate 50+ booths this year in response to growing demand from companies wishing to showcase their technologies and solutions.
“The key to the success of SHIPPINGInsight is its format, bringing together shipowners and managers with technology companies in an intimate setting that encourages sharing of ideas and best practices for meeting the challenges of ship operations, ” said SHIPPINGInsight co-director Frank Soccoli. “Already we have commitments from over 34 shipping company executives to participate in the 2016 event. In addition to the formal conference sessions and exhibits, we provide ample opportunities for informal networking.”
“We are assembling an impressive group of over 70 speakers and moderators for this year’s conference, ” said SHIPPINGInsight co-director Jim Rhodes. “This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for you to learn from experts and network with your peers in the international shipping industry.”
Last year’s SHIPPINGInsight had 169 delegates from seven countries, including 25 shipping companies. There were 58 speakers and moderators, 49 exhibitor booths, 36 industry sponsors, seven media sponsors and five supporting organizations, according to Rhodes. Campbell commented: “The conference sessions were valuable, and I was especially interested to learn more about cybersecurity and the U.S. perspective on LNG as a marine fuel. I enjoyed the open-dialogue roundtable sessions addressing pressing topics for the shipping industry, and networking with technology suppliers to help me better understand available solutions.”
Online registration is now open, and hotel reservations at the Stamford Marriott may be booked at a special conference rate at the online portal. For more information, visit www.shippinginsight.com.
About SHIPPINGInsight
Held annually since 2011, the SHIPPINGInsight Fleet Optimization Conference & Exhibition has become the premier shipping technology forum in North America. SHIPPINGInsight is co-produced by Soccoli Associates LLC, a maritime consultancy, and Rhodes Communications, Inc., an international PR and marketing services company specializing in the marine industry for over 30 years.
