Prof. Dr. Orestis Schinas – picture credits Jana Tolle
Record Attendance at the International Shipping Conference
Hamburg, 24 August: “Let’s meet in Hamburg!” The International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) held its annual conference in Germany for the first time, hosting a record number of 276 guests from all over the world.
“The shipping crisis of the last seven years has made only too clear” explained Prof. Dr. Orestis Schinas from HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration, “that the business models of the past are not sufficient to support the shipping industry of the future.” Today, it is not only about transporting something from A to B. Successful business models must answer the complex challenges faced, considering the significant changes that have taken place in the market. Up until 2008, German banks financed approximately 60% of all shipping projects. Today, China aims to bridge the gap, while German and European banks have largely withdrawn from shipping finance. “’Go alone’ concepts no longer work” is Schinas’ conclusion. “We can no longer have purely German or Greek mentality in our shipping companies. Shipping companies must become increasingly international, both in terms of cooperation as well as in terms of their staff.” Additionally, the digitalisation of processes has become a pressing need. Due to the expense of satellite transmission, many ships are not yet equipped with the necessary communication equipment on board, but regulatory and operational needs dictate the exchange of important documentation with the port authorities and terminals before arrival. The need to provide environmentally conscious transportation is also a major consideration. Professor Michele Acciaro from the Kühne Logistics University (KLU) put it very clearly: “Companies in the maritime sector must innovate in order to survive.” That is not just a reference to the shipping companies themselves, but also to the terminal operators, port authorities and freight forwarding agencies that work with hinterland freight transport. One KLU study showed that the many sectors of the industry are not only willing to innovate, but have already started. “The only thing we are lacking” according to Acciaro, “is the development of a clear corporate strategy to which our innovations can be aligned.”
According to Schinas, “shipping is going through a substantial change”. The conference, organised in collaboration with HSBA and KLU, was designed to present this change meaningfully for maritime industries. The almost 200 presentations discussed matters of port policies, hinterland logistics, cruise shipping, financing opportunities, modern management methods, environmentally friendly shipping and new technologies on board. To summarise his impressions of the conference, Commerce Minister Frank Horch said “The port of Hamburg is in a process of constant change – we are ready to take on the newest developments in the shipping industry. The IAME annual conference provides us with important motivation to further develop shipping and the Hamburg harbour.”
About the IAME International Association of Maritime Economists:
Founded in 1990, the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) has developed into the most prominent global platform for shipping industry experts. The most important event of the Association’s year is the annual conference, which brings shipping industry specialists from all over the world together to exchange information and the latest developments in maritime research. This year, the conference took place in Hamburg for the first time. The focus of the conference was “The maritime transport of the future: the role of innovation uptake, sustainability and availability of shipping finance”. The four day event took place at the Kühne Logistics University and HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration campuses, and included lectures and workshops as well as an interesting side programme.
For further information: www.IAME2016.org
About HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration:
HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration is the university for commerce in Hamburg. Founded in 2004 by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, it collaborates today with over 250 companies. As an accredited university, if offers economic and corporate courses in a dual track form, allowing more than 850 students to study the theory while working and applying their knowledge in practice. HSBA is characterised by its transmission of high-level practice oriented content and excellent study conditions, all guided by the values of the honourable merchant. HSBA also has the Dr Jürgen Meyer Foundation Chair of Commercial Ethics and Sustainability. The range of courses is rounded out with high quality further education for specialists and management as well as application oriented research and consulting.
About the KLU Kühne Logistics University:
Kühne Logistics University – Wissenschaftliche Hochschule für Logistik und Unternehmensführung (Technical University for Logistics and Management – KLU) is a dynamic developing private university. This independent state-accredited university is funded by the non-profit Kühne Foundation, and has been located in the Hamburg HafenCity since 2010. The programme of studies includes a Bachelor of Science in Management, two Masters of Science, in Global Logistics, and in Management, a Ph.D. programme for doctoral students and a part-time Executive MBA in Leadership & Logistics. The courses are conducted in English. The courses on offer also include open and company specific further education programmes for specialists and management. Lecturers and students come from all over the world. With lecturers and researchers high competent in the practical orientation of logistics and management, KLU is unique in the world.
