All-star lineup for The Maritime Standard Ship Finance and Trade Conference

Interest is building in the third annual The Maritime Standard Ship Finance and Trade Conference, which takes place on November 8th at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort. The theme of this year’s one-day event is ‘Building strong partnerships to generate investment-led growth’ and will highlight key issues facing the shipping, ports, banking and finance sectors as they seek to capitalise on emerging opportunities and avoid potential pitfalls.

A really high quality line of speakers is already confirmed. Captain Mohamed Al Shamisi, chief executive of Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP), will give one of the keynote speeches, highlighting the many initiatives that have been led by the organisation with the aim of diversifying the emirate’s economy and creating a trade hub. The second keynote speech will come from H.E. Dr. Abdullah Salem Alkatheeri, director general of the Federal Transport Authority-Land and Maritime (FTA), which sets the regulatory framework for the sector in the UAE.

Other confirmed speakers from the world of shipping and ports include Khamis Juma Buamim, managing director and group chief executive, Gulf Navigation Holding PJSC; Ali Shehab, deputy chief executive, KOTC; and Chris Peters, chief executive of Eships. They will be joined by speakers who are experts in finance, law, insurance and related sectors, such as Marcus Machin, director, Tufton Oceanic; Jacob Berman, managing director, Infrastructure and Transportation, Standard Chartered; Andrew Simmons, chief executive, GMTC LLC; Bora Bariman, National Bank of Fujairah; Amir Mosadeghi, chief executive, Islamic P&I Club; and Andrew Baird, partner, Watson, Farley & Williams. More speakers are likely to be added over the next few weeks.

Trevor Pereira, managing director, The Maritime Standard, says, “The first two Ship Finance and Trade conferences, held in 2015 and 2016, were both very successful, bringing together leading figures from the fields of shipping, ports, banking, finance, trade and law to discuss and debate the key issues. We have put together an even higher quality panel of speakers for this year, and then event is as a result certainly not one to be missed.” For more information and how to register go to www.tms-shipfinanceandtrade.com

The Maritime Standard is also holding its annual Awards at the Atlantis, The Palm, on Monday, October 23rd; and its second TMS Tanker Conference on Tuesday October 24th, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai. It is still possible to register to attend these events, and for the latest information please go to: www.tmsawards.com or www.tmstankerconference.com

Editor’s Note: About The Maritime Standard

The Maritime Standard (TMS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flagship Events LLC, publishes a regular e-newsletter aimed specifically at the shipping and maritime community. It is delivered fortnightly, on the 1st and 15th of every month, and has built up a circulation of more than 40,000 recipients. It delivers the most accurate, up-to-date news about the market and has built up the largest circulation of any shipping-related online newsletter in the Middle East and India. It is also gaining popularity in other major shipping hubs, including Oslo, Hamburg, Singapore, London and Greece. The newsletter includes news and analysis from the shipping and ports industries and related sectors in the Middle East and Subcontinent. Topics that are covered include tanker shipping, container operations, dry and liquid bulk trades, ro-ro, and cruise shipping. In addition there is up to date information about regional terminal operations; port development; classification; ship repair and conversion; shipbuilding; ship agency; finance and insurance; maritime law; and transportation & logistics. The newsletter regularly carries exclusives, analysis and interviews with top executives.

TMS also publishes the very successful TMS UAE Yearbook. The first 2016/17 edition was followed by a second volume covering 2017/18, that was launched in July this year. Covering key developments across the country’s maritime sector, the annual publication aims to publicise the UAE’s achievements both locally and internationally, through in depth articles, researched first hand. These cover all the major sectors of the shipping, ports and maritime industry in the UAE. The articles, on terminals, shipping companies, shipyards, maritime law firms, classification, regulators and inland transport firms, among others, have been well received by the industry as a year round reference point. The Maritime Standard UAE Yearbook 2017/18 is a must-read publication for everyone interested in UAE maritime issues, and can be downloaded by going to: http://www.themaritimestandard.com/uae-yearbook- 2017-18

The not-to-be missed The Maritime Standard Awards recognise and celebrate success in the shipping, ports and related sectors across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. The fourth edition, The Maritime Standard Awards 2017, take place on Monday, 23rd October 2017 at The Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai.

The Awards are now positioned as one of the world's leading shipping and maritime awards gala dinners and are the premier event of their kind in the region. Each of the three events to date have been under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and have each attracted close to 700 of the region's elite shipping and maritime professionals, as well as a number of leading figures from overseas. These guests have come from a variety of industry segments, ranging from ports and terminal operators to ship owners and managers, and executives from the worlds of maritime law and finance, classification, ship building and repair and maritime education and training.

The 2017 TMS Awards event, which will be hosted by the well-known actress and model, Lara Dutta, will see 21 general awards presented, following the recommendations of an elite, independent judging panel, as well as a number for special individual awards recognising the contributions made by high profile industry leaders and innovators. The Awards have set a benchmark within the industry and have become an eagerly anticipated meeting place for top executives from across the business, where they can meet, network and create new opportunities. Website: www.tmsawards.com  

TMS organises two market leading one day conferences: The TMS Tanker Conference and the TMS Ship Finance and Trade Conference. The second TMS Tanker Conference will take place on 24th October 2017 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai. Presentations will be given by many of the region's leading tanker owners and operators, as well as experts in related fields. Attendees will include key decision makers and opinion formers who will be given a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities that exist, not just for ship owners and operators active in the tanker markets, but those delivering products and services to this sector. For more information about the 2017 event, please go to the website: www.tmstankerconference.com

The third TMS Ship Finance and Trade Conference will take place at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel and Resort, on November 8th 2017, building on the success of the first two events, in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The Conference will bring together experts from the fields of shipping, ports, banking, finance, trade and maritime law, among others, to discuss and debate the key issues and trends facing the shipping business, and trade, in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. They will share their insights and knowledge through a series of presentations and panel discussions, signposting the way forward. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to hear from a high level panel of speakers about the key challenges ahead, as well as the significant opportunities that exist. For more information please go to: www.tms-shipfinanceandtrade.com