Clean fuels and LNG were global shipping’s hottest topics in this year’s Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition where IENE hosted its longestablished "Energy & Shipping Seminar” on Friday, June 8. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 deadline for a global sulphur limit in fuel oil used on board ships is fast approaching the transition of shipping to cleaner fuels is acquiring a new urgencyClean fuels and LNG were global shipping’s hottest topics in this year’s Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition where IENE hosted its longestablished "Energy & Shipping Seminar” on Friday, June 8. As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 deadline for a global sulphur limit in fuel oil used on board ships is fast approaching the transition of shipping to cleaner fuels is acquiring a new urgency.
Indeed, the future of maritime transport is inescapably linked with the welfare of people and the planet. This is why a global approach on decarbonization and environmental sustainability was very much a hot topic at Posidonia 2018, where shipbuilders, engine manufacturers and scrubber providers showcased their clean fuel plans and strategies vying to attract the attention of shipowners and fleet operators.
The particularly important role played by the Greek merchant fleet in the transportation of global energy commodities prompted IENE to organise once again this highly focused event,this time in collaboration with Posidonia, and with the active participation of a number of leading ship operators, energy traders and leading legal firms. This year’s special theme underlined the new bunkering fuel specifications and the increasingly important role that LNG plays in the expansion of the global natural gas market.
Eleven prominent speakers from the oil and gas sector, from the shipping sector and maritime law from Greece and abroadactively participated as speakers and panelists.Nikolas Vernikos, president of ICC Hellas spoke on the broader role of Greek Shipping while IENE’s chairman Mr.John Chadjivassiliades in his opening remarks made the connection between shipping and energy. "Energy and Shipping as a vital link to global economy and business”, was the topic of a keynote address by George Tsavliris, CEO, of Tsavliris Group Worldwide Salvage & Towage whilethe Executive Director of IENE Mr. Costis Stambolis analysed "The current oil and gas pricing environment and implications for shipping”.
Gus Papamichalopoulos, Deputive Chairman, of ΙΕΝΕ, and Senior Partner, of KG Law Firm, was moderator of the second session of the seminar while the "Challenges and opportunities for the Shipping Industry as a result of the new IMO 2020 Regulations with regard to Marine Fuels”were presented by Mr. Yiannis Papanicolaou, Director, Aegean Marine Petroleum Network IncMr. George Dimopoulos, Principal Specialist in DNVGL and Manager of the Maritime R&D, spoke on the "Energy Transition Outlook, Maritime”.
The "Development of Greece’s first FSRU terminal”, was the topic of a presentation by Mr. IoannisArapoglou, Chairman of the Board, GASTRADE S.A., while the "Offshore sustainable energy infrastructure and its importance in enhancing the shipbuilding industry in Greece”, was presented by Prof. IoannisChatjigeorgiou, from the National Technical University of Athens. Finally, the "Small-Scale LNG Facilities Regulatory Framework & Recent Regulatory Developments in Greece”, was discussed by Ms. Zoi Stolaki, Legal Counsel, at DEPA S.A.
Some one hundred participants in total attended this unique event which was supported by Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) and KG Law Firm, Greece’s leading legal firm. Greece’s pioneering portal Energia.gr was the event’s exclusive media sponsor and the organizer of "live streaming” of the seminar’s proceedings.
