23rd Mare Forum Ship Finance 2024

The 22 previous Mare Forum Shipfinance conferences have bristled with ideas and dynamic debate. A high-level audience consisting of leading executives from the shipping trade and banking industries appreciates and makes the most of the dynamic format and honest debate.

It is an annual conference that hosts principals and high-level executives who actively participate in, discuss, debate, and brainstorm about the future of shipping, trade patterns, logistics, geopolitics, energy transition and security, decarbonisation, investments and ship finance, human capital imperatives, and more.

At our conferences, there are no dull company presentations or lengthy, predictable speeches. Instead, we foster an environment of dynamic and lively discussions, where the panellists and audience participants engage in meaningful exchanges.

The participants are Shipping Executives, Ship owners, Ship managers, Capital providers, Investors, Charterers, Traders, Logistics providers, Energy Executives, Regulators, Lawyers, Consultants, Shipbuilders, Classification Societies, Press, Shipping services providers, and SmartEntrepreneurs.

- If you are an owner needing help finding a good capital provider, come to Mare Forum. Here they are.
- If you are a capital provider needing help finding a good owner, come to Mare Forum and meet them.
- If you are in shipping and ship finance and want to know what will happen next, come to Mare Forum. Good answers will be there.

Rest assured, the Mare Forum Shipfinance conference will be an inspiring and enriching experience.

We look forward to your participation.

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P R O G R A M M E

[The updated programme and the list of confirmed speakers and discussion panellists will be published soon]‍

TENTATIVE LIST OF PANELLISTS
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- Pieter Baan, Director, ING Business Banking Shipping
- Eva Klein Ovink Executive Director Short Sea Shipping and Intermodal Coverage, ABN AMRO Bank
‍- Annet Koster Managing Director, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners
- Robert Wester Director at Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd
- Ioannis Kostoulas President, Mare Forum
- Zhongyi (John) Su President & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Phrixos Papachristidis Chief Executive Officer Hellespont Group
- Caspar van Overklift Business Development & Manager ESG, ForestWave Navigation
- Thijs Slavenburg Managing Partner, Zuyderzee Capital
- Geert Dokter CEO, CONOSHIP Intewrnational
- Pieter van der Burg Managing Director NESEC Fund Management
- Michiel Steeman Managing Partner. Zuyderzee Capital
‍- Michael de Visser Managing Director / SEAHORSE Consulting & Invest
- Jan Jaap Nieuwenhuis Managing Director, Conoship International B.V.
- Joost Bout Loan portfolio manager, NESEC
- Nurettin Caliskan President External Affairs Commission , Turkish Shipbuilders Association GISBIR
- Ed van Aalst Senior Relationship Manager, ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
- Marina Tzoutzouraki CFO and co-founder, eShipfinance.com
- Dagfinn Lunde Chairman and Co-founder, eShipfinance.com, DagMar Navigation Ltd and Chairman, Cleaves Securities AS
- Erik Witjens Chairman, Rotterdam Maritime Services Community RMSC
- Joep Gorgels CFO / CBDO – Chief Financial and Business Development Officer, EST- FLOATTECH
- Marjolein Van Noort Senior policy advisor, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners
- Francesco Fuselli Managing Director, Banchero Costa & co
- Rico Luman Senior Economist - research lead - global sector research, ING Bank
- Katalin Dobranszky Senior Director Policy Analysis, Social Affairs and Finance, European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)
- Marjolein Boer President, WISTA Netherlands
- Vincent Guerre Director for Trade and Competitiveness, SEA Europe
- Mare Straetmans Founder, Platform Zero
- Iraklis Tsirigotis Director of Origination, Neptune Maritime Leasing
- Jan Fransen Executive Director, Green Award Foundation
- Sean Fairley Advisory Department, Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd
- Marc Buijs Lending Specialist, ING Bank and and Board Member, Young Maritime
- Connie Roozen Tax Partner, C&B More Rotterdam
- Heleen Quint Senior Export Credit Specialist, Atradius Dutch State Business NV
- Rod Schlick Managing Director, FRIDAY & CO Shipbrokers
- Gilbèrt de Bock Managing Director, De Bock Maritime
- Ann-Christin Stucke Shipping sustainability en circularity Expert, ABN AMRO Bank
- Dewi Wesselman ESG & Circular Economy Manager, DAMEN
- Peter Molloy Managing Director,Sea3R
- Kari-Pekka Laaksonen Group CEO, SAMSKIP
- Murat Eristi Financial Advisor, Turkish Shipbuilders Association
- Margaret Akello Erasmus University, MSc Maritime Economics and Logistics
- Bjorn Olde Kalter Founder, Cyber Masters
- Hakan Çendik President, Association of Turkish Coaster Shipowners and Operators, KOSDER
- Andrew Wilson Head of Energy Research, Barry Roliano Sales (BRS)
- Gust Biesbroeck Partner, Prow Capital
- Jan-Willem Schellingerhout Head Dutch Shipping, Hamburg Commercial Bank
- more to confirm... stay tuned ‍
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P R O G R A M M E

Mainport Hotel, Rotterdam

08:00
Registration

09:00

Opening and Welcome

- Ioannis Kostoulas President, Mare Forum
- Pieter Baan, Director, ING Business Banking Shipping
- Erik Witjens Chairman, Rotterdam Maritime Services Community RMSC
‍- Annet Koster Managing Director, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners

09:30
session 1

Global Uncertainty - trade and shipping - Nothing is a given and certainly not predictable 
Will Europe lose competitiveness to East and West?  Who is afraid of the future?  

- Geopolitics, tensions between Russia, China, Middle East, Europe and USA., immigration,  regionalisation vs globalisation, energy transition, changing trade patterns, and supply chain disruption.
- Circularity in Shipping - imperatives
- Who is afraid of the future? 


SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Eva Klein Ovink Executive Director Short Sea Shipping and Intermodal Coverage, ABN AMRO Bank
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Rico Luman Senior Economist - research lead - global sector research, ING Bank
- Marina Tzoutzouraki CFO and co-founder, eShipfinance.com
- Andrew Wilson Head of Energy Research, Barry Roliano Sales (BRS)
- Ann-Christin Stucke Shipping sustainability en circularity Expert, ABN AMRO Bank
- Mare Straetmans Founder, Platform Zero

10:20
session 2

Where to invest your money today?  The voices of shipping executives and analysts

Outlook of the shipping markets  
- What are the Shipping market forecasts for 2025 and beyond, and what are the shipping and trade opportunities today while sailing in unknown waters?  
Containers, coal, iron ore,agri-commodities, oil and gas, chemical and short sea shipping carriers

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Zhongyi (John) Su President & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Sean Fairley Advisory Department, Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd
- Andrew Wilson Head of Energy Research, Barry Roliano Sales (BRS)
- Rod Schlick Managing Director, FRIDAY & CO Shipbrokers
- Francesco Fuselli Managing Director, Banchero Costa & co
- Jan Jaap Nieuwenhuis Managing Director, Conoship International B.V.
- Peter Molloy Managing Director,Sea3R
- Pieter van der Burg Managing Director NESEC Fund Management
- Phrixos Papachristidis Chief Executive Officer Hellespont Group

11:10
Networking Break

11:40
session 3

Pioneering to infinity. The energy transition and energy security: Are we getting any closer, or are we taking one step ahead and two steps backwards?

- The energy production outlook
- Circularity in Shipping - imperatives
- Sense and nonsense about alternative fuels
- Alternative fuels production, capacities, rates, ports andinfrastructure.  
- How are alternative fuel suppliers preparing to provide carbon-neutral andzero-carbon fuels for shipping at scale?
- Will repair yards have the capacity to handle an upcoming wave of retrofits?How are they preparing for the challenge?
- What are the necessary changes in port infrastructure, and is there a plan ofimplementation by the relevant authorities? What are the key priorities?
- Can industry-wide initiatives, such as green corridors, accelerate theindustry’s transformation? What does it take for them to be successful?
- What can we do now to help accelerate the availability of zero-carbon shipswhile at the same time reducing shipping’s footprint: slow steaming, retrofits,ESG reporting, and verification
- New technologies, new ships, new ideas, Perceptions and realities
- Successful Decarbonization achieved - lessons to be learned  

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Michael de Visser Managing Director / SEAHORSE Consulting & Invest
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Vincent Guerre Director for Trade and Competitiveness, SEA Europe
- Dewi Wesselman ESG & Circular Economy Manager, DAMEN
- Kari-Pekka Laaksonen Group CEO, SAMSKIP
- Geert Dokter CEO, CONOSHIP International
- Caspar van Overklift Business Development & Manager ESG, ForestWave Navigation
- Marina Tzoutzouraki CFO and co-founder, eShipfinance.com
- Joep Gorgels CFO / CBDO – Chief Financial and Business Development Officer, EST- FLOATTECH
- Mare Straetmans Founder, Platform Zero
- Jan Fransen Executive Director, Green Award Foundation
- Murat Eristi Financial Advisor, Turkish Shipbuilders Association
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12:40
Networking Lunch

13:40
session 4

Investing in People
The Human Capital Trends and Imperatives - realities, perceptions and views on the future
A Holistic Approach, dilemmas, and imperatives

- What are the views and dreams of the young generation on shipping andtrade?
- How can we facilitate new shipping pioneers ahead?
-How to facilitate Entrepreneurship?
- How to attract new talents in shipping
- What is the role of shipping and trading education institutes in the era ofsustainability?
- What are the trends in shipping management?
- Lessons to be learned

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Thijs Slavenburg Managing Partner, Zuyderzee Capital
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Marc Buijs Lending Specialist, ING Bank and and Board Member, Young Maritime
- Mare Straetmans Founder, Platform Zero
- Marjolein Boer President, WISTA Netherlands
- Joost Bout Loan portfolio manager, NESEC Fund Management
- Margaret Akello Erasmus University, MSc Maritime Economics and Logistics
- Zhongyi (John) Su President & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Renze Boersema Policy advisor Finance, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners
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14:30
session 5

The Capital Providers - Shipowners - Regulators, Dialogue: Creating the right balance between regulations and market realities.
‍Will Europe lose competitiveness to East and West?
What are the Netherlands shipowners' and Capital Providers' strategies for the future?

- What is the role of charterers, shipowners, capital providers and regulators in the multi-relationship structure of their interests, focusing onsustainable and commercially viable shipping and trading industry?
- How about the EU taxonomy and other initiatives?
- How can the shipping industry be proactive to international regional and local regulations?
- Digitalization, efficiency, data, digital broking, automated ships, Shipping, trade, smartports, management, data, interconnections,
- Artificial intelligence; threats and opportunities.  
- How about the EU taxonomy and other good and bad initiatives challenges or opportunities?

- Is the Green agenda in transition?
- Quality Shipping and the ESG agenda in progress. Are there incentives neededby the government and industry?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Annet Koster Managing Director, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Connie Roozen Tax Partner, C&B More Rotterdam
- Marina Tzoutzouraki CFO and co-founder, eShipfinance.com
- Pieter Baan, Director, ING Business Banking Shipping
- Bjorn Olde Kalter Founder, Cyber Masters
- Eva Klein Ovink Executive Director Short Sea Shipping and Intermodal Coverage, ABN AMRO Bank
- Vincent Guerre Director for Trade and Competitiveness, SEA Europe
- Jan Fransen Executive Director, Green Award Foundation
- Katalin Dobranszky Senior Director Policy Analysis, Social Affairs and Finance, European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)
- Heleen Quint Senior Export Credit Specialist, Atradius Dutch State Business NV
- Marjolein Van Noort Head of EU representation, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners
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15:20
Networking Break

15:50
session 6

Where does the money come from to finance (green)ships, and how do you get it?
Funding short-sea shipping

Banking, and alternative ship finance, pros and contras.

- What are the trends in banking, alternative ship finance, bonds andother models of finance and investments on the way to decarbonisation?
- What will the future role of the Dutch European and global banks be in theindustry (in the context of the increased role of alternative financeproviders)?
- What are the benefits of the features of Alternative Finance to the globalshipping industry?
- Will the maritime green trend accelerate if the role of alternative financein shipping increases?
- Will alternative finance focus more on new-build financing or on second-handfinancing?
- Lending has become highly diverse; what are the most common alternativefinancing structures?
- What are the key performance criteria lenders evaluate when providing fundsto shipowners?

- What are the incentives from the government and the finance industryto renew European Short sea shipping?
- What are the shipowners' requirements?
- Can short sea shipping be considered sufficiently comparable to other typesof logistics physical infrastructure (highways, trains) and worthy of beingrecognized with the same support guaranteed by governments, EIB, MDBs?
- How to convince the capital providers to fund short sea ships?
- What is the role of governments and charterers?
- What insights do we have into the commercial viability of future shipdesigns?
- Who will take the investment risk on these technologies?
- Are there consolidations and acquisitions imperatives toward fleetsustainable modernisation?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Pieter van der Burg Managing Director NESEC Fund Management
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Gilbèrt de Bock Managing Director, De Bock Maritime
- Michiel Steeman Managing Partner. Zuyderzee Capital
- Iraklis Tsirigotis Director of Origination, Neptune Maritime Leasing
- Robert Wester Director at Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd
- Katalin Dobranszky Director, Finance & Fiscal Affairs, European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)
- Renze Boersema Policy advisor Finance, Royal Association of Netherlands' Shipowners
- Ed van Aalst Senior Relationship Manager, ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
- Hakan Çendik President, Association of Turkish Coaster Shipowners and Operators, KOSDER
- Dagfinn Lunde Chairman and Co-founder, eShipfinance.com, DagMar Navigation Ltd and Chairman, Cleaves Securities AS
- Zhongyi (John) Su President & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Gust Biesbroeck Partner, Prow Capital
- Jan-Willem Schellingerhout Head Dutch Shipping, Hamburg Commercial Bank

17:00
session 7

Conclusions and recommendations session

17:10 - 18:10

Networking Drinks Reception