7th Mare Forum Singapore 2024

It is an exclusive annual shipping conference hosting principals and high-level executives actively participating, discussing, debating, and brainstorming about the future of shipping, trade, geopolitics, energy transition and security, decarbonisation, investments, ship finance, and the Human Factor imperatives.

No boring company presentations, no long speeches, but only dynamic and lively discussions between the panellists and audience participants.

The participants are Shipping Executives, ship owners, ship managers, Charterers, Traders, Capital providers, Investors, Energy Executives, Regulators, Maritime Lawyers, Consultants, Shipbuilders, Classification Societies, Press, shipping services providers, and smart entrepreneurs.

The six previous Mare Forum Singapore forums have been bristling with ideas and dynamic debate.

Participants will plunge into a pool of booming businesses, network opportunities, and knowledge transfer.

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‍It will be inspiring - Be There, Be Heard.
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P R O G R A M M E

[The discussion themes, the speakers and panellists will be announced soon - stay tuned]
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TENTATIVE LIST OF SPEAKERS & PANELLISTS (by 11 February 2024)

- Shmuel Yoskovitz CEO, X-Press Feeders
- Martin Kröger Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners‘ Association
- Sanjay C Kuttan Chief Technology Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
- Andreas Papaspyrou Managing Director, Regional COO Asia, Commerzbank AG (to be confirmed)
- Maria Levanti President & COO, ICE Futures Singapore | ICE Clear Singapore
- Benjamin Wong Vice President, Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises - Government of Hong Kong SAR
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Mario Moretti Managing Director,  V.Ships Asia Group Pte
- Subhangshu Dutt Executive Director - Om Maritime Pte Ltd
- Steen Lund CEO, RightShip
- Subhangshu Dutt Executive Director - Om Maritime Pte Ltd
- Douglas Raitt Manager, Regional Advisory Services, Lloyd's Register
- Dimitris Belbas Head of Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific, Seafin Pte Ltd - Eurofin, Singapore
- David Barrow Vice President South Asia, Bureau Veritas
- Jianjun (JJ) Wang Head of Business Development, Oneglobal Broking Hong Kong Limited
- Arjun Batra Executive Chairman, Drewry Group
- Ralph Leszczynski Global Head of Research, Banchero Costa Network
- Geert Dokter CEO, CONOSHIP International
- Su Yin Anand Co-founder, The Captain’s Table
- George Kypraios CEO, Yefira Group
- Wallem Group Representative
- Keng Mun Lee Managing Director, MPartners Pte Ltd
- Ali Susanto Former Managing Director of Braemar Corporate Finance
- Abhishek Asija Managing Director, Ship Management Commercial APAC, V.Group
- Jagmeet Singh Makkar Chairman, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (HK Branch) and Independent Arbitrator
- Anthony Zolotas CEO, Eurofin Group
- Jolene Chew Director, Clifford Capital
- Rajaish Bajpaee Ex-Chairman, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
- Alan Hatton Managing Director, Foreguard Shipping
- Maarten Sickler Director Sales, Conoship International
- Colin Jarraw Partner, Virtus Law LLP
- Christoforos Bisbikos Partner, Watson Farley & Williams LLP
- Sanjeev Mathur Senior Vice President APAC, OneOceanLR
- Ioannis Kostoulas President, Mare Forum
- more panellists to be announced - stay tuned

08:30‍

Registration

09:00

● Opening and Welcome

Conference Chairman
- Dimitris Belbas Head of Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific, Seafin Pte Ltd - Eurofin, Singapore
Organizer
- Georgios Kostoulas Executive Director, Mare Forum
Keynote Speakers
- to be announced soon
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09:20
Session 1

● Everything flows!

Challenges, Opportunities, Priorities, and Goals.
The voices of shipowners – Charterers - Capital providers and Regulators

Discussion themes to be selected for the discussion:
- What are the shipping and trade markets forecast for 2024 and beyond?
- Energy transition status, energy security, geopolitics, tensions, wars, (de)globalization, changing trade patterns, supply chain disruption, inflation, and USD forecast
- One step back or two steps ahead? Are we stepping back to coal, oil, gas, and nuclear energy modes, and for how long?
- Are the regulators the first movers with global regulations? Are regional rules adding complexity or accelerating the transition? What about the IMO?
- Are the market forces the first movers? What are the incentives for first movers to decarbonization?
- Should the Charterers pay for GHG emissions? OR Should shipowners be the only ones accountable for GHG emissions? What is the role of important stakeholderssuch as Charterers and Ports?
-  How can (environmental) regulations become better balanced with market realities?
- How can the shipping industry efficiently respond to local, regional, and international regulations?
- How can we create a synergy between the shipping industry stakeholders?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Martin Kröger Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners‘ Association
- Maria Levanti President & COO, ICE Futures Singapore | ICE Clear Singapore
- Andreas Papaspyrou Managing Director, Regional COO Asia, Commerzbank AG (to be confirmed)
- Arjun Batra Executive Chairman, Drewry Group
- Benjamin Wong Vice President,Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises - Government of Hong Kong SAR
- Shmuel Yoskovitz CEO, X-Press Feeders
- Subhangshu Dutt Executive Director - Om Maritime Pte Ltd
- Alan Hatton Managing Director, Foreguard Shipping
- Ralph Leszczynski Global Head of Research, Banchero Costa Network
- Jianjun (JJ) Wang Head of Business Development, Oneglobal Broking Hong Kong Limited
- Colin Jarraw Partner, Virtus Law LLP
- more panelists to be announced

‍10:20 Break
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10:50
Session 2

● Pioneering to "infinity and beyond".

The Maritime Energy Transition: Are We Getting Any Closer?
Investing in green ships, and how do you get the finance?
What are the key lessons to be learned? 

Discussion themes to be selected for the discussion:
- How exposed is the existing fleet to upcoming legislation, and how do shipowners mitigate risk?
- Are carbon-neutral or zero-carbon operations a target? If so, what are the steps to reach it (e.g. vessel speed, efficiency upgrades, switching toa lternative fuels, offsetting etc.)?
- What can we do now to help accelerate the availability of zero-carbon ships while at the same time reducing shipping’s footprint: slow steaming, retrofits,ESG reporting, and verification
- What is now required to start reducing emissions immediately?
- What are possible incentives for first movers to decarbonization?
- How are alternative fuel suppliers preparing to provide carbon-neutral and zero-carbon fuels for shipping at scale?  Are we still stuck in a chicken-and-egg situation, or are we one step further?
- What is the role of charterers, shipowners, capital providers and regulators in the multi-relationship structure of their interests, focusing on sustainableand commercially viable shipping and trading industry?
- Will repair yards have the capacity to deal with an upcoming wave of retrofits? How are they preparing for the challenge?
- What are the necessary changes in port infrastructure, and is there an implementation plan? What are the key priorities?
- Can industry-wide initiatives, such as green corridors, accelerate the industry’s transformation? What does it take for them to be successful?

- What are the trends in banking, alternative ship finance, leasing, bonds, and other models of finance and investments on the way to decarbonization?
- What will be the future role of Asian and global banks in the industry (int he context of the increased role of alternative finance providers)?
- Will the maritime green trend accelerate in case the role of alternative finance in shipping increases?
- Will alternative finance focus more on new-build financing or on second-hand?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- David Barrow Vice President South Asia, Bureau Veritas
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
‍- Sanjay C Kuttan Chief Technology Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
- Douglas Raitt Manager, Regional Advisory Services, Lloyd's Register
- Jagmeet Singh Makkar Chairman, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (HK Branch) and Independent Arbitrator
- Anthony Zolotas CEO, Eurofin Group
- Jolene Chew Director, Clifford Capital
- Geert Dokter CEO, CONOSHIP International
- George Kypraios CEO, Yefira Group
- Keng Mun Lee Managing Director, MPartners Pte Ltd
- Ali Susanto Former Managing Director of Braemar Corporate Finance
- Abhishek Asija Managing Director, Ship Management Commercial APAC, V.Group
- Christoforos Bisbikos Partner, Watson Farley & Williams LLP
- more panelists to be announced

11:40
session 3

● The human factor - imperatives

The human factor trends in shipping vs. the new technological trends (A.I. etc)

Discussion themes to be selected for the discussion:
- Artificial Intelligence- challenges and Opportunities
- Digitalization: efficiency, data, digital broking, automated ships
- Shipping, trade, smart ports, management, data, interconnections  
- Do we need new skills and expertise, plus more diversity in shipping and trade?
- How to attract new talents in shipping and trading- What is the role of shipping education institutes in the era of sustainability and new technologies?
- What are the trends in shipping management attracting characters and passionate personalities?
- What are the visions of the young generation?
- What are they looking for in a shipping carrier?
- How can we attract young people to shipping?
- How can we improve the image of the industry?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Mario Moretti Managing Director,  V.Ships Asia Group Pte
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Martin Kröger Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners‘ Association
- Steen Lund CEO, RightShip
‍- Shmuel Yoskovitz CEO, X-Press Feeders
- Rajaish Bajpaee Ex-Chairman, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
‍- Su Yin Anand Co-founder, The Captain’s Table
- Zhongyi (John) Su President & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Geert Dokter CEO, CONOSHIP International
- Dimitris Lyras Managing Director, Ulysses Systems
- Sanjay C Kuttan Chief Technology Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
- Subhangshu Dutt Executive Director - Om Maritime Pte Ltd
- Sanjeev Mathur Senior Vice President APAC, OneOceanLR
- more panelists to be announced

12:40

● Conclusions and recommendations

- Dimitris Belbas Head of Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific, Seafin Pte Ltd - Eurofin, Singapore
- Mario Moretti Managing Director,  V.Ships Asia Group Pte
- David Barrow Vice President South Asia, Bureau Veritas
- Zhongyi (John) Su President & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Ioannis Kostoulas President, Mare Forum

13:00 End

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