8th Mare Forum Singapore 2025

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

There will be no boring company presentations or 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 visionary entrepreneurs.

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

Participants will plunge into a pool of booming businesses, network opportunities, and knowledge transfer.
‍
‍It will be inspiring - Be There, Be Heard.

‍

T H E  P A N E L L I S T S (tentative)

- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO,Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Mario Moretti Managing Director, V.Ships Asia Group Pte
- Steen Lund CEO, RightShip
- Smriti Sharma Global Director,Strategy, Sustainability and ERM, AET
- Katie Men Managing Director, ISEACO INVESTMENT PTE LTD
- Martin Kröger Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners‘ Association
- Shmuel Yoskovitz CEO, X-Press Feeders
- Alan Hatton Managing Director, Foreguard Shipping
- Sanjay C Kuttan Chief Strategy Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
- Maria Levanti President & COO, ICE Futures Singapore | ICE Clear Singapore
- Dimitris Belbas Head of Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific, Seafin Pte Ltd - Eurofin, Singapore
- Arjun Batra Executive Chairman, Drewry Group
- James Forsdyke Managing Director, Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, Lloyd's Register
- Dimitris Lyras Managing Director, Ulysses Systems
- SK Lim Managing Director, Pacific, G2 Ocean
- Keng Mun Lee Managing Director. MPartners Pte Ltd
- Sanjeev Mathur Senior Vice President APAC, OneOceanLR
- George Kypraios Chief Executive, Yefira Consulting Pte Ltd
- Abhishek Asija Managing Director, Ship Management Commercial APAC, V.Group
- Ioannis (Jannis) Kostoulas President, Mare Forum
- Rahul Kapoor Global Head, Shipping Analytics & Research, S&P Global Commodity
- Chi Lilli Vice President Marine & Offshore, South Asia & Pacific, Singapore, Bureau Veritas
- Rajaish Bajpaee Ex-Chairman, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
- Elaine Yu Kai Senior Chartering, South32 & Chairperson, ICS Singapore
- Danny Siew Managing Director – Head of Singapore Office, Braemar Corporate Finance
- Douglas Raitt Manager, Regional Advisory Services
- Jingjun Wang Managing Director, Baosheng Marine HK Co.
- Wilson Wirawan Head, Dry Bulk Research,  BRS Shipbrokers
- More panellist to be announced - stay tuned
‍

P R O G R A M M E

[The final list of speakers and discussion panellists will be announced soon - stay tuned]
‍

08:15
Registration
‍
09:00

Session 1

Opening and Welcome

- Ioannis (Jannis) Kostoulas President, Mare Forum
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group [CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN]
- James Forsdyke Managing Director, Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, Lloyd's Register
- Speaker(s) to be announced

09:20

Session 2

Global Uncertainty - Nothing is a given and certainly not predictable. Challenges, Opportunities, Priorities, and Goals.

Where can you invest your money to achieve profitable returns in an unpredictable future?
Join insights and perceptions from shipping executives, analysts, charterers, shipbuilders, regulators, and capital providers.
‍
Global Uncertainty, Geopolitics: 


- Exploring the unpredictable landscape of global trade and shipping.

- Addressing world tensions, regionalisation, evolving trade patterns, supply chain disruptions,
 AI and digitalization risks.
The Commodities and Shipping Market Outlook:

- Coal, iron ore, Agri-commodities and Containers. Analysing trends and trade patterns   

- Chemicals, Oil and gas Analyzing trends and trade patterns

- Bunkering 


‍
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Arjun Batra Executive Chairman, Drewry Group
- Rahul Kapoor Global Head, Shipping Analytics & Research, S&P Global Commodity
- Maria Levanti President & COO, ICE Futures Singapore | ICE Clear Singapore
- Steen Lund CEO, RightShip
- Elaine Yu Kai Senior Chartering, South32 & Chairperson, ICS Singapore
- Dimitris Lyras Managing Director, Ulysses Systems
- Abhishek Asija Managing Director, Ship Management Commercial APAC, V.Group
- Wilson Wirawan Head, Dry Bulk Research,  BRS Shipbrokers
- More panellists to be announced

10:10
Session 3

The Maritime Energy Transition: Are we progressing, or are we taking one step ahead and two steps backwards?

Will Green Maritime Singapore increase competitiveness?

A critical look at the journey towards energy sustainability in shipping.
- Energy Production Outlook: Current trends and forecasts

- Alternative Fuels: Debunking myths and examining production capacities and infrastructure.

- Preparing for Change: Assessing readiness for retrofits and the capacity of repair yards.

- Port Infrastructure Needs: Identifying essential upgrades and action plans.

- Accelerating Transformation: The role of industry-wide initiatives like green corridors etc

- Immediate Actions:  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

- Innovations and Realities: New technologies and successful decarbonisation practises
- Navigating Regulations: How can the shipping and trading industry be proactive and create Proactive approaches to international, regional, and local regulations?

- Green Agenda Evolution: Assessing the progress and incentives needed for quality shipping and the ESG agenda.


- Competitiveness: Will Green Maritime Singapore remain competitive?


SESSION CHAIR:
- Chi Lilli Vice President Marine & Offshore, South Asia & Pacific, Singapore, Bureau Veritas
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Sanjay C Kuttan Chief Technology Officer, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD)
- Smriti Sharma Global Director, Strategy, Sustainability and ERM, AET
- SK Lim Managing Director, Pacific, G2 Ocean
- Steen Lund CEO, RightShip
- Shmuel Yoskovitz CEO, X-Press Feeders
- Martin Kröger Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners‘ Association
- Douglas Raitt Manager, Regional Advisory Services,  Llyd's Register
- More panellists to be announced

11:00
Break

11:20

Session 4

Trends in Investing and Financing (Green) Shipping.
What are the latest developments in banking, alternative ship financing, leasing, bonds, and other financial models and investments driving the path toward decarbonisation?

Are there possible Strategic "Partnerships" between Shipowners, Charterers, and Regulators? Exploring their interconnected strategies for a sustainable future?

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

- Lending has become highly diverse; what are the most common alternative financing structures?
- What are the key performance criteria lenders evaluate when providing funds to shipowners?
- Are there government and finance industry incentives to accelerate green shipping?
- Are there possible Strategic "Partnerships" between Shipowners, Charterers, and Regulators? Exploring their interconnected strategies for a sustainable future.
- What are the shipowners' requirements?

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
- Katie Men Managing Director, ISEACO INVESTMENT PTE LTD
- Danny Siew Managing Director – Head of Singapore Office, Braemar Corporate Finance
- Dimitris Belbas Head of Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific, Seafin Pte Ltd - Eurofin, Singapore
- Keng Mun Lee Managing Director, MPartners Pte Ltd
- George Kypraios Chief Executive, Yefira Consulting Pte Ltd
- Alan Hatton Managing Director, Foreguard Shipping
- Maria Levanti President & COO, ICE Futures Singapore | ICE Clear Singapore
- More panellists to be announced

12:10

Session 5

Investing in People; Creating the Future Talent in Shipping, Trade and Logistics

Addressing the human capital trends essential for the industry’s evolution.
- SkillsetDemands: The necessity for new skills, charisma, diversity, and talent in shipping. How to achieve this?

- Reskilling seafarers There is a need for reskilling seafarers, with new skills required for handling alternative fuels, safety, and automated vessel operations.
‍- Attracting New Talent: What are the strategies to engage and recruit the next generation?
‍- Educational Role: What is the role of shipping and trading education in a sustainable context?

‍- Future Trends: Understanding what the younger generation seeks in a career.

‍- Industry Image: Strategies for improving the public perception of shipping.
‍- Trends: What are the trends in shipping management
‍- Sense and nonsense about artificial and human behaiviour

SESSION CHAIRMAN:
- Mario Moretti Managing Director, V.Ships Asia Group Pte‍
DISCUSSION PANELLISTS:
‍- Shmuel Yoskovitz CEO, X-Press Feeders
‍- Sanjeev Mathur Senior Vice President APAC, OneOcean LR
- Martin Kröger Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners‘ Association
- Rajaish Bajpaee Ex-Chairman, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Steen Lund CEO, RightShip
- Dimitris Lyras Managing Director, Ulysses Systems
- More panellists to be announced
‍
12:50

- Conclusions and Recommendations

‍- Zhongyi (John) Su Group Chairman & CEO, Erasmus Shipinvest Group
- Ioannis (Jannis) Kostoulas President, Mare Forum

13:00
End

‍
- If you are interested in joining as a partner/sponsor at this mare forum in Singapore and other mare forums around the globe, then contact global@mareforum.com
There are many possibilities to discuss. 

‍