IAPH Mid-term Board Meeting
Economic Recovery in the Maritime Trade
Savannah, Georgia, USA
7-9 June 2010

Attended by some 150 delegates, speakers and accompanying persons, the IAPH Mid-term Board Meeting / World Port Forum was held at Savannah Marriott Riverfront in a beautiful city of Savanna, Georgia, USA, 7-9 June 2010, hosted by Georgia Ports Authority,.

Technical Committee Meetings, June 7
Prior to the opening ceremony, June 8, IAPH Technical Committees met in three subject groups to review what has been achieved since they last met in Genoa, May 2009, and discuss what will have to be done toward the Busan Conference May 2011.
The minutes of the three group meetings are posted in the members area. (password controlled)
You can find all Technical Committe Documents. Please click here.

Opening Ceremony, June 8
The participants were officially welcomed to the city of Savannah by the Honorable Otis Johnson, Mayor of Savannah at the opening ceremony held on June 8. Following the mayor's welcome, Mr. Craig Lesser, Managing Partner, Pendleton Consulting Group, LLC, took the floor to deliver his keynote speech, in which he talked like a veteran storyteller about a big difference in lifestyle happening over the decades, especially in the movement of people and goods, by comparing his teenage days when travel by airplane seemed like a dream with the present teenagers so familiar with international travel by airplane, as well as the use of PCs and cell phones dominating the daily life of teenagers today.

IAPH World Port Forum, June 8
Following the opening ceremony, four port forum sessions were held under a broader theme of "Economic Recovery in the Maritime Trade" - a very timely one when the world economy is beginning to show signs of recovery, as so often cited by President Gichiri Ndua during the three-day event. >>PowerPoint presentations

The Board Meeting, June 9
Secretary General Susumu Naruse presented his report to the Board of Directors meeting on June 9 on what the Association has achieved since the Genoa Conference May 2009, as follows:

• IAPH meetings organized in the last annum
• Technical committee reports and other papers published, including those of World Port Climate Initiative (WPCI)
• Newly-joined members
• Outcome of regional elections held over the past year
• Settlement of Accounts 2009

His report on the above household matters was duly approved by the Board.

IAPH Resolution on Piracy
More significantly, the Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution on piracy as proposed by Mr Frans van Zoelen, Chair of IAPH Legal Committee to demonstrate to the world maritime community its commitment to this critical issue. Please view and download the full text of the resolution. >>Resolution on Piracy


The resolution was submitted to all friendly organizations from whom IAPH was granted a NGO consultative status and with whom IAPH signed a MOU, as well as news and media agencies.


IMO (International Maritime Organization), the United Nations specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships, was quick to respond to our adoption of resolution on piracy, suggesting that IAPH submit it to the forthcoming 88th session of IMO Maritime Safety Committee (24 Nov to 3 Dec 2010) dealing with piracy and armed robbery against ships.


IAPH Resolution of Thanks
The Mid-term Board Meeting of IAPH was adjourned by adopting a resolution of thanks to the host and all those who contributed to the success and enjoyment of this gathering. >>Resolution of Thanks


Photo Gallery
You can find photos taken during the three-day meeting, both business and social. >>Photo Gallery