IAPH members of the European region met in Hamburg this week, during SMM, one of the world’s largest maritime trade shows. The regional meeting consisted of a public session, held at the All About Ports conference – a new product of SMM – and a closed-door meeting. Both took place in the presence of IAPH president Jens Meier (Hamburg Port Authority), our newly elected vice-president for Europe Boudewijn Siemons (Port of Rotterdam) and managing director Patrick Verhoeven. The public session focused on the critical role of ports in energy supply security. Against the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, changing energy markets and Europe’s drive for greater energy independence, a panel consisting of Volker Ebeling (MB Energy Holding), Ines Nastali (S&P Global), Jens Meier and Boudewijn Siemons, and chaired by Patrick Verhoeven, discussed what Europe needs from its port to ensure secure, resilient and future-ready energy supplies – and what ports need from industry and policymakers in return. The closed-door meeting featured a keynote address by Boudewijn Siemons, who outlined the priorities for his mandate as vice-president Europe, and a thought-provoking and lively session on cybersecurity, led by Jörg Steingräber and Stefan van Eijden of Hamburg Port Authority.
