IAPH Insider – 13 May 2021

 

This edition of IAPH Insider covers:

 


 

#IAPH2021: register and join 300+ colleagues worldwide

In six weeks from now the 2021 IAPH World Ports Conference will be taking place in a world-class online format, boasting more than fifty sessions with top content brought by global leaders of the port, shipping, and logistics industry. Over 300 delegates from 122 organisations across 42 countries have registered already. #IAPH2021 is conceived as a television programme, with a fixed daily schedule, presented live by conference host Francesca Vanthielen (photo), the Belgian news anchor and journalist who hosted the 2018 launch of our World Ports Sustainability Program as well as last year’s Sustainability Awards. Francesca will also be presenting this year’s Awards ceremony, as part of the online broadcast, on 24 June. #IAPH2021 gives you full streaming flexibility as all content sessions will remain available on demand one month after their broadcast. You do not have to worry therefore if certain sessions are broadcast very early or very late in the day in your time zone, you can watch (and re-watch) everything at your own convenience. We warmly encourage you to check out the latest version of the conference programme and register today. IAPH members continue to enjoy the special registration fee of 395 Euro, compared to the full price of 535 Euro.

 

 

 


 

#IAPH2021: sneak preview webinar on 21 May

Our last pre-conference webinar will be fully devoted to the World Ports Conference itself. Together with our partners Port of Antwerp and IHS Markit we will be providing you with a sneak preview of the conference highlights, anticipating some of the main debates that you will be able to experience at the end of June and explaining how to make the most of your registration in terms of content and networking. Register here and join World Ports Conference anchor Francesca Vanthielen, who will be talking to Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp, Peter Tirschwell, Vice-President Maritime & Trade IHS Markit and Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director Policy & Strategy IAPH on Friday 21 May at 3 PM CEST. This webinar concludes a full-year cycle that we started in May 2020, boasting a total of ten sessions with superb content, which you can still watch on demand via the World Ports Conference website.

 

 

 


 

#IAPH2021: have you considered sponsoring?

The 2021 IAPH World Ports Conference offers a wide range of sponsorship opportunities to both regular and associate members of IAPH. Sponsorship places your organisation in a position of authority and enables you to build and strengthen your relationships and increase visibility to global stakeholders including shipowners, ports, logistics providers, local communities, regulators, equipment providers and related third parties. Sponsors benefit from the extensive range of marketing and public relations carried out before, during and after the event, all incorporating your organisation’s brand and underlining your expertise and leadership through this global port summit. Thanks to its innovative online configuration, the World Ports Conference will help your organisation generate new business leads and build on existing ones with direct access to established industry leaders and emerging personnel. Want to find out more? Get in touch with the IHS Markit sponsorship team.

 


 

Welcome to new associate member Vistacom

We are happy to welcome Vistacom as a new associate member from Mauritius. Vistacom is a strategic communications agency engaged in building brands, increasing awareness and boosting demand for customers through cost cutting edge technologies in the fields of external and internal communication, public relations, media training and crisis management, including use of digital tools and social media.  The company is presently engaged in a public-private partnership with our members Mauritius Ports Authority in the construction of a digital twin for the port industry. You can discover Vistacom’s full profile here.

 

 

 


 

The May-June issue of Ports & Harbors is out

The latest issue of your favourite port lifestyle magazine is now available online and in your mailbox. Our cover story features Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), who is one of the distinguished speakers at the forthcoming World Ports Conference. In the interview with Patrick Verhoeven and Ines Nastali, she looks at how the cruise sector will arise from the pandemic as a phoenix from the ashes. The numbers’ section assesses ongoing dredging projects as a testament to trade outlook. Other topics include illicit wildlife trade, Russian port expansion and myths about autonomous transport. You’ll get viewpoints and insights from Sakura Kuma, CEO of APM Terminals Japan, Sandeep Mehta President at Adani Ports and Richard Ballentine, Chief Executive of the British Ports Association, who gets personal in ten quick questions! In the wake of the recent Suez Canal incident, incoming IAPH President Karuppiah Subramaniam shares his opinion about the risks ultra-large container vessels pose to ports. Finally, the May-June issue of Ports & Harbors pays tribute to outgoing IAPH President Santiago Garcia Milà, who will be passing on the baton at the World Ports Conference in June, after holding the presidency for six years.

 

 

 


 

Your opinion: is vessel size increase still sustainable?

The grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal in March has on one side resulted in delays and backlogs in port callings, but it has also served as a reminder of how much container ships have grown. This has sparked a discussion if the size of those ultra large vessels has outgrown the infrastructure of ports, but also of the wider maritime assets such as transit canals. Ports are trying to catch up with those 20,000+ TEU vessels as most expansion projects have been initiated as navigation channels and berths are incapable of servicing them. While these projects provide work for the civil and marine engineering industries, they raise concerns in ports: how safe is this expansion when a single incident is capable of bringing world trade to a brief halt? We invite you to have your say, by answering our next Ports & Harbors poll question: considering the impact on ports and infrastructure, is further container vessel size expansion sustainable? Please give your answer here.

 

 

 


 

IAPH members’ workshop on market-based measures

On 27 May 4-6 PM CEST we will be holding a workshop about the ports’ perspective on so-called ‘market-based measures’ (MBMs) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. A market-based measure can be described as a rule or legal framework that encourages a desired behaviour through financial incentives. In this case, the shipping industry should be encouraged to use low carbon or zero carbon fuels to limit CO2 emissions. The workshop is open to IAPH member ports and associate members and is primarily meant to be of an informative nature, presenting the available MBM options, their effectiveness, pros and cons and success factors. Participants will be invited to reflect on the ports’ perspective and identify interest, criteria, and potential red lines for ports. This is the start of a process to discuss and better define the role and positioning of IAPH in the forthcoming discussions on MBMs at the International Maritime Organization. Well-known academic experts Dr Tristan Smith (University College London) and Dr Harilaos Psaraftis (Technical University of Denmark) will be setting the scene, sharing valuable insights on ongoing MBM developments, and respective considerations for ports. The workshop will be held in MS Teams while also using interactive elements such as polls to increase the level of engagement in the discussion. The workshop is primarily addressed to the members of the IAPH Climate and Energy Committee, who already received a ‘save the date’ invitation, but we equally welcome all other IAPH members that have an interest in the topic. If you wish to attend, please let our colleague Junichi Takemura know: [email protected]

 


 

Is your port considering carbon capture?

Carbon capture storage (CCS) is a technique to keep CO2 out of the atmosphere to mitigate climate change. It captures carbon dioxide emitted from large sources, transports it to a suitable storage site and permanently injects it underground. Carbon capture use (CCU) uses the same technology as CCS, but instead of storing CO2 underground, it reuses the carbon as feedstock for other products. Both techniques may create potential opportunities for ports. An ongoing master research project at the University of Antwerp is trying to assess the current interest of port authorities worldwide. You can help the researchers by answering seven basic questions on CCS and CCU here.

 


 

UNCTAD course on pandemic resilience of ports

Keeping ports operating is critical during a pandemic. The UNCTAD TrainForTrade programme is presenting a new online course that will help port communities develop resilience against pandemics. Thanks to the support of the United Nations Development Account (UNDA) and Irish Aid, the course is free of charge and open to all stakeholders of port communities and international organisations working in the field. The e-learning course is especially addressed to those involved with port operations. The scope is to support port authorities and operators in facing and acting against potential spread of infectious diseases. The main objectives of the course are to guarantee the health of port workers and users of the port, to keep ports safe and operational during pandemics, and to facilitate implementation of protocols to ensure health and safety. The course will be delivered in English and will be organised between 28 June – 30 July 2021 and it will consists of an online course, simulation exercises and a webinar. You can register on the TrainForTrade website, using the passcode BPR2021.

 


 

Support the Seafarers International Relief Fund

Leading seafarer welfare charities and shipping industry players have launched an emergency relief fund to support seafarers and their families devastated by the rampant COVID-19 pandemic in India and other countries. Seafarers have been the invisible victims of COVID-19, with hundreds of thousands marooned on vessels for months beyond agreed contracts, in some cases. Despite suggestions that the crew change crisis was near its end, the escalation of COVID-19 cases in India to more than 400,000 per day has prompted some major port states to prohibit ship crew changes for seafarers with recent travel history to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In response, the Seafarers International Relief Fund has set a target of US $1 million. It has been established by bringing together leading international seafarer welfare organisations, including The Seafarers’ Charity, The Mission to Seafarers, ISWAN, Sailors’ Society, Stella Maris and others, in a united appeal to the shipping industry to deliver urgent support to seafarers and their families in India. The establishment of the Fund was welcomed by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and a number of major shipping organisation have already pledged their support to the fund, including Anglo-Eastern, Ardmore Shipping, Cargill, Hafnia, IRI (Marshall Islands Flag), MSC, Pacific Basin and V.Group. The Fund will be used to deliver aid through existing programmes run by the welfare partners in India, to make sure that support reaches seafarers and their families as quickly as possible, as well as ensuring that support can remain in place over the challenging weeks and months ahead. Although the immediate focus of the campaign is India, other countries also remain highly vulnerable to the pandemic, including those with large numbers of international seafarers. The goal of the SIRF is to stand ready to support seafarers and their families afflicted by the pandemic in other countries, should the need arise. To donate to the Seafarers International Relief Fund, bank transfer details can be found here. Donations can also be made via the SIRF Donations page

 


 

IAPH to attend 5th WCO Global AEO Conference

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is virtually holding its fifth Global AEO Conference, in collaboration with Dubai Customs and the Federal Customs Authority, United Arab Emirates, from 25 to 27 May. The conference will look at the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) and Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) programme a decade after they were founded to enhance security and facilitate global trade supply chains. This will take place amidst a transformed economic landscape, with plans to open the scheme even more to independent operators and small businesses in e-commerce. In line with the WCO’s theme for 2021, ‘Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for a sustainable supply chain’, and given the exceptional circumstances that the world is still facing, speakers and participants at the conference are invited to share their experience and ideas on how the WCO’s SAFE Framework of Standards and members’ flagship AEO programmes can be enhanced to drive the recovery process; how digital transformation can be embraced along with other advanced technologies to enable renewal, and how people can be put at the centre of change for a resilient and sustainable supply chain. The conference is expected to be a platform for participants to exchange innovative ideas and visions, examine potential opportunities, and explore the next steps required to elevate this global best practice in trade facilitation to new levels. IAPH will be represented through the Chairman of our Data Collaboration Committee, Pascal Ollivier. You will find all details about the programme here. WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya will be one of the keynote speakers at this year’s World Ports Conference.

 


 

Deadline IMO-Singapore Single Window pilot extended

A few weeks ago, we announced that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) had issued a call for expressions of interest from countries with a medium-sized port to take part in a pilot project to establish an efficient digitalised system for electronic exchange of information in ports for ship clearance. The deadline for Member States with an identified medium-sized port to submit their expression of interest has now been extended from 30 April to 31 May this year. The pilot will be supported by IMO member state Singapore through the IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme. Under the pilot project, the selected country will be advised on the necessary legal, policy and institutional requirements for the Maritime Single Window (MSW) system. The port will then be provided with functional MSW software, hardware and/or IT services, configured to the country’s needs. Training will also be provided. As per the original IMO announcement, Singapore will bring in its experience to cater to the technical requirements for medium-size ports and for ports that would like to incorporate port to port communication protocols in such a system.

 


 

Member Port News

In this edition’s round up of member port news, you will find stories from the following IAPH members:

  • Europe and Africa region: Baku International Sea Trade Port, Port Autonome de Conakry, Port of Gdansk Authority, Port Authority of Genoa, Autoridad Portuaria de Huelva, Port of Göteborg, Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Autoridad Portuaria de Valencia, Port Autonome d’ Abidjan, Ports of Cabo Verde, Port of Rotterdam Authority, Hamburg Port Authority, Port of Helsinki, Freeport of Riga Authority, Ports of Cabo Verde, Authority for Transport in Malta, Oslo Port Authority, Port of Amsterdam, bremenports, Nigerian Ports Authority, Port Authority of Douala, North Sea Port, Administração dos Portos de Sines e do Algarve, Autoridad Portuaria de la Bahìa de Algeciras, HAROPA (Harbours of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris), Port Autonome d’ Abidjan, Port Autonome de San Pedro
  • America Region: Port of San Diego, Port of Seattle, Panama Maritime Authority, National Port Administration Uruguay, Canaveral Port Authority, Montreal Port Authority
  • Asia and Oceania Region: Indonesia Port Corporation II, Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Iran , Ulsan Port Authority, Port Klang Authority, PSA International Westports Malaysia, Abu Dhabi Ports, Incheon Port Authority, China Merchants Port Holdings, Marine Department HKSAR, Bintulu Port Authority, Gladstone Ports Corporation, Kuwait Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Guangzhou Port Authority, Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Solomon Islands Ports Authority

 


 

World Maritime News

These maritime news stories made the headlines over the past two weeks:

  • Asian container ports most efficient globally according to World Bank index
  • Global box volumes heavily dependent on US demand
  • Carriers’ record earnings and shipping disruption through Q4
  • Maersk’s integration strategy begins to pay off
  • Shipowners rank LNG as top fuel in energy transition 
  • Industry groups push back reform of U$ 5 billion green fund
  • Data utility aspiration for liner shipping
  • Autonomous shipping, COVID-19 impact, security and fuel safety in spotlight

 


 

Calendar of Events

IAPH events and events where IAPH is represented

 

 

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