The 5th Annual SAFETY4SEA Forum, a PRO BONO event, successfullyconcluded on Wednesday 1st of October 2014 in Eugenides Foundation Athens. A unique panel of 22 global experts debated a wide range of issues, covering regulatory update and latest developments in the shipping industry regarding maritime safety, security and loss prevention issues, best practices for the industry and also crew management onboard.
The event has been well attended by 500 delegates at the venue representing 270 companies/organizations. The event organized by SQE Marine Group and sponsored by Four Shield Solutions, SpecTec, Steamship Mutual, ABS, ASPIDA Maritime Security, Blank Rome LLP, CAPITAL Shipmanagement, CHALOS & CO P.C., DNV GL, DORIAN LPG, FURUNO Hellas S.A., Future Care, INCE & CO, Liberian Registry, MAGSAYSAY Maritime Corporation, Marine Response Alliance, Marshall Islands Registry, SEAMAR Management S.A., SQE ACADEMY, TRANSMAR SHIPPING CO S.A., UK P&I Club.Also the event supported by ALBA, BIMCO, EENMA, GREEN AWARD Foundation, HELMEPA, InterManager, IFSMA, MARTECMA and NAMEPA.
During his welcome address Mr. Apostolos Belokas, as the Forum chairman outlined the objectives of this PRO BONO event, including enhancing Maritime Safety and Security Awareness and promoting Best Practices for the shipping industry. He also announced the SAFETY4SEA full Scholarship for the ALBA MSc in Shipping Management and the launch of GREEN4SEA.com this October, the new Maritime Portal which aims to update daily the maritime community with latest environmental developments on ballast, emissions, fuels and all related green shipping issues.
Presentations were given in four sessions as follows:
Session 1 : Regulatory Update & Key Stakeholder Views
Apostolos Belokas, SAFETY4SEA, opened first session of the forum giving an update on Maritime Safety
Raffaele Piciocchi, ABS, gave a presentation on the safety aspects of the new IGC and IGF Code
Peter Lundahl Rasmussen, BIMCO, focused on the human element challenges in the industry
Capt. Theodore Lalas, Marshall Islands Registry, explained what role the Flag State has during Port State Control Inspections
Capt. John W. Dickie, Joint Development Associates, presented how the criminalization of the seafarer is a growing threat to the industry
Alastair Evitt, V.Ships, gave a presentation on the fight against complacency
Session 2 : Safety, Security & Loss Prevention
Chris Adams, Steamship Mutual, explained how Loss Prevention addresses navigational risk
Nick Milner, The UK P&I Club, gave a presentation on co-mingling and SOLAS compliance
Lindsay Malen, Marine Response Alliance, covered issues regarding salvage and marine fire fighting
Dimitris Maniatis, Aspida Maritime Security, focused on the security trends in East and West Africa
Thrasos Tsangarides, Four Shields Solutions Ltd, presented security landscape from a PMSC perspective
Session 3 : Best Practices
Dr. Michael Pantazopoulos, LISCR Hellas, analysed the detention prevention program
Jeanne Grasso, Partner, Blank Rome LLP, explained the regulatory hurdles in US legislation
Capt. Stuart Francis, INCE & CO, highlighted the use of VDR and other electronic data in casualty investigations
Niki Kalogiratou, Capital Ship Management, gave a presentation on the communications perspective on a Listed Shipping Company
Lawrence Jacobson, Future Care, debated how standards of maritime healthcare have been raised in the 21st Century
Session 4 : Human Element Session
Sokratis Dimakopoulos, Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagenet, focused his presentation on the new initiatives regarding crew competence assurance management
Marlon Rono, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, highlighted how important the crew management is in the MLC era
George M.Chalos, CHALOS & Co P.C. International Law Firm, gave a presentation on the fight for due process and fair treatment of seafarers in the US
Dr. Marina Papaioannou, DNV GL, covered issues relevant the current trends in maritime training
Dimirios Stamoudis, Minerva Marine Inc., closed the last session of the forum highlighting how bureaucracy on ships can be a real burden.
All sessions ended with a round table discussion and exchange with the audience.
Finally Apostolos Belokas, Forum Chairman thanked the delegates for their participation, the sponsors for their support and the speakers for their excellent presentations and also the organizing team of the event for their contribution towards forum objectives.
All speaker videos will be uploaded on the web within the next week, while you may find more details of the event, view photos or request speaker presentations of the Forum in PDF and DVD athttp://www.safety4sea.com/forum/9