London International Shipping Week announced
London is to host its own International Shipping Week in 2013. Maritime industry leaders from across the globe will gather in London during the week of September 9 to 13, 2013, for meetings and events, concluding in a day-long Government and industry conference and gala dinner.
‘London International Shipping Week – Propelling World Trade’ is organised by Shipping Innovation – a joint venture between Elaborate Communications and Petrospot – in association with Maritime UK partners The Baltic Exchange, Maritime London and the UK Chamber of Shipping, and with TheCityUK, the independent promotional body for UK financial and professional services.
The UK is the leading centre worldwide in the supply of a broad range of professional and business services to the international maritime community, accounting for 21% of premiums in international marine insurance, over $64bn in committed ship finance (or 15% of the world loan book) and it has the largest concentration of legal service firms specialising in the sector.
London is also the predominant supplier of shipbroking services worldwide and is the major player when it comes to maritime dispute resolution.
A highlight of the week will be the one-day London International Shipping Week (LISW) Conference and Gala Dinner, to be held on Thursday September 12 where high level Government and industry speakers will give their views and considered opinions on shipping’s future and London’s role in helping shipping emerge from economic crisis. More details about the conference speaker line-up will be released in due course.
London International Shipping Week is an opportunity for the global shipping industry to network and individual companies and other representative trade bodies will be encouraged to participate throughout the week by holding their own seminars, executive meetings or receptions.
Welcoming the announcement of London International Shipping Week, Jeremy Penn, CEO of the Baltic Exchange and Vice Chairman of Maritime UK, said: “London has a wide range of influential international shipping trade associations headquartered here as well as being a centre of excellence for shipbroking, maritime insurance and finance.
“We look forward to welcoming all sectors of the international maritime community to London during the week. The industry is undergoing difficult times but we hope that this week will provide real impetus in propelling world trade and driving the recovery of world shipping.”
Doug Barrow, Chief Executive of Maritime London, said London International Shipping Week was the right vehicle to underline London’s role in maritime services and to promote London’s position as a maritime leader. “It is an opportunity for great networking with representatives across all maritime sectors,” he said.
Mark Brownrigg, Director General of the UK Chamber of Shipping, echoed these sentiments, saying the week of events would showcase the crucial role London plays in promoting and growing world trade. “It will offer high level networking opportunities for leaders across all sectors of the international shipping industry – from regulators to charterers, ship owners, ship managers, lawyers, ship brokers, bankers, insurers, ship suppliers, marine surveyors, bunker suppliers as well as ports and shipping service providers. It is set to become a firm fixture in the international shipping calendar,” he said.