With over 300 registered participants representing 21 nationalities, who are about to hear out 53 speeches given by 59 speakers, and take part in 7 discussion panels during the 6th Transport Week that has just set off in Sopot (Poland), the conference seems to be one of the most interesting events this year in this part of Europe, Actia Forum said in its press release.
Each year the Transport Week gathers expert speakers and audience representing shipping lines, container, seaports and ro-ro shipping operators, seaports and terminal operators, local and EU authorities and various associations. This particular 6th edition of the event definitely represents a high-class meritorical agenda with many opportunities to discuss.
The Transport Week has set off on Tuesday, 8th March. The meeting was inaugurated by a perspective for the world of transport & logistics in 2050 given by Przemysław Myszka, Baltic Transport Journal’s Editor-in-Chief, followed by Johan Algell, the Vice President of SSPA Sweden who presented the challenges and opportunities in the ports and shipping sector.
Ioannis Mispinas, Project Officer for Environmental Protection of EMSA introduced to the subject of the SECA requirement featuring the monitoring systems of the implementation of Sulphur Directive in the EU countries. So, what was wrong with SECA? Well, first of all – the countries were not ready to police. Individual countries applied an individual approach to penalties. No one was eager to invest in a technology of uncertain future. However, the switchover came without problems. The MGO got cheaper and available since the very implementation of the rule, supported by the EU. What to look out for with the MRV then? Clear definition in implementing acts, significant data collection, timely readiness of verification mechanism and reporting plus common policing approach. This interesting viewpoint was presented by Poul Woodwall, the Director of Environment & Sustainability of DFDS Seaways, who was followed by Staffan Herlin from Finnlines, who excerpted the Finnlines experience of running a ro-ro and ferry business under the new emission rules.
The first day of Transport Week ended with a discussion panel on the “ports of the future” concept, moderated by Przemysław Myszka and Przemysław Opłocki from the Baltic Transport Journal. Experts invited to the floor: Julian Skelnik, Director Foreign Contacts and Public Relations, Port of Gdańsk Authority, Gun Rudeberg, Legal Counsel and Head of Environmental Affairs, Ports of Stockholm, and Krzysztof Gromadowski, Director International Cooperation and Public Relations, Port of Gdynia Authority.