The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is inviting its members, policy makers and stakeholders to join the 14th edition of its annual conference, which will be hosted by the Port of Barcelona. The event will take place on 1 and 2 June 2017 in the World Trade Center, nicely located at the seafront and within a stone’s throw from the Ramblas, ESPO said in its press release.
The Theme: ESPO opens the debate on what are probably the most challenging problems of today: the changing climate and the rising economic nationalism.
How to become a low-carbon port? How much time do we need for the energy transition? Are European ports and their infrastructure prepared for the storm? How far can a port authority go in enforcing low-carbon engagement?
How disruptive can new trade barriers be for ports? Is the business model of European ports changing? How to look at this rising economic nationalism at a time where the shipping lines, logistic operators and terminal operators are increasingly joining forces and setting up alliances? Should ports follow the example of their customers and join forces?
The confirmed speakers are:
Alan MURPHY, CEO and Partner, SeaIntel Maritime Analysis; Tim POWER, Managing Director, Drewry; Alvaro RODRÍGUEZ DE SANABRIA, The Climate Reality Project, Europe Branch, Regional Coordinator; Laurence GRAFF, Head of Unit, DG CLIMA, European Commission; Dario Bocchetti, Energy Manager, Grimaldi; Sergio BARBARINO, Research Fellow of Procter & Gamble Research & Development organization and Chairman of ALICE, the EU Innovation Platform for Logistics; Tom WOOD, BSc (Hons) MSc CEnv C.WEM; Rosa MARI DARBRA, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Prof Robert NICCHOLS, Tyndall Centre for Climate change Research; Frank VERSCHRAEGEN, Project Manager Energy & Blue Growth, DEME; Ewald BREUNESSE, Manager Energy Transition Shell The Netherlands; David WHITEHEAD, OBE; Dr. Christopher WOOLDRIDGE, Science Coordinator, EcoPorts; Sotiris RAPTIS, Ecoports Coordinator and Senior Advisor, ESPO; Frans DE KRUIF, Lead Assessor, Project Specialist, Lloyd Register; Olaf MERK, Ports and shipping expert of the International Transport Forum at the OECD; Dirk Sterckx, former journalist and former Member of the European Parliament; Merja KYLLÖNEN, Member of the European Parliament; Ramon TREMOSA, Member of the European Parliament; Daniela ROSCA, Head of Unit, Ports and Inland Waterways, DG MOVE, European Commission; Knut FLECKENSTEIN, Member of the European Parliament.
These panellists will enter in a debate with the ports. The following port representatives are already getting ready for the debate:
Eamonn O'REILLY, CEO, Port of Dublin and ESPO Chairman; Sixte CAMBRA I SÁNCHEZ, President, Port of Barcelona; Edvard MOLITOR, Senior Manager Environment, Port of Gothenburg, Chairman Sustainable Development Committee, ESPO; Roger SCHJERVA, Head of the Board, Port of Oslo; Francesco Maria DI MAJO, President, Port of Rome; Christine CABAU, CEO, Port of Marseille ; Gisli GISLASON, Port Director, Associated Icelandic Ports; Patrick KEATING, CEO Shannon Foynes Port Company; Carlos BOTANA LAGARON, Head sustainability Department, Port of Vigo; Clemence CHENG, Divisional Head, Hutchison Westports Limited; Jens MEIER, Managing Director, Hamburg Port Authority; Victor SCHOENMAKERS, Director Corporate Strategy, Port of Rotterdam; Jacques VANDERMEIREN, CEO, Port of Antwerp; Santiago GARCIA-MILÀ, Deputy Executive Director, Port of Barcelona; Daan SCHALCK, CEO, Port of Ghent.