The 8th IHMA Congress in Cork will explore and address the changing landscape of ports and how these changes are redefining the role of harbour masters in the future. Addressing the theme, "Marine experience: Can we manage tomorrow's port without it?" the 2012 IHMA Congress will showcase technical and operational breakthroughs together with international case studies on the development and management of modern port and marine operations across the globe.
The Congress runs from the 14th to the 18th of May and takes in some fantastic learning and networking opportunities. From the traditional welcomes and first session on the role of the Harbour Master in port management and development to the closing site tour with lunch at Jameson Heritage Centre it promises to be a fantastic week.
The Congress will address the following key issues:
The role of the Harbour Master in port management and development
The legal powers of the Harbour Master in new commercial landscape
Managing the decline of nautical expertise in shipping and the port industry
Port performance, port competition and the Harbour Master
International harmonisation of port rules, regulations and procedures
Cost cutting, efficient and safe operations in tomorrow's port
Programme;
Monday 14th May 2012, 08.00-17.30 1st congress day
Monday 14th May 2012, 18.00 Congress Welcome Reception
Tuesday 15th May 2012, 08.30-17.10 2nd congress day
Tuesday 15th May 2012, 17.30 Exhibition Networking Drinks
Wednesday 16th May 2012, 08.30-17.10 3d congess day
Wednesday 16th May 2012, 17.10 Launch of the revised edition of The Work of the Harbour Master
Wednesday 16th May 2012, 19.00 Official Congress Dinner
Thursday 17th May 2012, 08.30-10.40 4th congress day
Thursday 17th May 2012, 11.10-16.00 IHMA OGM
Thursday 17th May 2012, 16.30-18.00 Combined IHMA ExCo / Council meeting
Friday 18th May 2012, 09.00-14.30 Technical Site Tour
During the build up to the event a number of key speakers and IHMA members have been interviewed by the Congress team;
Capt. Kevin Richardson highlighted the importance of the role of Harbour Masters to the marine industry as a whole and how they play a pivotal role in keeping the worlds’ trade gateways moving.
His motto was "Keep it moving….. but keep it safe!" as the Harbour Master tirelessly works to balance the delicate equilibrium between demand and uplift. “Get it wrong and there are either huge shipping delays or huge terminal traffic delays and probably both.”
Most recently the Chief Harbour Master of the River Thames, Cmdr. David Phillips also spoke on the equilibrium that needs to be struck between the many user groups that utilize one of the UK’s key waterways, especially in such a busy year for London and the Thames.
These insights are just a taster as to what will be covered during the Congress week. The IHMA looks forward to welcoming you all to Cork in May.
Latest News & Events
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has welcomed the commitment of 12 countries to facilitate crew changes and achieve key worker designation for seafarers, following a virtual ministerial summit hosted by the UK Government on 9 July. This step represents significant progress to help resolve a growing crisis facing the maritime industry, and enable hundreds of thousands of stranded seafarers to go home or join ships.
In a joint statement, representatives from 12 countries expressed their deep concern about the current crisis and acknowledged that “the inability of ship operators worldwide to conduct ship’s crew changes is the single most pressing maritime operational challenge to the safe and efficient movement of global trade”.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and border closures imposed by Governments around the world have caused significant hurdles to crew changes and left hundreds of thousands of seafarers stranded onboard ships, or unable to join ships. It is currently estimated that at least 200,000 seafarers worldwide are stranded on ships and require immediate repatriation, and a similar number urgently need to join ships to replace them. This has led to a growing humanitarian crisis, in addition to concerns that seafarer fatigue and mental health issues may lead to serious maritime accidents. There are also concerns about the continuity of the global supply chain.
French container carrier, CMA CGM has announced its intention of launching a new product called Round the Africa (RTA) service to add to and complement the current 31 CMA CGM services already operating to sub-Saharan Africa.
A bit of a misnomer, the service is unique in terms of providing a direct service from Asia to Senegal and Sierra Leone along with best transit times, as well as calls to other selected West African ports.
Dakar is reached weekly from Ningbo in 35 days, from Nansha in 32 days. Freetown (Sierra Leone) is reached in 35 days from Nansha. The service offer to Tema (Ghana) is improved with three weekly departures.
‘Our exporters from West Africa will benefit of excellent transit time and direct service to China. Shanghai is reached in 29 days from Abidjan, 31 days from Tema, 36 days from Freetown and 39 days from Dakar,’ says the line in a statement.
One is left to assume the Round Africa part comes from the ships returning to Asia via the Cape of Good Hope.
Round the Africa service rotation is as follows:
Shanghai – Ningbo – Nansha – Singapore – Malta – Tanger – Dakar – Freetown – Tema – Abidjan – Port Kelang – Shanghai
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