ARACON 2023 CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Thursday 19 - Friday 20 October

Programme details are updated regularly and are subject to change as new speakers are confirmed and themes developed.

If you feel you could make a significant contribution to the programme, please email Lesley Bankes-Hughes at lesley@petrospot.com or call +44 1295 814455 to discuss this further.

 THURSDAY 19 OCTOBER

08:00

Registration & Exhibition Opens

Welcome Coffee
Silver Sponsor

SESSION ONE: THE VIEW FROM HERE: THE OUTLOOK FOR SHIPPING, GLOBAL TRADE AND THE BUNKER INDUSTRY

This session will set the scene for ARACON 2023 by focusing on the commercial, geopolitical and global trade drivers that are impacting shipping and the bunker industry. Following the market volatility caused by a global pandemic, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and current economic headwinds in many counties, what does business as usual look like for the bunker market in general – and the ARA market in particular?

09:00

Welcome to ARACON 2023
Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, Founder & CEO, Petrospot

Keynote Speech: Shipping Market Outlook
Mark Williams, Managing Director, Shipping Strategy Limited

Keynote Speech: The Bunker Industry Overview
Alexander Prokopakis, Executive Director, International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA)

SESSION TWO: CHECKS AND BALANCES: WHAT DOES COMPLIANCE WITH NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS MEAN FOR BUNKERING?

This session will take a deep dive into European environmental regulation, including FuelEU Maritime, and on a global scale, CII and EEXI requirements. Speakers will also consider the outcomes of MEPC 80, including decisions on fuel life cycle assessments and the introduction of market-based measures. as well as the changes to be expected in the much-anticipated revision of the ISO 8217 commercial specification, due to be published in early 2024. There will also be a focus on the sanctions put in place following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the impact that they have had on the ARA market.

10:00

Moderator: Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Managing Director, Petrospot

Decarbonisation Challenge: the Pathway to 2050
Benedetta D’Amato, Project Engineer, RINA Marine Consulting

Compliance and Contracts
Harald Søndergaard, Partner, Hafnia Law Firm

MFA at ARACON
Anthony Mollet, Executive Officer, Marine Fuels Alliance

Bunkering in a Post-Sanctions World
Rowan Staden-Coats, Managing Editor, EMEA Residual Fuels, S&P Global Commodity Insights

Panel Discussion / Q&A

11:00

Networking Coffee Break
Silver Sponsor

SESSION THREE: OUT WITH THE OLD, BUT WHAT IS THE NEW? THE COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK FOR BUNKERING

The bunker industry is said by many commentators to be on the cusp of change, but what does this mean in practice? Sanctions have forced the industry to look hard at its due diligence processes, and shipping’s decarbonisation will require new ways of working and new skill sets for traders and physical suppliers alike – and the ARA market will be a linchpin for the sale and purchase of new bunker fuels.

Geopolitical events pushed up the price of bunker fuel in 2022 and physical suppliers and traders posted bumper profits. However, current high interest rates will place a considerable burden on bunker companies borrowing money and offering credit to customers. Participants in this session will assess the credit landscape for the marine fuels sector.

Speakers will look at fuel quality trends and consider whether the ARA market really has begun to shed its reputation for short deliveries and fuel quality problems. This session will also introduce a key focus point for the bunkering and shipping sectors – the advent of digitalisation.

11:30

Moderator: Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, Founder & CEO, Petrospot

Shipping in the EU ETS & Credit Aspects – A New Era
Anna-Maria Fotinou, Senior Credit Manager, Island Oil Holdings (Ltd)

Shipergy’s Voyage; from Ships’ Decks to Tech Specs
Lina Molfetas, Senior Trader, Shipergy

Fuel Quality – The Peaks and the Troughs
Tracy Wardell, Global Technical Manager, Intertek Lintec

Challenges Fuelling Change? The current quality landscape & what may lie ahead
Chris Turner, Manager, Bunker Quality and Claims, Integr8 Fuels Inc

12:30

Networking Lunch
Gold Sponsor

SESSION THREE: CONTINUES

13:45

Moderator: Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Managing Director, Petrospot

Jeff Mildner, Maritime Digital Solutions, Vortex Development Group

Harmonising Measurement Practices for Transparency and Traceability
Daryl Lim, Quality Manager, Metcore International Pte Ltd

Digital Solutions for Smart Ships
Erwin Guerand, Business Development Director, Ascenz Marorka

Panel Discussion / Q&A

SESSION FOUR: THE FULL PICTURE: IS THE BUNKER INDUSTRY BECOMING MORE TRANSPARENT

Picking up on a very lively discussion about industry transparency at ARACON 2022, this session will ask whether the industry is becoming more supportive of the use of mass flow meters and digitalisation in bunker deliveries, and it will also update delegates on the plans by the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges to mandate the use of mass flow meters.

14:30

The Introduction of MFM Systems at the Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges: An Update

Pieter Bruins Slot, Manager Team Policy, Legislation and Enforcement, Harbour Master's Division, Port of Rotterdam
Laurens De Buck, Advisor, Harbour Master Affairs, Port of Antwerp-Bruges

15:00

Networking Coffee Break
Silver Sponsor

SESSION FOUR: CONTINUES 

15:30

Moderator: Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Managing Director, Petrospot

Kenneth Dam, Global Head of Bunkering, TFG Marine

Pablo Sansó, Head of Sales - EMEA, Minerva Bunkering

Compliance, Transparency & Efficiency
Daniel Kemp, Business Development Manager (Marine Fuel Solutions), Emerson Automation Solutions

Save Time and Money – Through Complete Digital Delivery
Martin Wold, Principal Consultant, DNV

Merten Traulsen, Head of Support Centre, Marine and Flow Solutions, Endress+Hauser

Panel Discussion and Q&A
Panellist:
Erwin Guerand, Business Development Director, Ascenz Marorka

17:00 - End of ARACON Day 1

19:00-20:00

Drinks Reception – Royal Maas Yacht Club  

20:00-23:00

ARACON Gala Dinner – Royal Maas Yacht Club
Diamond Sponsor

 FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER

08:30

Morning Coffee & Exhibition Opens
Silver Sponsor

SESSION FIVE: THE GREEN IMPERATIVE: THE PLACE OF THE BUNKER INDUSTRY IN SHIPPING’S DECARBONISATION

The new raft of bunker fuels will be up for discussion in this session, from those which currently have wider availability and take-up, such as LNG and biofuels, out to the more nascent markets for methanol, ammonia and hydrogen. Speakers will consider the challenges and opportunities for these fuels, availability of supply, market demand signals, and the credit outlook for these much more expensive energy sources. The role of the ‘traditional’ bunker trader and physical supplier will be considered in the context of a much more complicated supply landscape, as will the development of safety regulation and commercial specifications for new fuels.

The EU’s emission trading system (ETS), which will come into play for shipping in 2024, will be discussed and delegates will also be introduced to the world of carbon emissions trading.

09:15

Moderator: Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Managing Director Petrospot Ltd

Alternative fuels: A Global Update
Nigel Draffin, Lecturer, Consultant & Author

Update on Regulatory Developments and Alternative Fuels
Naeem Javaid, Marine Fuels Consultant, Lloyd’s Register

Low Emission Marine Fuels Today and Tomorrow
Sveta Ukkonen, Head of Marine Fuels and Services, Neste Oil Corporation

Low Carbon Fuels – Our Experience So Far
Steve Bee, Group Commercial & Business Development Director, VPS

10:30

Networking Coffee Break
Silver Sponsor

SESSION FIVE: CONTINUES 

11:00

Moderator: Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Managing Director, Petrospot

Decarbonising LNG
Christian Jones, Marine LNG Business Development Manager, Shell

Biofuels: A Drop-in Lower GHG Emission Fuel Alternative
Armelle Breneol, Marine Fuels Technical Advisor, ExxonMobil Product Solutions – Energy Products

Regulations and charterparties – are contracts overrated?
Cherry Almeida, Partner, Caland Advocaten

Panel Discussion / Q&A

SESSION SIX – THE SHIPPING FORECAST

In this always popular final panel discussion, maritime stakeholders will discuss the key themes, concerns and questions that have developed out of earlier sessions. They will also offer their own perspectives on the outlook for the ARA market, as well as global trends and challenges for the industry. Expect some straight-talking and lively exchanges – and bring plenty of questions!

12:00

Moderator: Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, Founder & CEO, Petrospot

Claudia Beumer, Global Account Manager, VT Group (Verenigde Tankrederij BV)
Leon van Duivendijk, Managing Director, Iver Ships B.V.
Michael Schaap, Commercial Director, Titan
Sebastiaan Verstappen, Bunker Procurement Manager, Wagenborg Shipping

Panel Discussion / Q&A

13:00

Networking Lunch
Gold Sponsor