Summit Schedule 2008
Wednesday 5 November
20.30 Welcome Party hosted by 
Thursday 6 November
08.30 Registration and coffee
09.30 Welcome and Introduction from the co-organisers
GILLIAN WHITTAKER, Athens Bureau Chief, TradeWinds
CHRISTOPHER HAYMAN, Chairman, Seatrade
09.40 Opening Address
ANASTASIS PAPALIGOURAS, The Minister of Mercantile Marine, The Aegean and Island Policy, Greece
10.00 Session 1
With volatile markets, the credit crunch, high operating costs and the increasing concerns of safety and crewing, what are the prospects for shipping?
Where are the markets headed?
Analysts and owners are predicting anything fro steady to doom as far as market movements in the foreseeable future are concerned. Can world leaders do enough to stave off a global recession and what are the implications for shipowners?
Where is the credit crunch leading?
By March this year more than 75% of Greek new buildings had already been financed with bank lending to Greek shipping reaching record levels in 2007. What will the end of 2008 bring and can the rest of the shipping world hope for equally generous treatment from the finance institutions?
TED PETROPOULOS, Managing Director, Petrofin SA
Shipbuilding capacity
New shipbuilding capacity and a record order book hint at looming overcapacity. But at the same time market players forecast contract cancellations and amendments as well as delivery delays.How is the new building situation unfolding?
NIGEL GARDINER, Managing Director, HP Drewry
11.20 Discussion open to the floor
11.40 Coffee break sponsored by 
12.10 Session 2
The cost of keeping going
Just as the industry learns to live with the consequences of oil price volatility and the implications for fuel costs, it must now also start to analyse the operating cost implications of IMO's deal on sulphur emissions from ships.
IAN ADAMS, Secretary General, International Bunkering Industry Association (IBIA)
Officers in short supply
With one commentator predicting the critical prospect of a 90,000 shortfall in officers by 2012, this puts crewing issues in the spotlight. With quality crew at a premium,what are the implications for Greek operators?
Capt HOWARD SNAITH, Marine Director, INTERTANKO
Training and retaining crew
In a competitive market for quality crews, how should operators approach the twin issues of training and the retention of quality crew? What is the likely pattern for crew costs in the medium term?
Capt MICHAEL ELWERT, Business Development Manager, BIMCO
13.10 Discussion open to the floor
13.30 Lunch sponsored by 
15.00 Session 3: Parliamentary-style debate:
‘This House believes that new shipbuilding capacity now coming on stream will see past slumps repeated’
Speakers for and against the motion will present their views, followed by a floor debate and a vote.
Chairman of the debate: NICHOLAS TSAVLIRIS, Principal, Tsavliris Salvage Group
Participants will include:
STAVROS HATZIGRIGORIS, Managing Director, Kristen Navigation Inc.
JEAN RICHARDS, Owner/Director, Quantum Shipping Services Ltd
PAUL SLATER, Chairman & CEO of First International Corp & Managing Director of Griffin Holding Group Inc
HARRY VAFIAS,Chairman & CEO, Stealth Shipping
MANOLIS VORDONIS, Executive Director, Thenamaris Ships Management Inc
ANTHONY ZOLOTAS, Director, Eurofin SA
17.30 Discussion period
Vote on the motion and chairman’s concluding remarks
18.00 Farewell drinks hosted by 
The conference programme may be subject to alterations