Next Monday the Maritime CEO Forum returns to Singapore for the fourth time with a very strong line up of panellists as well as some new content. In addition to the traditional dry bulk and tanker panels plus a quick-fire Q&A with a leading analyst and a digital session, prior to the main forum kicking off there will be a special IMO 2020 workshop, held in association with Cockett Marine Oil.
Designed to tell owners and operators exactly where they need to be in terms of preparation for the sulphur cap by the end of this month, the workshop will serve as a useful checklist for those who still do not have a firm timeline of what their staff and ships will need to have ready shortly in order to comply with the global sulphur cap, which kicks in just 274 days’ time.
On the panel moderated by Splash editor Sam Chambers will be Cem Saral, CEO, Cockett Marine Oil, Alan Hatton, CEO, Foreguard Shipping, Rahul Choudhuri, managing director of Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) and Carl Schou, the president of Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
Primarily aimed at owners who have opted to go down the low sulphur fuel (LSFO) route, which is around 90% of the global fleet, the workshop will analyse costs, training requirements and maintenance issues among a host of topics in what will be a packed hour-long session.
“Owners should already be planning change management to LSFO with regard cleaning of tanks and bunker management,” Wilhelmsen’s Schou tells Splash, explain a ship’s trading pattern will now need to be known for the coming few months to identify when and where it will fill with LSFO for the first time.
Schou also said it was vital owners start budgeting now for sufficient spares to cater for LSFO and they will also need to find out know whether any modifications to their vessel engines are required.
Schou maintained that in talks with his clients there was in general an air of calm as the days tick down to the sulphur cap, a point of view not 100% shared with Choudhuri, who heads up fuel tester VPS.
Choudhuri suggested the big names in the industry were well set for IMO 2020, but smaller owners appeared to have plenty to do.
“ It is not entirely clear what the rest wants to do or how they will be sufficiently prepared,” Choudhuri said.
Saral from fuel reseller Cockett ahead of the workshop urged owners and managers to up their game in terms of crew training.
As a reseller we are very worried about a high potential of claims surrounding 0.5% fuel qualities that are actually onboard handling issues,” Saral told Splash. “End-users will likely be quick to blame fuel quality rather than onboard handling.”
Full reports from the workshop plus every session at the Maritime CEO Forum at the iconic Fullerton Hotel, kicking off Singapore Maritime Week next Monday, will be carried on Splash.
Maritime CEO Forum Singapore is sponsored by AVS Global Ship Supply, Cobham, Cockett Marine Oil, Dualog, Inmarsat, Liberian Registry, Lloyd’s Register, Marlink, ShipServ, Veritas Petroleum Services and Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
