A New World of Opportunities

The two day conference, exhibition and social programme will focus on the development of the cruise industry in Latin America addressing opportunities and challenges, including increasing both source and international passenger numbers, developing new itineraries and shore excursions and port development.

Launched by Seatrade in 2011, The Seatrade Latin America Cruise Convention delivers a strategically important platform for the development of regional cruise tourism in Latin America.

Contact us

Latin America

Christophe Cahen
Regional Manager
ccahen@seatrade-global.com 
+ 57 317 501 69 44

Argentina

Ricardo Marengo
Agent
rmarengo@seatrade-global.com 
+ 54 11 4311 9854

Brazil

Claudia Combothanassis
Agent
Claudia@seatrade-global.com 
+ 55 22 99827 3721

Venezuela

Jorge Luis Rojas
Agent
jrojas@seatrade-global.com 
+58 414 911 6115

Ministers to address industry leaders at inaugural Saudi Maritime Congress

Government heads of transport and of economy & planning, to highlight opportunities in Kingdom’s ports and shipping sector as region’s largest economy looks to maritime industry to support economic growth

HE Dr. Jubarah Bin Eid Al-Suraiseri, Minister of Transport will deliver the keynote address to more than 200 maritime professionals at the inaugural Saudi Maritime Congress, which takes place on 25-26 November 2014 at the Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers. The minister will head a line-up of 15 top industry leaders, international analysts and academics with an insightful session on the Kingdom’s current economic outlook.

The event which is being organised by Seatrade, in strategic partnership with Saudi shipping giant Bahri and held under the patronage of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Transport and the Saudi Ports Authority, will also feature a high level opening panel session, debating the investment strategies being implemented (in Saudi Arabia) to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding economy.

To discuss this critical path, a panel of eminent speakers have agreed to participate including HE Dr Mohammed Al Jasser, Minister of Economy & Planning, HE Eng. Abdul Aziz Mohammed Al Tuwaijri, President, Saudi Ports Authority, and Saleh N. Al Jasser, Chief Executive Officer of Bahri.

“Saudi Arabia is experiencing exponential growth across its ports and shipping network with a healthy US$30 billion pipeline of sea and land mega-projects under the government’s current five-year plan and a total investment of US$100 billion through to 2020. With the recent news of plans for development of a world-class maritime yard following the MoU signing between Saudi Aramco and the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and Sembcorp Marine Ltd., the Kingdom is moving towards a new era in maritime services and the congress is a timely platform for high level industry discussion,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, the organiser of the Saudi Maritime Congress.

A series of focused panel discussions and presentations will offer an insight into key aspects of the region’s dynamic maritime sector, including an overview of offshore oil and gas development in the Red Sea, Gulf and the Kingdom on day one with Saleh Al-Jasser, CEO of The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) providing a pertinent analysis of this rapidly growing sector in light of the launch of the company’s gas and offshore business unit.

Al-Jasser will be joined by Mark Long, Global Head of Transport, Shipping, Services & Offshore at HSBC Bank; Khaled Hashim, Managing Director of Precious Shipping Company; and session chairman, Abdul Rahman Al Rashid, former Chairman of Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce; to discuss ways in which domestic, regional and international companies can partner with Saudi government companies in the offshore sector.

The ‘Careers in Shipping’ session on day two will address the Kingdom’s pressing need to create some three million jobs for Saudi nationals by 2015 as per the Saudi Ministry of Labour, with the maritime sector an obvious driver for long term career opportunities.

Dr. Malcolm Willingale from the Cambridge Academy of Transport in the UK will lead a panel of local experts in exploring how Saudi Arabia's FDI inflow, which stood at US$ 12.2 billion in 2012 according to the UN World Investment Report 2013, can be used to help to create new jobs in the maritime, trade and logistics sectors.

“The Gulf’s position as an emerging hub for maritime services excellence and world-class facilities is bringing a wealth of new opportunities to the region’s operators and international investment to its shores. The Saudi Maritime Congress will offer key players from across the industry a unique environment in which to crystallise strategies, share innovative insight and build successful business relationships,” said Hayman.

Other session topics include discussions on Saudi Arabia’s changing regulatory environment and its expected impact on the industry, ship operations and security, a shipyard update and analysis current project opportunities, expansion and future development in the Kingdom, and logistics solutions for ports and terminals to meet the challenges of expanding cargo volumes and the role of automation in efficient port operations.

The confirmed list of speakers will welcome industry luminaries and thought leaders including Khalid Abdullah Al Ghamdi, General Manager for Freight and Project Logistics, Almajdouie Logistics Co., Saudi Arabia; Naeem Ibrahim Al-Naeem, Director General, King Abdulaziz Port; Anderson Goh, Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Global Ports Co LLC; Robert Houston, President, Mideast Ship Management Ltd; and Mark Long, Global Head of Transport, Shipping, Services & Offshore, HSBC Bank Plc.

The event will also be complemented by an associated exhibition including leading shipping lines, shippers, cargo owners, forwarders, logistic companies, port terminal operators, port equipment and service suppliers.

For more information, please contact, Emma Howell, Head of Marketing, Middle East, Seatrade Communications Ltd, ehowell@seatrade-global.com.

About Seatrade

Established over 40 years ago, Seatrade is a leader in maritime and cruise publications, conferences and exhibitions, training, awards and other special projects. Regular events include international trade exhibitions and conferences across all maritime sectors, management training courses for shipping professionals, training seminars for travel agents and maritime award schemes, including the prestigious Seatrade Middle East & Indian Subcontinent Awards held in Dubai annually. Seatrade publications include magazines, supplements and yearbooks, while daily maritime news is provided online by seatrade-global.com and seatrade-insider.com.

About the Saudi Port Authority

The Saudi Ports Authority serves the largest economy in the region, handling 95% of the exports and imports of the Kingdom (excluding crude oil). This represents 61% of the total cargo handled in the GCC states, managed through 210 Berths, distributed between nine commercial and industrial ports, respectively, 144 and 66 berths of various type, construction and purpose in the Kingdom.

The Saudi ports are subdivided into a number of independent terminals. There are separate terminals for handling containers, general cargo, frozen and chilled cargo, bulk cargo, Ro-Ro vessels, and livestock and further into terminal operational areas, equipment, warehouses, workshops, and open yards.

This specialization in work has led to increases in productivity and savings in operating costs, whilst providing better services. The Ports Authority has given high priority to mechanization by providing more than 3500 pieces of equipment that allow the ports to handle all types of cargo and offer services to all types of ships.

The SPA manages two ship repair yards namely King Fahd Ship Repair Yard in Jeddah port, and King Fahad Ship Repair Yard in Dammam port and both have attained their position in the field of ship maintenance.

Both yards are fully equipped with the most modern equipment and provide their services at competitive prices. Marine control towers have been built in all ports to the best international standards, to ensure the safest marine navigation.

About Bahri

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia better known today as ‘Bahri’ is listed in Tadawul, the Saudi Arabian Stock Exchange and has grown from a small shipping firm operating multipurpose vessels to become one of the biggest shipping conglomerates in the world. It is the first national carrier and continues to successfully stride the triumphant march in 35 years of its existence serving a strong VIP customer base from offices in Saudi Arabia, USA, United Arab Emirates, Europe and India.

Having started off its operations by transporting General Cargo and containers initially, during the course of its growth and development, the company's services have been expanded to include transportation of Crude Oil, Chemical, Liquefied Petroleum Gas "LPG"  and Dry Bulk in partnership with premier organisations: Saudi Aramco, Sabic, Petredec and Arasco.  As part of its diversification strategy Bahri has also recently entered the vibrant Gas and Offshore Marine Services sector.

Bahri’s fleet includes 17 VLCCs, 24 chemical tankers, 6 multipurpose Ro-Ro and 5 Dry Bulk carriers operating in the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Indian Subcontinent,  Mediterranean, Austrasia as well as along the US / Canada East Coast in service of respective client needs. The fleet is managed entirely by Bahri’s wholly owned subsidiary Mid-East Ship Management Ltd.

For more information log on to www.bahri.sa.

Seatrade Med Cruise Convention 

Register

http://www.cruiseshippingevents.com/med/press/media-policy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Seatrade+Communications+Limited&utm_campaign=4414338_MEd14-30EM+Press+Invite&dm_i=F9B,2MM4I,7VQGD5,9LMBQ,1