23 March - 26 March
Clarion Hotel Helsinki, Finland
The inaugural Nordic-Baltic Maritime Forum in Helsinki will be a landmark gathering of maritime leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the Nordic-Baltic Eight: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.
The NBMF conference will consider how Nordic-Baltic countries are harnessing their individual strengths in shipping, technology, energy production, digitalisation and port operations, together with a strong heritage in shipbuilding and maritime resilience, to collectively offer innovative, leading-edge solutions to address the global challenge of maritime decarbonisation and wider environmental sustainability imperatives.
Across a series of focused panel discussions and keynote speeches, the conference will examine progress on meeting GHG reduction targets through the prism of pragmatism. With a currently complex world outlook, where shipping is having to constantly adapt to geopolitical realities and economic and trade volatility, and a continuing absence of consensus on a global regulation to reduce its GHG emissions, speakers will consider how the maritime sector – from a Nordic-Baltic and global perspective – is keeping momentum going on the connected issues of decarbonisation and modernisation.
If you feel you could make a significant contribution to the programme, please email Lesley Bankes-Hughes at [email protected] or call +44 1295 814455 to discuss this further.
Programme details are updated regularly and are subject to change as new speakers are confirmed and themes developed.
Early Bird: £695 (Ends 30 January)
Delegate Price: £1,095
Keynote presentations which address the key short- and longer-term challenges/opportunities for shipping, energy producers, port and technology companies in relation to decarbonisation and also commercial challenges, such as the potential impact on trade flows due to any future major shifts to deglobalisation.
Speakers in this session will consider some of the ‘drivers’ in place which are intended to support and accelerate maritime’s energy transition, capacity building and competitiveness. Referencing Nordic-Baltic initiatives and ‘mechanisms’, the discussion will centre on regulation, finance provision and the intentions (and outcomes) of collaboration and partnerships, including knowledge and innovation hubs and green shipping corridors. How effective are these ‘catalysts’ proving to be?
Shipowners and operators will be at the centre of this session where panellists will discuss their decision-making strategies on fuel and technology choices, fleet renewal and retrofits, regulatory compliance, crew retention and upskilling. How do owners, particularly the small and mid-size companies, balance these issues and future-proof their businesses whilst working within an always unpredictable commercial environment.
How, for example, can shipowners provide future fuel producers with the demand signals they need to take FIDs on fuel projects. What insights and experiences can Nordic-Baltic owners and operators share with others in the global industry, particularly when taking a view on financing newbuilds, retrofits and vessel optimisation.
This session will focus on Nordic-Baltic expertise and innovation in key areas such as technology, software, digitalisation, offshore infrastructure, marine equipment, and shipbuilding. These sectors are the ‘fabric’ of the shipping and wider maritime sectors, and are key contributors to national and regional economic growth.
Panellists will consider how industrial policy is supporting these key maritime sectors and how the Nordic-Baltic technology and industrial base is positioning itself to secure global business and partnerships. Collaboration is supporting the evolution of traditional and clean tech industries in the shipping and port sectors, but how are Nordic-Baltic maritime stakeholders moving forward to establish international commercial connections and partnerships. What is the Nordic-Baltic USP?
While shipping and maritime energy and technology sectors are positioning themselves to do business in a commercial landscape that increasingly requires environmental accountability, ports continue their critical role as the entry and exit points for maritime cargo, ferries and cruise ships, etc., and their operations underpin national logistics and industrial infrastructure.
But, like other maritime sectors, ports are also evolving to meet the needs of the global – and shipping’s – energy transition, and they are also at the forefront of innovation in developing smarter, more efficient and sustainable operations.
This session will discuss the strategies and approaches of Nordic-Baltic ports in relation to new energy storage, bunkering, shore power provision, carbon capture, and more efficient, greener operations. Panellists will discuss how ports in the region are leading a global discussion on redefining the critical role of ports, from an operational, commercial, and energy-aware perspective.
In this last session of the NBMF, industry leaders representing each of the eight Nordic-Baltic countries will discuss how national skillsets and strengths in maritime’s energy transition and technology innovation can contribute individually and collaboratively to energise global dialogue, encourage global knowledge sharing, and forge international commercial partnerships.
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