Delegates Join Online Meeting Using Credentials Provided at Registration

14.00-14.05

Welcome Address

Presenter: Daniel Creasey, Managing Director, Cannon Events

14.05-14.30

Keynote Address: Asia’s Growing Influence in Sustainable Marine Insurance

Our seafarers have suffered, a problem which still needs to be solved and against the 2020 backdrop, sustainability in a shipping context is now more important than ever. Asia’s contribution is vital to improving safety and well-being, tackling environmental and climate risks and preventing accidents.

Presenter: Rolf Thore Roppestad, Chief Executive Officer, Gard AS

14.30-14.50

Keynote Address: The Impact of Covid-19 on Shipping

In this keynote address, the Secretary General will talk about the impact of Covid-19 on the shipping sector. In particular, its impact on seafarers and the need to facilitate crew changes and the vaccination of seafarers, the significance of shipping for post-Covid-19 recovery, the IMO’s role as the global regulator of shipping, as well as the major challenges for the future of shipping: digitalization, facilitation and efficiency of shipping, security and piracy, climate change and reduction of GHG emissions from shipping.

Presenter: Kitack Lim, Secretary General, International Maritime Organisation

14.50-15.50

Panel Discussion: Keeping the Crew Safe and Healthy

With an estimated 400,000 seafarers (many from Asia) stranded on their ships in December 2020 and unable to be repatriated because of Covid-19, it is any wonder that crew wellbeing has shot to the top of the agenda for many? Suicide rates have escalated and for many crew unable to join ships, they have been forced to change career paths to find much-needed work. Solutions to the crisis include working with governments to prioritise seafarers and a global network of crew change hubs, as well as the Neptune Declaration, signed by hundreds of shipping entities with the promise to address the key problems. This session looks at the scale of the problem and efforts to alleviate the plight of seafarers across Asia.

Moderator: Kunal Pathak, Loss Prevention Manager Asia, Gard Singapore

Speakers: Chirag Bahri, Director of Regions, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)

Dr. Rachel Glynn-Williams, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Qwest Maritime/Recall Recover 

Chris Hall, Managing Director, Hong Kong, The American Club

Kenneth Lim, Assistant Chief Executive (Industry), Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)

Nicola Mason, Senior Vice President, Deputy Head, Skuld Hong Kong, Skuld (Far East) Ltd

15.50-16.15

Networking Session

During this time, a managed peer-to-peer networking session will take place.

16.15-17.00

Panel Discussion: Enabling a Sustainable Industry

Back in December 2020, the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) launched an updated Roadmap to a Sustainable Shipping Industry, stressing that there is a clear need to reshape the way all shipping, including Asian interests, operates. From a changing climate and the need for rapid decarbonisation by 2050, to increased scrutiny and pressure from investors, lenders and other financial stakeholders to improve sustainability performance, and to the labour and human rights risks faced by seafarers worldwide, this session will explore how the Asian shipping sector is changing and highlight the changes to come.

Moderator: John Gibson, Director of Asia, Marine Engineer, Brookes Bell

Speakers: Capt.Simon Bennett, General Manager – Sustainable Development, The China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd

Quentin Drew, Claims Director (Vietnam & China), West of England P&I Club

Johan Munir, Global Director, Corporate Strategy and Planning, AET

Live Jacob Sydness, Vice President, Sustainable Business, Gard AS

17.00-18.00

Roundtable Discussion hosted by Jensen Hughes Forensics

Roundtable Discussion hosted by HFW

Fire at Sea: Towards Safer Ships

Whilst marine total losses have declined over the past year, the number of reported incidents has increased. The fire peril is still a significant issue that resulted in five total losses in 2019. The loss of life and cost to the industry is significant. In recent years, the marine industry has seen a renewed vigour to tackle the scourge of fire at sea. Industry initiatives include the 2019 MOU Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Maersk and others taking a more risk-based approach to the stowage of dangerous cargo, but is the industry doing enough? This roundtable discussion will explore the question of what more can the industry do to reduce the risk from fire peril? 

Moderator: Chris Beesley, Executive Chairman, C Solutions Consultants (S) Pte Ltd

Speakers: Ian Barr, Director, London P&I Club

Capt. Nitin Chopra, Senior Risk Consultant – Marine Risk Consulting Asia Pacific,

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE Singapore Branch

Marc Duck, Associate Director Marine, Cargo & Stock Throughput, Howden Specialty 

Andrew Glen, Director (Loss Prevention – Singapore), North of England P&I Club

John Gow, Technical Director, Marine & Q&A – Senior Investigator, Jensen Hughes

Jarek Klimczak, Master Mariner, Senior Risk Consultant APAC Marine, AXA XL Risk Consulting

Hendrike Kühl, Policy Director, International Union of Marine Insurance

Jonathan Ranger, Head of Marine APAC, AIG

Seafarer Safety – Issues Surrounding Crew Welfare Beyond the Pandemic

A global pandemic, border closures, trade wars and quarantine restrictions have disrupted the lives of nearly 2 million seafarers worldwide. 2020 has shown that crew welfare and keeping seafarers safe, happy and healthy is of the utmost importance. This roundtable will explore and discuss the issues that impact crew welfare at sea today for companies, seafarers and shipowners alike.

Moderator: Christopher Chan, Partner, Hong King, HFW

Particpants: Jason Chen, Manager, Wisdom Lines (Asia) Pte Ltd

Surani de Mel, Claims Manager, Singapore, TheShipowners’ Club

Casper Meland, Chief Executive Officer, Marine Benefits AS

Capt. Soma Nair, Director – Fleet Personnel,Anglo-Eastern Ship Management

Dimitris Seirinakis, Managing Director, Shanghai, The American Club

Robert Spearing, Master Mariner, Singapore, HFW

18.00

End of Day One

Delegates Join Online Meeting Using Credentials Provided at Registration

14.00-14.05

Welcome Address

Presenter: Daniel Creasey, Managing Director, Cannon Events

14.05-14.30

Keynote Address: Digitalisation: Leading Marine Insurance Practitioners Accelerate Transformation

A growing number of insurers, P&I clubs and brokers are adopting machine learning and AI to digitise their marine hull and cargo insurance operations. Find out how the latest digital tools are helping organisations to improve compliance, operational efficiency, optimise portfolios and uncover new revenue streams.

Presenter: Mike Davies, Client Development Director, Asia Pacific, Concirrus

14.30-15.15

Panel Discussion: Market Dynamics – A Hard Year for Everyone?

2020 was the year in which many insurance markets around the world pushed hard for rate increases to achieve sustainability in their books of business. The Asian marine market was no different. This session explores how the renewals have panned out and whether insurers have achieved a better balance between premium costs and claims payments. It also considers

whether the pandemic has hindered business development and how the insurance sector has been able to sustain its workforce in terms of training, mentoring and recruitment.

Moderator: Toby Stephens, Partner, HFW

Speakers: Tom Hellebø, Chief Executive Officer, Edge Singapore

Ju-Ann Lee, Head of Marine – Asia, Berkley Insurance Asia

Tom Shinya, Deputy General Manager, Tokio Marine (Japan)

Michael Walls, Managing Director, Marsh JLT Specialty

15.15-15.30

Networking Session

During this time, a managed peer-to-peer networking session will take place.

15.30-15.50

Presentation: Global Trade Patterns – Smooth Sailing in Choppy Waters

The cost of shipping goods from China to Europe more than quadrupled in the first eight weeks of 2021.Shipping a 40-foot container from Asia to northern Europe is reported to have increased from about $2,000 in November to more than $9,000, as western demand for Asian-made goods rebounded in the second half of 2020. By contrast, the cost of shipping from China to the US has plateaued since October after the Chinese government asked shipping companies to cap their rates. This session reviews the emerging global trading patterns as Covid-19 continues to disrupt the markets.

Presenter: Benedikt Rauch, Economist, Munich Re

15.50-16.10

Presentation: Piracy – Guarding the Rails

2020 saw a year-on-year increase in global piracy, with a record 130 crew kidnapped in the Gulf of Guinea and a continuing rising trend of armed robberies against vessels in the Singapore Strait. Amid increasing calls for government action, shipping companies are adding their voice to concerns that not enough is being done to keep seafarers safe. This session looks at the scale of the problem in Asian waters, the reasons behind the increasing risks and what can be done to protect vessels and crew.

Presenter: Dimitris Seirinakis, Managing Director, Shanghai, The American Club

16.10-17.00

Panel Discussion: Geopolitics and Sanctions – Time for Change?

With a new man in the White House, experts are predicting changes to come in the political map of the world, with plenty of implications for Asia and Asian trade. Alongside the new wind sweeping in, sanctions continue to be imposed on ‘miscreants’ from across the region. This session looks at the geopolitical influences for 2021 and at the changing nature of sanctions across the region.

Moderator: Karnan Thirupathy, Partner, Kennedys

Speakers: Andrew Meadows, Vice President, Head of FDD, Skuld Hong Kong

Ben Chandler, Senior Claims Executive, Standard Club Asia

Mark Church, Director (FD&D) and Head of Sustainability, North of England P&I Club

Marc Duck, Associate Director Marine, Cargo & Stock Throughput, Howden Specialty

Alexander Neill, Director, Alexander Neill Consulting

17.00-18.00

Roundtable Discussion hosted by Concirrus

Roundtable Discussion hosted by Quadrant Chambers

How will the Marine Ecosystem be Impacted by Digital Insurance?

Digital tools are on the rise in marine and wider specialty insurance. During the roundtable we will discuss how automation, digital submissions and algorithms will impact shipowners, brokers, and (re)insurers.

Moderator: Oliver Milochewsky, Client Development Director, Asia Pacific, Concirrus

Chris Coupland, Regional Marine Leader – Asia, Marsh JLT Specialty

Michael Gourlay, Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director, QBE Asia

Tom Hellebø, Chief Executive Officer, Edge Singapore

Wanshi Lin, Marine Underwriter, Markel

Nick March, Senior Vice President, Head, Skuld Singapore

Through the Looking Glass – The Current and Likely Emerging Trends in Terms of the Impact of Sanctions on Marine Insurance?

Our panel of distinguished speakers from Singapore and London will discuss topical issues regarding the changing global environment for enforcement of sanctions and their impact on the Asian market. Drawing on their experience and expertise, the panellists will highlight how Singaporean and English law provide solutions to the problems encountered by insurers, their customers and advisers. Through an interactive discussion and analysis of a case study, the panel will consider: What are the critical sanctions regimes for those trading in the Asian market and their insurers? Are the key players in the sanctions environment changing? What are the key legal issues within the Asian insurance market in relation to sanctions? Where does one look for guidance to help resolve those key legal issues? Are their differences in approach between English law and Singaporean law in relation to the enforcement of sanctions?

Moderator: Nigel Cooper QC, Barrister, Quadrant Chambers

Participants: Bazul Ashhab, Managing Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution, Oon & Bazul

Michael Davey QC, Barrister, Quadrant Chambers

Benjamin Seow, Deputy Director (Claims) Singapore, North of England P&I Club

18.00

End of Day Two

Delegates Join Online Meeting Using Credentials Provided at Registration

14.00-14.05

Welcome Address

Presenter: Daniel Creasey, Managing Director, Cannon Events

14.05-15.30

Panel Discussion: Managing the Cargo Flow

The World Shipping Council reports that an average 1,380 containers have been lost overboard each year since 2008. While the number seems small, much more can be done to reduce those losses still further. At the same time, changing regulations on top of the Covid-19 pandemic have caused major disruption to the flow of cargo around the world. Asia has borne the brunt of many of the losses and upheaval, as this session explores.

Moderator: Danny Chua, Senior Partner, Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP

Speakers: Jacob Damgaard, Associate Director -Loss Prevention, Britannia P&I

Michel Muganza, Head of Marine Cargo, Asia Pacific, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty

Jonathan Ranger, Head of Marine APAC, AIG

Harry Taylor, Head of Marine Liability Singapore, Zurich

15.30-15.45

Networking Session

During this time, a managed peer-to-peer networking session will take place.

15.45-16.30

Panel Discussion: Prevention Is Better than Cure

Risk management has come of age in the past decade as shipping companies across the world recognise the importance of minimising losses wherever possible. Even the Covid-19 pandemic has failed to dampen the desire to improve loss safety records and to minimise all forms of shipping losses. This session looks at the pattern of losses across Asia and at the initiatives being put in place to change that picture.

Moderator: Toby Stephens, Partner, HFW

Speakers: Matt Cannock, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, MatthewsDaniel

Snorre Halvorsen, Senior Advisor, Loss Prevention and Emergency Response, Norwegian Hull Club

Jarek Klimczak, Master Mariner, Senior Risk Consultant APAC Marine, AXA XL Risk Consulting

Tony Betteridge, Head of Marine, Asia, Munich Re Syndicate

16.30-17.15

Panel Discussion: Claims Trends in Asia

Large shipping losses declined by more than 40% in 2018 and by more than 20% in 2019, according to the annual Allianz Shipping Loss Survey. The bad news is that the number of shipping incidents overall is up, as is the number of claims from navigation and machinery issues. As this session explores and as Allianz reports, “Big claims happen and that is why we have insurance, but it’s the little losses that eat your lunch.”

Moderator: Punit Oza, Executive Director, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration

Speakers: Cedric Declercq, APAC Practice Leader and Claims Manager Specialty Lines, AXA XL 

David Lim, Chief Executive Officer – Retail, Singapore, Head of Marine, Asia Pacific, Ed Broking

Masamichi Yokoyama, Senior Claims Manager, Gard Tokyo

Surani de Mel, Claims Manager, Singapore, TheShipowners’ Club

17.15-18.00

Roundtable Discussion hosted by Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP

A Marine Insurance User’s Wishlist

Marine insurance is an essential element in facilitating shipping and international trade. Without insurance, both of these things would be vastly different to how they are today. We are always reminded of how important insurance is when a case like the Ever Given hits our industry, however insurance is a cost element in a shipping business. Cost-benefit analysis must be weighed, and needs of users constantly change as the business of shipping evolves. Join this roundtable discussion with users of marine insurance as they express their experiences, expectations and wishlist for the marine insurers.

Moderator: John Sze, Deputy Managing Partner, Joseph Tan Jude Benny LLP

Participants: Alexander Gray, Head of Marine P&I, Lockton Companies (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Amanda Hastings, Legal Counsel, Western Bulk Pte Ltd

Ravi Muthusamy, Head – Legal, Claims & Insurance, X-Press Feeders

Julien Rabeux, Senior Claims Manager, West of England P&I Club

Brian Zhu, Head of Legal, Unipec Singapore

18.00

End of Conference