Coastlink Annual Conference
Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
26 - 27 June
2007
Entitled "The role of short sea and feeder shipping in
the competitiveness of a country's economy", Coastlink's fourth annual
conference will look again at the threat of port congestion as China's port
expansion continues whilst Europe's stagnates. The role smaller ports can play
in alleviating the consequences of congestion in the major hubs will be
reviewed in detail.
This subject dominated Coastlink's first conference in
2004 but congestion became less of an issue in 2005 and 2006 due to measures
put in place by terminal operators and carriers, allied with some increase in
berth capacity, especially in Antwerp. Now, shipping lines have stated that
congestion will be a key issue in 2007 - 2008 and will be with us for some
years to come.
This has been endorsed by the Irish Marine Development
Office (IMDO), which has said this issue was Irish shippers' biggest worry
given that Ireland is so dependent on transhipment for its deep sea trades and
on the Benelux ports for access to the principal EU markets and Central Europe.
If this is true for Ireland, it certainly impacts on many other European
countries.
Coastlink's Deputy Chairman Gavin Roser said with the
carbon footprint on every corporate agenda, the conference is entitled to ask
"are we achieving modal transfer?". If not what steps does industry have to
take to change attitudes of shippers in the modes they use? And do shippers
have the range and frequency of short sea & feeder services they require to
retain competitiveness?
These and other questions dictate the theme of the
conference. Coastlink meetings are now well known throughout Europe for the
interaction between delegates and the positive results of networking. Speakers
include representatives from major shippers such as Danone and Diageo, shipping
lines and forwarders Hapag Lloyd and Kuehne & Nagel, and a range of port
and terminal operators including Cork, Dublin, Groningen, Tyne and PD Ports.
Government will be represented too, the IMDO's Director Glenn Murphy and the
European Commission's Jean Trestour, Head of Unit, DGTREN/G2, Maritime Policy,
lined up to make presentations and answer questions.
Coastlink has been the catalyst for a number of
initiatives in European maritime circles. Expect vibrant debate at our 2007
Annual Conference. For more information, see
www.coastlink.co.uk.
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