Successful 2010 P&E conference in Hamburg

Delegates enjoyed a varied and topical two-day programme, focussing on the currently important issues of emissions control, ship efficiency, and fuels. Those attending were drawn from technical personnel in ship owning and managing companies, the shipbuilding and ship machinery industries, and industry and regulatory bodies. Initial feedback suggests that in general those attending were impressed by the content and relevance of the presentations; the organising team had worked to ensure that papers contained useful information rather than merely company promotion.

As always, the organisers tried to attract papers which gave a novel slant on the established themes of the conference; this year’s ‘out of the ordinary’ topic was in the session dealing with design of efficient ships, and dealt with the advantages of using epoxy pipework rather than the normal steel. Marc Groenewoud of Future Pipe Industries demonstrated the potential weight savings, and hence fuel savings, as well as other benefits such as reduced maintenance – a simple way to make ships more efficient that may not have occurred to many of those present.

Other highlights included a keynote address from Joachim Konrad, Deputy Chairman of shipowner Hamburg Süd giving the shipowner perspective. Topics covered included fuels, greenhouse gases, exhaust after-treatment, lubrication, propellers, diesel electric systems, engine design, and ship design and equipment. The conference ended with a panel discussion involving shipowners TT-Line, ship manager Ahrenkeil, classification society Germanischer Lloyd and emissions organisation SEAaT.

An important feature was the gala dinner, held at the new home of the world’s largest private collection of maritime artefacts, in Hamburg’s oldest preserved warehouse. After a museum tour and the meal, guests were treated to a football-themed entertainment from Castrol, in recognition of the company’s sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. German football legend Lothar Matthäus answered questions put by TV presenter Charlotte Jackson and afterwards met the conference delegates.

Following the success of the Hamburg event, it is now full ahead for the 2011 conference in Copenhagen.