MAJ, IBIA to host official opening of the IBIA Caribbean Bunker Conference

Robert Montague, minister of transport and mining, will be the keynote speaker at the official opening of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) Caribbean Bunker Conference being hosted by Maritime Authority of Jamaica in collaboration with IBIA under the theme ‘The Caribbean Journey to 2020 Compliance’. The conference will be held from September 10-12, 2019, at the Iberostar hotel in Montego Bay.

This conference follows on the success of the IBIA Conference held in Montego Bay in April 2018. It is positioned at a key point on the global IMO 2020 timeline, when many vessels will have just started their transition to 0.50 per cent sulfur bunker fuels, and is therefore one of the first events where delegates can benefit from this real-world experience of IMO 2020 sulphur cap impact.

The conference features an ambitious programme focusing on the Caribbean and related bunker markets, including the USA, Panama, and beyond. It will provide critical insight, training, and networking opportunities for all stakeholders, including shippers, carriers, agents, suppliers, traders, port authorities, regulators, non-governmental organisations, brokers, lawyers, surveyors and academics.

Key among the discussion points will be an exploration of the impact of the IMO 2020 sulphur regulation on bunker buyers, suppliers, and operators in the region, particularly with respect to compliance solutions, enforcement, and the availability of new fuels. In addition to providing an understanding into the cost to implement IMO 2020 from shippers to suppliers, the conference will also showcase the current regional bunkering infrastructure and look at what the future holds for the Caribbean and the Americas bunker markets.

The conference will also incorporate two capacity-building components. The first, a bunker training course for personnel operating in various spheres of the bunkering industry, to include legal and contractual issues. This will be conducted by renowned course director Nigel Draffin, IBIA board member and author of 12 books on bunkering. The second is an ethics workshop, geared toward policy development and its legal framework.

For further information on the conference, including topics, speakers and how to participate, please visit the link at https://shipandbunker.com/events/icbc#agenda.