29th IAPH World Ports Conference
The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) convened at its 29th World Ports Conference in Hamburg, Germany, 1-5 June 2015, under the theme of City of Hamburg Calling at the smartPORT, was successfully concluded, attracting more than 900 delegates, accompanying persons, guest speakers and exhibitors from across the world.
Mr. Gerd Leonhard, a world-renowned futurist, author, consultant and CEO of The Futures Agency, kicked off the conference sessions by delivering the keynote address entitled The digital Transformation of Business and Society, and its Impact on the Shipping, Ports and maritime Industries by 2030. By mentioning that humanity will change more in the next 20 years than in the previous 300 years, Mr. Leonhard spoke on the future of media, technology, business, and their impact on our daily life in a most provocative way, and commented The digital transformation of the ports and shipping is imminent, and sustainable will become the new profitable.
Working Sessions
The ensuing working sessions tuned out to be an excellent forum to learn the latest trends of intelligent port management/operations, clean port air solutions, port logistics, cruise, legal trends in global trade and others, in which some 50 guestspeakers and panel presenters recruited from around the world offered some very good food for thought for intelligent and strategic port management and operations. Topics included mega ships and their impact on the industry, challenges and solutions of smartPORT, clean port air, world tourism and cruise, legal trends in global trade and others.
New IAPH Leadership
On the final day of the conference, the IAPH torch was officially handed from Mr. Grant Gilfillan, Australia, IAPH president since 2013, to Mr. Santiago G. Milà, Deputy General Manager, Port of Barcelona, Spain. Its an honor and a privilege to be the president of IAPH, said Milà, and I am determined to expand IAPHs role and create more value for you. His CV is appended.
IAPH Hamburg Resolutions
At the plenary session held on 4 June, IAPH adopted two business resolutions to make its position clear on subjects of immediate concern, as follows:
- Resolution on urging ratification of the Hong Kong Convention
- Resolution on Establishing the IAPH Womens Forum Scholarship
Source and Image Credit: IAPH