Caribbean Shipping Executives’ Conference set for in-person staging in May

The Caribbean Shipping Executives’ Conference (CSEC) will return to an in-person format in May, after two years of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference will be staged in Miami, Florida, United States of America, from May 2 to 3, according to the organiser, Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA). However, the venue for the 20th staging is yet to be announced.

The face-to-face staging was hinted at during the CSA’s recent annual general meeting and conference held in Miami in January, but confirmed, along with its traditional May dates, by the regional body on Thursday.

The CSEC conference which was scheduled for St Lucia in 2020 was cancelled at the onset of the pandemic, with the organiser noting that an assessment of the crisis necessitated the decision. It was moved to a virtual staging the following year as the virus continued to impact the world. Prior to that, its last physical staging was in Kingston in 2019.

However, with the availability of vaccines and a decline in infections and fatalities, the decision was made to stage the conference responsibly, and in keeping with local health guidelines, as the maritime industry moves towards recovery.

The summit is renowned for bringing together hundreds of the region’s leading shipping executives and other decision-makers from across the globe.

Terminal operator Kingston Wharves Limited was also announced as a sponsor of the two-day event.

The Caribbean Shipping Association was founded in 1971 to enable the development of the regional maritime industry. Today, it represents over 100 members as it facilitates enterprise growth, professional development and training, and the exchange of specialised information.