Ninth Shipping Executives Conference a success

Executives in the regional shipping industry have declared the ninth Caribbean Shipping Executives Conference a success.

Held at the Marriott hotel in Willemstad, Curaçao, from May 17 to 19, more than 200 executives in the industry gathered to address the theme, 'Regional Integrated Maritime Strategy (RIMS): If Not Today, When?' The conference was presented by the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA).

President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Roger Hinds, noted that the conference has shown steady growth and is spreading throughout the Caribbean basin as well as Central and South America and Europe.

The CSA, he said, should be congratulated for the quality of the presentations, which was much higher than in previous years. "The conference featured very strong speakers, well-researched and presented papers," Hinds said. The quality of the presentations, he noted, was on par with other international maritime conferences.

Built momentum

This, he said, has built the momentum for the annual general meeting and conference scheduled for October this year in Jamaica. "As a result of the level of participation, I think we are going to have a record-breaking attendance at the October conference," Hinds said.

Michael Horton of Moffatt & Nichol, Panama, echoed the sentiments of Hinds and noted, "the quality of the presenters and presentations was very high and the organisation was excellent."

Vice-president of security at the Port Authority of Jamaica, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Linval Bailey, also believed the conference was a success. Much was achieved in terms of preparing the way forward for regional integration, he opined. "The array of presentations was suited for the conference. The critical points were addressed by the presenters," he said.

DCP Bailey, who presented on the topic, 'RIMS: Opportunity for Maritime Security Success', also expressed his delight at the inclusion of maritime security as part of the regional framework for RIMS.

Interesting speakers

First-timer at the conference, Dinorah Fernandez, of Deepsea Coastwise & Harbour Towing in the Dominican Republic, noted that the CSA had a very interesting pool of speakers. "I am very proud to have this kind of quality of events in our sector of our beloved Caribbean. No need to say that besides the professional experience, it was an amazing networking occasion."

Ernest Ashley Taylor of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation in Trinidad, in congratulating the CSA, said, "It was indeed a major success from my point of view. I would really like to see the momentum continue, as we try to execute some of the recommendations and findings through the formation of working groups."

Director of Sustainable Tourism at the Association of Caribbean States, Gloria Mees, in congratulating the CSA, said, "I found it to be very professional and productive. I am convinced it was a good approach to start the dialogue on the issue on a regional integrated maritime strategy."

The ninth CSEC was hosted by Curaçao Ports Authority and Curaçao Port Services. The CSA also conducted two training seminars on: 'Benefiting from Cruise Tourism' and 'Agency Management & Strategic Positioning,' on May 20 and 21. Both training seminars are also scheduled for this month in Trinidad and October in Jamaica.