As part of our Sea Asia Gives Back campaign, we are providing complimentary conference access to the wider community.
By doing so, a diverse range of individuals can gain invaluable insights into thought leadership content. This creates a more inclusive and collaborative environment, ultimately driving progress and positive change within the maritime community.
Sea Asia 2025 Conference Agenda
25 March
The Big Shipping Picture Outlook
11.00AM – 11.10AM
Welcome Address
Sukumar Verma, Managing Director, Informa Markets Singapore
11.10AM – 11.20AM
Opening Address
Hor Weng Yew, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation
11.20AM – 11.30AM
Sea Asia Official Launch
11.30AM – 12.20PM
Tour of Exhibition / Morning Break
12.20PM – 1.10PM
Sea Asia Global Forum
A New Maritime Doctrine?
- The changing global political economy
- Shifting patterns in international trade
- The decarbonisation investment opportunity
- Key megatrends reshaping the shipping industry
Moderator:
‣ Esben Poulsson, Non-executive Board Chairman and Corporate Advisor
Panellists:
‣ Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman and CEO, ABS
‣ Lionel Chatelet, Chief Commercial Officer, Pacific International Lines
‣ Mark Cameron, Chief Operating Officer, Ardmore Shipping
‣ Dr. Roar Adland, Global Head of Research, SSY
1.10PM – 2.00PM
Global Supply Chain Shifts and Outlook
- Global trade and China + 1, where to by 2030
- The influence of evolving global trade dynamics on supply chains
- The role of Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs) in shaping supply chain strategies
- Investment and policy considerations to build supply chain resilience amid disruptions and uncertainties
Moderator:
‣ Jayendu Krishna, Director, Head of Maritime Advisory, Drewry
Panellists:
‣ Abhishek Tandon, Vice President of Strategic Projects, Maritime & Shipping Cluster, AD Ports Group
‣ Chu Kheng Sin, Managing Director, Regional Head of Transportation Finance, Standard Chartered Bank
‣ Jan Mariboe Nielsen, Director, Regional Ocean Product, Asia Pacific, DSV
‣ Vikash Anand, Chief Commercial Officer, CMA CGM APAC
Session Sponsor:
2.00PM – 2.20PM
Session Break
2.20PM – 3.10PM
Risk Management in the Modern Maritime Economy
- Sanctions, compliance and political risk
- The cost of regulatory non-compliance
- Technology, communications and cyber security
- Pricing for risk, and the view from actuaries
- Managing reputation in adverse outcomes
- The role of ship managers
Moderator:
‣ Marcus Hand, Editor, Seatrade Maritime News
Panellists:
‣ Andrew Leahy, Director, Southeast Asia, MTI Network
‣ Claudene Sharp-Patel, Global Technical Director, Lloyd’s Register
‣ Mario Moretti, Managing Director, V.Ships Asia
‣ Pankaj Singhal, Country Head, Singapore & Product Director, Containers, Fleet Management
3.10PM – 4.00PM
Shipbuilding – A Macro View
- Overview of the global order book
- The retrofit market, and drivers
- Ship design and technological trends
- Factors contributing to China’s competitive edge and implications for the industry
- Role of shipbuilding and retrofits in fast-tracking decarbonization
Moderator:
Yiannis Parganas, Head of Research, Intermodal Shipbrokers
Panellists:
‣ Adam Kent, Managing Director, Maritime Strategies International
‣ Craig Patrick, Chief Commercial Officer, Silverstream Technologies
‣ Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, Chief Operating Officer, Maritime, DNV
‣ Subodh Borse, Managing Director, Newbuilding & Offshore Projects, Synergy Marine Group
26 March
Maritime Energy Transition
10.15AM – 10.45AM
The Green Transformation of Chinese Maritime Industry
in partnership with SSNAME
China’s maritime industry is undergoing a transformative shift towards sustainability, driven by innovative shipbuilding technologies and ambitious emission reduction policies. This session will explore how China, as a global leader in maritime trade, is adopting green practices to align with international environmental standards.
Speaker:
‣ Qin Aohan, Technical Manager, CCS Overseas Technology Center, China Classification Society
10.45AM – 11.35AM
The Maritime Energy Mix
- Current market share and projected energy mix to 2030
- Drivers influencing supply and demand dynamics
- Scaling alternative fuels – strategies for building availability, infrastructure and supply chain reliability
- Maritime energy transition scenarios and collaborative pathways
Moderator:
‣ Tim Wilkins, Managing Director, INTERTANKO
Panellists:
‣ Capt. Ashutosh Kumar, Deputy General Manager, Decarbonisation Projects, MOL (Asia Oceania)
‣ Rodrigo Bermelho, Director, Global Head of Shipping & Distribution, Vale
‣ Dr. Shahrin Osman, Director, Maritime Decarbonization and Smart Shipping Centre of Excellence (Singapore/Asia Pacific), Maritime Advisory, DNV
‣ Takeo Akamatsu, General Manager, Green Innovation Business Unit, ITOCHU Corporation
11.35AM – 12.25PM
LNG Bunkering – A Bridge or Path to the Future?
- Marine LNG CAPEX outlook
- Gas prices, supply and infrastructure scenarios
- Key technology drivers
- Future scenarios for LNG amid tightening emission targets
Moderator:
‣ Oddmund Føre, Partner, Head of Shipping & Offshore Markets, Rystad Energy
Panellists:
‣ Atul Nargund, Senior Vice President, LNG Market & Business Solutions, Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd
‣ C. K. Ong, President, U-Ming Marine Transportation Corporation
‣ François-Xavier Accard, Managing Director, CMA CGM International Shipping Company Pte Ltd
‣ Frederic Meyer, Director, Strategy and Projects, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels
12.25PM – 1.25PM
Decarb Operations in a Multifuel Environment
- Clean fuels and operational impact considerations
- Role of marine lubricants in decarbonisation
- Actions needed to close skills gap among crew to handle new operational requirements
Moderator:
‣ Jan-Paul de Wilde, Head of Decarbonisation, Energy Transition & Innovation, RINA
Panellists:
‣ Baskaran Balakrishnan, Manager, Global Marine Lubricants Product & Technology, Chevron
‣ Pankaj Porwal, General Manager, Project & Fleet Sustainability, Hafnia
‣ Prashanth Athipar, Maritime Safety and Technical Lead, BHP
‣ Shivendu Gadkar, Head of Fleet Efficiency and Performance, X-Press Feeders
Session Sponsor: 
1.25PM – 2.30PM
Session Break
2.30PM – 3.20PM
Global Trends in Marine Electrification
- Market trends and drivers for marine electrification
- Trends in Marine EVs
- Port and terminal electrification outlook
- Innovative electrical solutions and emerging technologies
Moderator:
‣ Dr. Chen Yun Tao, Manager, Global Electrification Centre Singapore, ABS
Panellists:
‣ George Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Sea Forrest
‣ Jan-Erik Räsänen, Chief Technology Officer, Foreship
‣ Jonas Tavares, Sales Director, Offshore, Siemens Energy
‣ Seshadri Gopalakrishnan, Assistant Manager, Seatrium Offshore Technology & Head of Centre of Innovation – Electrification & ESS, Seatrium
3.20PM – 4.10PM
Meeting the Challenges of IMO 2030
- Working with evolving regulations (IMO GHG Strategy, EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime etc.)
- Implications of the different regulatory measures being introduced
- Strategies for compliance and challenges faced in action
- Funding the cost of transition
Moderator:
‣ Alexander Prokopakis, Executive Director, IBIA
Panellists:
‣ Anders Schulze, Chief Operating Officer, ZeroNorth
‣ Dr. Martin Kröger, Chief Executive Officer, German Shipowners’ Association
‣ Pernille Dahlgaard, Chief Officer of Government, Business & Analytics, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
‣ Sebastian von Hardenberg, Chief Executive Officer, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement; President, InterManager
27 March
Maritime FutureTech
10.15AM – 10.45AM
Fireside Chat: AI & Safety in Shipping
- The role of AI and current applications in shipping to advance safety
- Challenges in AI integration, including data quality
- Developing robust standards and human-AI collaboration in critical decision-making
- The vision for AI in developing future safety frameworks
Moderator:
‣ Chakib Abi Saab, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Lloyd’s Register
Speaker:
‣ Shah Irani, Chief Technology Officer, Fleet Management
10.45AM – 11.35AM
My Ship is Hacked!
- The evolving cyber threat landscape and how it looks like for the maritime industry
- Challenges in implementing effective cybersecurity practices
- How ship operators can collaborate with onshore teams to strengthen defense
- Simulation: Crew response to a real time hacking scenario
Moderator:
‣ Capt. Charles Chong, Loss Prevention Manager, Britannia P&I Club
Panellists:
‣ Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, Co-CEO, Tototheo Global
‣ Michalis Michaloliakos, Group Head of ICT & Cyber Security, TMS Group
‣ Capt. Naoki Saito, General Manager, Management Systems and Maritime Training Certification Department, ClassNK
‣ Ryan Son, Managing Director, Rakuten Symphony Singapore & Korea
11.35AM – 12.25PM
The Rise of Maritime ICT and Connectivity
- Advancements in IoT, sensors and satellite communications for enhanced connectivity at sea
- Impact on fleet operations and potential in driving sustainability through data
- How are industry players leveraging on these new data collection points and collaborating to maximise data utility?
Moderator:
‣ Peter Schellenberger, Director, Novamaxis
Panellists:
‣ Harshavardhan Bhave, Director, Fleet Management, Pacific Basin
‣ Ivan Landen, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Wireless
‣ Sakura Kuma, Senior Advisor, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
‣ Song Lee Meng, Director, Satellite Product, Singtel
Session Sponsor: 
12.25PM – 1.40PM
Session Break
1.40PM – 2.00PM
Developments and Investment Opportunities in Indian Ports
Speaker:
‣ Sushil Kumar Singh, Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority; Vice Chairman, Indian Ports Association
2.00PM – 2.50PM
Smart and Green Tech for Ports
- Upgrades in port infrastructure to meet modern demands and reduce environmental impact
- Energy management solutions and opportunities for electrification
- Leveraging advanced technologies in the transition to smart ports for the digital age (e.g. IoT, AI, big data, digital twins)
- The growing role of autonomous vehicles in port logistics
Moderator:
‣ Stefano Scarpa, Associate Director for Maritime Decarbonisation, ABL Group
Panellists:
‣ Alvin Foo, Head of Technology and Sustainability Solutions / Head of PSA Ventures, PSA
‣ Amal Louis, Director of Business Development and Intermodal Solutions, Port of Marseille
‣ Ferlin Brown, Director, Commercial & Business Development, Noatum Maritime
‣ Mathias Karlsson, Digitalisation Strategist, Kvarken Ports Umeå; Researcher, RISE
Session Sponsor:
2.50PM – 3.40PM
Crewing and Manning in a New Tech Enabled Industry
- Developing crew competence and trust to operate and maintain advanced technologies
- Enhancing training and preparedness with Virtual Reality (VR) simulators
- AI supported operations – monitoring vessel performance data and routes for optimised efficiency
Moderator:
‣ Jason Nangle, Founder & Managing Director, Angle Recruitment
Panellists:
‣ Ashish Mediratta, Head of Crewing, A.P. Moller – Maersk
‣ Eva Rodriguez, Director, Human Resource, Marine, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
‣ Joy Basu, Chief Executive Officer, Smart Ship Hub
‣ Pranesh Kumar, General Manager, Head of Fleet – Technical, Hafnia
The above information is accurate as at 21 March 2025 and is subject to change.
