Maritime Community sets course for ECDIS Conferenc

14 October 2009, 8:21pm

October 14, 2009, The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) today announced that more than 300 delegates from the maritime community have registered to attend the 3rd International ECDIS Conference and Exhibition (IEC), hosted jointly with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), at the Regent Hotel in Singapore from October 19-21.

Hosted by Melissa Hyak, co-anchor of Channel News Asia’s flagship news programme PrimeTime News, the three-day event will explore the key issues around the transition from paper to e-navigation, following the ratification of the IMO's directive for mandatory carriage of ECDIS beginning in 2012. In addition, the conference will take a look into the future of navigation to see what technologies might emerge in the future.

Whilst the event is now sold out and closed to new bookings, UKHO and the MPA are running a reserve list for registrations in case of late cancellations. Any interested delegates or sponsors should contact the UKHO at emma.jones@ukho.gov.uk to register their interest.

The IEC event features a keynote address from the guest-of-honour, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Transport in the Singapore government, and a welcome address from His Excellency Paul Madden, British High Commissioner to Singapore.

The speaker line-up includes representatives from both European and Asian shipping companies. Dave Elliott from Arklow Shipping, Capt. Sriram Rajagopal of Anglo Eastern Ship Management and Rob Grool of Wallem Group will all discuss their experiences of transitioning to and using ECDIS. Sean Crowley from Stolt Tankers BV will share how his organisation has achieved 14 months of cost-effective navigation.

Other speakers include representatives from national maritime organisations and Hydrographic Offices, training specialists, distributors and technology providers involved in the development of e-navigation systems. Rear Admiral Ian Moncrieff, UK National Hydrographer and Deputy Chief Executive of UKHO will speak on the topic of ‘What’s New for ECDIS’, while Ong Hua Siong, Assistant Director (Port State Control) for the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore will address the conference on ‘A Contracting Government’s Perspective on ECDIS’.

Other sessions will cover topics such as the future of ECDIS, safety at sea, electronic navigational training, choosing a business partner, managing the transition to ENCs, and ‘Beyond Navigation’, looking at the business and environmental benefits of ECDIS systems to shipping companies.

Hayley Jopson, Channel Management and Marketing Manager, UKHO, says: “We are delighted at the response and demand for the 3rd International ECDIS Conference and Exhibition from all sectors of the shipping community. The UKHO is dedicated to helping the industry manage the strategic and practical implications of ECDIS Mandation, and the conference will provide all attendees with a great opportunity to explore the issues with experts from around the world. I expect everyone to leave the event with a better understanding of what ECDIS means to them, and the value it will bring in terms of business efficiency and safety for those at sea.”

UK Hydrographic Office

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