Closing Report gmec, global maritime environmental congress 3 and 4 September 2012

gmec global maritime environmental congress, held with the slogan “setting the green course”, closed yesterday at the end of its scheduled two days (3 and 4 September 2012). The event was a complete success, with a total of some 300 participants addressing the subject of maritime climate change mitigation and environmental protection. This was the second time gmec was held, and it was one of the focal points of SMM 2012, the world’s leading maritime industry fair, which continues at the Hamburg Fair site until Friday 7 September. “gmec was a complete success. We are very pleased with the concept and how it went. This year, gmec was held on the occasion of SMM. That was a unique combination, enabling visitors to get a close-up view of many of the technical solutions presented at the conference, and to continue discussing them at the exhibition,” said Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.

gmec promotes the exchange of ideas and knowledge of the leading experts and executives from the scientific community and the maritime industry. The Chairmen of gmec were Spyros Polemis, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, and Corrado Antonini, Honorary Chairman CESA (Community of European Shipyards Associations).
Spyros Polemis noted that “the gmec conference was initiated by industry representatives and is very important for the advancement of maritime environment protection. Key representatives of the maritime industry attended to discuss current topics. Integration of the gmec into SMM as a premium event was excellent.”
Corrado Antonini took a similar view: “The gmec conference promotes the shipping industry’s efforts to protect the marine environment, which has become an issue of high priority for both shipyards and ship owners. Greener shipping means to bring together research, innovation, education and training: the areas of intervention are many, but the future belongs to green ships”.

The start of gmec on Monday was marked by a Round Table discussion with leading experts, chaired by BBC presenter Nik Gowing, and focusing on present and future aspects of green shipping. The second day of gmec on Tuesday was divided into four sessions. The presentations and discussions dealt with subjects such as ballast water management, pollutant emissions, international activities in maritime environmental protection, and regulations for protection of the marine environment. The ecologically and economically relevant aspects of the maritime industry were addressed with concrete solutions. “Implementing sustainable technologies in global shipping will keep our oceans cleaner while making shipping less expensive and more efficient,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman Seatrade Communications Limited and a member of the gmec Steering Committee responsible for the conference programme. “The industry has become more sensitive to issues concerning the protection of the marine environment over recent years. The positive response from gmec participants shows that our concept for this conference is right on.”

SMM, shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair hamburg, is the top event in the international maritime industry. It started on Tuesday 4 September. This year it celebrates its 25^th anniversary, and enjoys the patronage of Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel. 2,100 exhibitors from 62 countries present their products and services at the Hamburg Fair site until Friday 7 September. The highlights alongside gmec, global maritime environmental congress, are the SMM Ship Finance Forum; MS&D, international conference on maritime security and defence; and another regular feature is the SMM Offshore Dialogue on Thursday 6 September.

The next gmec, global maritime environmental congress, will be held on the occasion of SMM 2014 shipbuilding, machinery & marine technology international trade fair hamburg from 9 to 12 September 2014.