World Bunkering > News > Autumn 2010 > Shaping the industry

The 8th IBIA Annual Convention will meet at the Stamford Marriott Hotel, Stamford Connecticut, USA. As the second convention to be produced by IBIA we are excited to continue the success of the 7th IBIA Annual Convention, in Singapore in 2009. The location of the IBIA Annual Convention this year is Stamford, Connecticut, which lies in the heart of coastal Fairfield County on the shores of Long Island Sound, just 25 miles from New York City. Stamford uniquely combines a vibrant downtown with a host of cultural attractions, museums, great shopping, galleries and theatres, with nearby beaches and surrounding rolling hills. It is also the location for one of the major shipping clusters in the US, home to a wide range of maritime companies with a global reach.

This year the IBIA Annual Convention 2010 will take delegates into the world of the bunker industry through three sessions aimed at highlighting the current hot topics and debates on the Environment, Technical and Quality, Contracts & Commercial.

The IBIA Annual Convention opens with a keynote speech from Rear Admiral Robert North, looking at the case for a compensation fund for international shipping to reduce greenhouse gases. John Aitken, secretary general, will give a second keynote on the benefits of Emissions Trading Schemes. The presentations, and the following discussion, will provide vital background for the IBIA Annual Convention session, where the Association will present on its position on greenhouse gas reduction.

Later IBIA Annual Convention sessions include presentations on a wide range of topics from some of the industry’s leading experts. One session looks at the implications of the new ISO standard, including the use of biofuel and biodiesel in the bunker industry, the changing quality of fuels, availability and sourcing. At the end of the session, members will develop a statement from IBIA to ISO, setting out the Association’s position. Other issues to be addressed on the first day of the IBIA Annual Convention include the ‘greening’ of the bunker industry, and a look at the latest legal and regulatory issues, including the question of terms and conditions of sale.

Core to the IBIA Annual Convention is the IBIA Session, held on the second day of the IBIA Annual Convention, where you get the chance to meet the members of the Board and hear from them how they will direct IBIA in the future and what they will bring to this successful organisation. CE, Ian Adams, will give an update on IBIA’s activities at IMO and open up the forum to conclude on our position as an association on the hot topics discussed throughout the two day conference.

IBIA will conclude the IBIA Annual Convention with an afternoon of interactive workshops designed to challenge the participant to think through Technical and Commercial problems.

Creating and strengthening links between members is a vital part of IBIA’s role, and the IBIA Annual Convention will offer plenty of opportunities to do so. The IBIA Annual Convention opens with a welcome and networking event on Tuesday evening. As well as breaks during the sessions, the IBIA Annual Convention includes a cocktail reception on the first night, a reception and dinner on the second, and the IBIA golf tournament at the North Hempstead Country Club on Friday.

The IBIA Annual Convention is designed for IBIA members. Ultimately, this is an event for all in the bunker industry to really grasp the idea of how the industry works and how we want to shape it in the future. We want you to participate in influencing IBIA activities to lead us towards our position at the International Maritime Organization and position us as THE association for the bunker industry.

We look forward to seeing you at the IBIA Annual Convention in Connecticut in September!