World Bunkering > News > Summer 2009 > Good programme, fantastic venue

The chairman of the 4th International Istanbul Bunker Conference, Mustafa Muhtaroglu, promises delegates “Good speeches and an unforgettable venue!”.

Judging from the programme he is likely to be as good as his word The conference takes place in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and begins with an opening cocktail reception sponsored by Bunkers International. With an opening speech by Turkish Bunker Association president Cem Özoral the conference appears to strike a good balance between national and international content. In that vein Mr Özoral is followed by IBIA chairman Chris Fisher and then Turkish Chamber of Shipping president Metin Kalkavan.

The first session includes an overview of Bunkering in Turkey by Sibel Büyük and then, appropriately, two presentations on the economic situation facing bunkering’s customers – the shipowners. The tanker scene is presented by Yavuz Kalkavan, ceo Besiktas Group, while Levent Karaçelik surveys the dry bulk sector. Then comes the second contribution from IBIA. Chief executive Ian Adams gives a report on the latest developments at IMO affecting the bunker industry.

Hüseyin Yardımcı speaks on the situation facing the shipyards before two speakers turn their attention to highly topical financial aspects. Torben Nordal Jorgensen of Global Risk Management & Bunker Holding speaks on Bunker Risk Management while Adam Dupre, Managing Director of Ocean Intelligence talks on Credit in Bunkering. That theme is continued by Oral Erdogan of Istanbul Bilgi University in his paper “Credit, Finance & Crises in Shipping”. The session is rounded off by Tezcan Yaramancı, Chairman of the environmental action group Turkish Turmepa ,who reports its work to promote clean seas.

And, after a question and answer session, that is the business bit of the day done.

In the evening a boat tour on the Bosphorus sponsored by Bridge Oil and then dinner by the Bosphorus sponsored by Energy Petrol are set to go a long way to fulfilling the chairman’s promise as regards the venues.

The next morning the session starts with a topic that may have crossed the minds of more than a few delegates during their boat tour the previous evening. There will be a presentation on VTS (vessel traffic system) in the Turkish Straits by Osman Kamil Sa, the rector of Piri Reis University looks at training and education and the bunker sector before Mehtap Karahallıof Turk Loydu addresses the issues of the future.

The serious part of the event is rounded off with a panel discussion on the operation of the bunker markets. Antonio Cosulich of Fratelli Cosulich chairs the panel comprising Intertanko’s Dragos Rauta, giving the buyer’s view, with Ramon Pascual, of Cepsa Marine Fuels and Anders Groenborg of World Fuel Services representing respectively the views of suppliers and traders.

And then there is a chance to relax. Specialist sub-aqua photographer Alptekin Baloglu will show delegates what they couldn’t see on the boat tour – Istanbul underwater. This will be a short presentation, accompanied by music, of the scene beneath the waters of the Bosphorous. Mr Muhtaroglu says: “In our conferences, we like to include something a bit different that takes people away from a heavy programme for 15 or 20 minutes. Of course it also underlines why Turkmepa was formed, and why Turkey is justifiably concerned to protect the environment of one of the world’s busiest waterways.

The networking and social side, however, still has some way to go with a Gala Reception and Dinner Anadolu followed by a party sponsored by TBS that is slated to wind up at three in the morning. Could be some bleary eyes at breakfast but the chances are the previous two days will indeed have been “unforgettable”.