Nov 07 - Gibraltar To Host Major Bunkering Convention This Week
This year’s International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) annual convention will take place in Gibraltar later this week on the 9th and 10th of November.
Building on the highly successful Regional Forum of February 2015, the convention will be held on board the Sunborn Hotel.
The event will feature a first class two day IBIA Conference and Exhibition preceded by a number of professional training courses supported by the Gibraltar Port Operators’ Association and its members. About 150 delegates will be treated to a session at the Cruise terminal on Thursday afternoon, where bunkering vessels will be made available by local suppliers, offering delegates the unique opportunity to see these vessels close up. The event will bring together global bunker suppliers and traders, ship managers, ship-owners, lawyers, maritime services providers, and members of the Gibraltar Port Authority. It will offer a strong panel of bunkering experts who will answer questions from delegates on a wide range of subjects, including legal, technical, operational, environmental and commercial aspects.
Robin Meech, Chairman of IBIA said: “Our decision to hold the annual convention in Gibraltar follows our successful event there in 2015, and with the support and partnership of the Gibraltar Port Authority, HM Government of Gibraltar and local participants in the bunker industry, we believe that this will be an even more successful and productive convention than last year.”
Gibraltar’s Minister for Maritime Services, Gilbert Licudi, commented that “this clearly demonstrates the good work that the Gibraltar Port Authority is doing in promoting our services and the solid reputation that our Port enjoys globally, widely regarded as the premier centre of excellence for bunkering services in the Mediterranean by its peers and partners. The Government is fully supportive of holding such prestigious and high profile shipping events in Gibraltar, once again highlighting our commitment to continue developing the Port as an important contributor to our economic growth.”
Commodore Bob Sanguinetti, CEO and Captain of the Port, and an IBIA board member himself added that “the choice of venue for such a major event highlights the strong relationship between Gibraltar and IBIA, and the importance of the Port of Gibraltar in the bunkering world. It also gives the local marine service providers, with whom we work very closely, an opportunity to showcase their business to the wider shipping community.”
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