From Containers To Freight Finance - It's All In Singapore This Month

SINGAPORE – With a suitable fanfare for such a spectacular setting the 3rd biennial Sea Trade Asia event started off this morning and was seen to be bigger and better than ever. The trade show naturally attracts all the major forces in shipping and ocean freight transport, based as it is in a region where the industry is a key player in economic welfare and is seen by many analysts as a barometer of the Asian economy overall.

The show takes place in the spectacular Marina Bay Sands (see photo) and three hundred and forty exhibitors spread over a net area exceeding 6,000 square metres means a gathering around thirty percent larger than last time and the organisers are looking to attract in excess of 12,000 visitors over the three days it lasts.

Themed ‘The Asian Voice in World Shipping’, the opening session of the conference sponsored by Lloyds Register focused on container shipping with a speech by SS Teo, the Managing Director of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL) and, appropriately, the President of the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) telling the audience that container shortages were likely and with general agreement that manufacturing costs were liable to exacerbate the problem as box carriers resisted the need to invest in new equipment.

Discussions will continue with a session on the bulk freight sector whilst tomorrow the focus will be on freight finance followed by discussions on energy plus there are speeches on such topics as ballast water treatment and emission regulations, all matters demanding urgent attention by the industry.

Sea Asia has become the focus of a larger whole with Singapore Maritime Week offering twenty five shipping related events, including the Port Technology and Development Conference, happening in the city state by Friday, events which attract the cream of world shipping talent.