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seawork2003 Conference: Be There, Be Aware of the Issues
01 Mar 2003
seawork's Conference Programme, running concurrently with the Exhibition in the same Canary Island Fruit Terminal facility, has always been an integral part of the event. The seawork2002 Conference was highly praised by delegates for the breadth of its scope and the quality of its speakers. For seawork2003, the organisers have put together another highly topical Conference Programme.
The seawork Exhibition has recently been awarded Sea Safety Group accreditation in recognition of its commitment to support for the safety of all seafarers. Such commitment is clearly evident in the conference theme for Tuesday 17 June. Backed by the MCA, MAIB and RNLI and sponsored by Safety at Sea International, the conference will address 'Safety in the Commercial Marine Environment'.
With the IMO mandated International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) due to be phased in by 1 July 2004, many delegates from the ports management sector will be interested to know what this means for them. Nick Horton, Head of Shipping and Marine Law at Bond Pearce, will provide background and explain the Code in terms of its commercial and legal implications, focussing on the Port Facility Security Plan, the Port Facility Security Officer, and the handling and checking of cargo.
Other speakers on the day include Captain Tony Starling Lark, Chairman of the Sea Safety Group, who will discuss the modern approach to personal safety at sea in craft of all sizes.
Geoff Hooke, of the British Safety Industry Federation Secretariat, will shine light upon how to select 'correct' PPE and safety equipment. Simon Burt, Surveyor for the MCA's Code Vessel Safety Branch, will discuss the likely outcomes and impacts in terms of commercial vessel certification of ongoing projects within the UK Code of Practice.
The marine civil engineering sector is supporting seawork in record numbers this year. Big name exhibitors include Dean & Dyball, Edmund Nuttall, JT Mackley & Co, Mowlem Marine, Westminster Dredging and many more. seawork has always been a natural and popular venue for marine civils, but the additional uplift this year may have something to do with Carol Mackaoui-Johnson accepting an invitation to become a consultant to seawork2003. Carol is coordinating the Wednesday conference programme, which is presented in association with the Institution of Civil Engineers. She has put together an impressive group of eight speakers, who will consider the increasing role of leisure and tourism in commercial port and harbour environments and the opportunities and challenges which resulting port developments hold for marine civil engineering.
The primary focus of the Thursday conference programme is on Pollution Control and Environmental Issues. Presented in association with The Society of Maritime Industries. Speakers will include the SMI's own Director of its Ports and Terminals Group, Ken Gibbons, who will discuss the challenge for port operators to establish and maintain their environmental credentials.
The Thursday programme also addresses in a timely manner the issues raised by the recent sinking of the oil tanker Prestige. Archie Bishop, Legal Advisor of the International Salvage Union, will examine the relationship between governments and salvors and consider new developments in this relationship, including ports of refuge and responder immunity. He will be followed by the ISU President, Joop Timmermans, who will discuss the organisation's proposals to develop a Risk Assessment Model for ship casualty evaluation to assist in identifying the Best Environmental Option for management of the casualty.
