Conference director Alex von Stempel believes there is something for everyone at RORO 2008, saying, 'Every session at this conference has a green theme to it. We’ll be examining the environmental aspects involved in advanced ship design; developments in emission control and the use of alternative fuels; use of onshore power facilities by ships in port, greater use of inland waterways and the ongoing intermodal challenge.

'RORO 2008 really is the must attend event for shippers, shipping companies and anyone involved in the diverse ro-ro sector. Where else can the ro-ro industry learn, debate and network at such a high level? This is the 25th anniversary of RORO in Gothenburg and we expect it to be a busy three days.'

The conference features 55 expert speakers from a range of companies including Fincantieri, Wallenius Marine, Daimler, P&O Ferries, Grimaldi, Mitsui, Norfolk Line and many more.

Arild Borgund Iversen, president & CEO of Wallenius Wilhemsen Logistics will open the conference with a keynote speech in which he is widely expected to call on the industry to set better environmental standards for new vessels. Paul Kyprianou, the Grimaldi and Dreyfus Lines managing director, will ask whether vessels are getting too big in the short sea trades whilst Kell Robdrup, managing director of Norfolk Line’s ferry division will discuss the balance between passenger and freight. Finally Giorgio Arena, executive vice president of Fincantieri will look at ro-pax demand and supply and assess future shipyard capacity.

The programme features six specialist modules:

* Module 1: Motorways of the sea

Chaired by Samskip, the session looks at the difficulties in redirecting European traffic from road to sea.

* Module 2: Green ship design

Chaired by Terje Gloersen of the Norwegian Shipowners Association, the challenge of reducing emissions is put under the spotlight.

* Module 3: Industrial cargo – automotive

How can the shipping sector meet the demands of the fast growing global car manufacturing industry? Automotive logistics managers from Volvo, Daimler and Volkswagen together with directors from Mitsui OSK Lines and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics look at the challenges of structural changes in the car manufacturing industry for shipping.

* Module 4: Forest products & the interface between ships and ports

A look at new trends in the Scandinavian forest industry and cold ironing issues.

* Module 5: Alternative fuels

How can the ro-ro sector meet European legislative demands to reduce ship and port emissions? A look at low sulphur fuels, scrubbing technologies, fuel cells and LNG.

* Module 6: Safety and stability

With passenger ships getting larger, the implications for ship design, ship operation and accident response will be discussed.

The final morning consists of a plenary session looking at how the ro-ro system fits into the bigger picture of transport and logistic operations and ask whether ro-ro is being threatened by intermodality.

The conference runs alongside a major trade show with exhibitors from a range of ports, equipment manufacturers and ro-ro operators. Around 80 companies have already taken space at the show which, following a four year break, makes a return to Gothenburg.

For further information, visit: www.roroex.com/conference