The Maritime Transport Efficiency Conference (MTEC) will take place at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18-19 2020. Geneva’s contribution to the maritime industry is significant. The town is home to some of the world’s largest shipping companies, while Switzerland is considered the world’s second largest maritime power from a commercial point of view.
The conference and exhibition will bring together stakeholders in maritime transport and shipping technology and industry decision makers to create a positive dynamic around sustainability issues and encourage and promote innovations that seek to improve the environmental balance sheet and reduce operating costs.
Over 90 percent of world trade is shipped across the world’s oceans using 90,000 marine vessels. Like all modes of transport that use fossil fuels, ships produce carbon dioxide emissions that significantly contribute to global climate change and acidification. They also release a handful of other pollutants.
“Many stakeholders are working on solutions to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of maritime transport and shipping,” said Bernard Schopfer, MTEC event organiser. “Our objective is to connect them with the key decision makers in maritime transport on a global scale. We are convinced that new technologies will not only lead to an improvement on the environmental balance sheet, but also to significant reductions in operating costs.”
The shipping industry is responsible for a significant proportion of global climate change. More than three percent of global carbon dioxide emissions can be attributed to ocean-going ships and the industry continues to grow rapidly.
“Concrete and efficient solutions exist and are currently being developed throughout the world,” said Charlotte d’Espine, MTEC conference producer. “Fuel is on everyone’s minds due to IMO 2020. But there are other avenues to explore: propulsion and traction systems, hydrodynamics, antifouling paints, construction techniques and materials… We are calling on everyone involved in an approach to improve the efficiency of maritime transport. Our conference will give visibility to the research they are undertaking, and give them the opportunity to meet industry leaders.”
The Maritime Transport Efficiency Conference will welcome influential decision makers from key companies in the sector concerned about their environmental impact and determined to reduce their operating costs. The event is open to all stakeholders in shipping and motorboat transport, as well as students, governing bodies, NGOs and academics.