IBIA Convention: A 360° view on current bunker industry issues

IBIA’s Annual Convention 2016 took place in Gibraltar from November 7 to 11. There was much to talk about as we had just learned that the global 0.50% sulphur cap is coming in 2020; and the wounds inflicted by the collapse of OW and Hanjin and a slow global economy are still bleeding. The Convention also looked at some of the industry’s long running issues, such as suspicions of short deliveries in a fiercely competitive market, and there was plenty of discussion about the role of mass flow meters.

 Over 150 people from more than 20 countries attended the conference, the first bunker conference to discuss the International Maritime Organization decision to introduce the global 0.50% marine fuel sulphur cap in 2020. The Convention heard from shipowners regarding their thoughts on compliance strategies, from IBIA’s IMO representative about IBIA’s participation in the debate, and from Robin Meech, Managing Director, Marine and Energy Consulting Limited and IBIA’s current Chairman, about his outlook on the impact of the global sulphur cap. There were also detailed presentations about the various “new fuels” emerging from refineries to meet low sulphur requirements, about the role of scrubbers, about LNG and about technology for producing low sulphur residual fuel from cheap high sulphur residues.

What does it take to create an ideal bunkering hub? Captain Peter Hall, IBIA’s Chief Executive, ran through some of the key components, followed by presentations from a handful of strategically located ports that either already are, or aim to become, global bunkering hubs.

No conference is complete without good debate, either during Q&A sessions or over a drink or dinner in the evenings. The Convention offered ample opportunity for networking with three evening events on the programme.

There were also excursions on offer to see an oil terminal and bunker barges; giving opportunity to observe the business end of the industry.

All of this intense activity was preceded by IBIA training courses, which you can read about in a separate piece by IBIA board member Nigel Draffin, who was also chairing the conference. [link here to Nigel’s article]

Look out for the upcoming winter issue of World Bunkering, which has a comprehensive report on IBIA’s Annual Convention.

If you have comments on this item, please contact unni@ibia.net