BUNKERING & SHIPPING IN TRANSITION – IBIA Conference Series 2021

Speakers

• Stephen H. Crolius, President and Co-Founder, Carbon-Neutral Consulting, View full bio
  Close

  Stephen H. Crolius, President and Co-Founder, Carbon-Neutral Consulting,

  Stephen H. Crolius is President and Co-Founder of Carbon-Neutral Consulting, President of the Ammonia Energy Association, and Co-Director of the Vehicle-to-Grid EV School Bus Initiative.  He has 35 years of experience as a business strategy professional at The Boston Consulting Group and in subsequent roles. In 2006, spurred by his interest in alternative energy technologies, Steve joined the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative (CCI).  After his departure from the Foundation in 2013, Steve co-founded the Vehicle-to-Grid EV School Bus Initiative. The initiative is currently implementing the $10 million V2G School Bus Commercialization Project with lead funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. Also in 2013, Steve joined the Board of Directors of the Ammonia Energy Association and has since played a leadership role as the organization with its 100+ industry members has become an active voice in energy policy discussions around the world.

• Bud Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs, MSC Group View full bio
  Close

  Bud Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs, MSC Group

   

  Bud began his education in Submarine Nuclear Engineering and later obtained his formal undergraduate education at the US Merchant Marine Academy, where he was trained as a Deck Officer. During his service with the US Coast Guard, he studied law at the George Washington University Law School. He most recently led the Maritime Policy efforts of the Cruise Lines International Association prior to joining the MSC Group in 2017.

  Today, Bud is engaged across MSC’s Cargo and Passenger divisions, developing the company’s central Government Affairs function, based at the Group’s headquarters in Geneva. He is closely involved in MSC’s response to developments in environmental public policy and regulation and other industry-wide issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, maritime security, safety at sea, and international shipping policy. He serves on the Boards for the UK Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, Liberian Shipowners’ Council, and Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel.

• Roger Dekkers, Group Trade Finance Director, Monjasa Group View full bio
  Close

  Roger Dekkers, Group Trade Finance Director, Monjasa Group

  Roger Dekkers is Group Trade Finance Director for the Monjasa Group, based in Dubai and amongst others globally responsible for the group’s financing needs. Roger is an experienced global trade finance executive and has worked in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. He started his professional career in 2005 as an international management trainee at Fortis Bank in Europe from where he worked his way up through the ranks to become regional head of trade commodity finance with ABN AMRO Bank prior to joining Monjasa 3 years ago.

• Nigel Draffin, Consultant View full bio
  Close

  Nigel Draffin, Consultant

  NIGEL DRAFFIN served at sea with Shell from 1966, coming ashore in 1979 working in New Building, Research and Operations departments.  In 1996 he moved to Bunker broking first at Gibsons then at LQM Petroleum Services where he was Technical Manager before retiring in 2015.

  He has sailed on and supervised the construction and operation of bulk carriers, oil tankers and gas carriers. He has acted as a consultant on technical issues for over 22 years. He given expert opinions and is a supporting member of LMAA. A founder member of the International Bunker Industry Association, serving on its board and as Chairman in 2012. He is a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Fuellers and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

  He is the course director of the Petrospot bunkering courses and a regular presenter at bunker conferences. He has written 12 books on Bunkering and Shipping published by Petrospot.

• Unni Einemo, Director, International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) View full bio
  Close

  Unni Einemo, Director, International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA)

  Unni Einemo joined the IBIA secretariat in April 2016 as its IMO Representative, Media and Communications Manager after two years as a non-Executive board director. She was promoted to Director in order to serve as the global head of the Association in September 2018 following a unanimous decision by the board of IBIA.

  Prior to joining IBIA, she worked for two decades as a journalist and analyst in the marine fuel and shipping industries in her capacity as Managing Editor for the highly regarded Bunkerworld and Sustainable Shipping specialist news services at Petromedia, and later Platts, which acquired Petromedia in July 2015. She has gained expert knowledge through engaging with industry, attending numerous maritime and energy conferences, and regularly attending IMO meetings, and has herself become a sought-after speaker at industry events.

  Lloyd’s List named her as one of ‘Ten women influencing shipping in 2019’ ahead of the publication’s annual Top 100 most influential people in shipping series, and among the “Top 10 in regulation” in 2018.

  Unni is a Masters Graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, with a major in Contemporary Politics of the Middle East.

• Eric Evans, Energy and Fuel Consultant View full bio
  Close

  Eric Evans, Energy and Fuel Consultant

  Eric Evans is a seasoned executive with over 40 years of leadership experience and expertise in finance operations, global sourcing and fuel management of marine fuels, sales and marketing of global fuel supply, marine transportation and infrastructure management, sustainability projects, development of alternative fuels, and managing environmental compliance measures to meet the IMO 2020 regulations. During his career he has worked for large NYSE traded companies including Carnival Corporation, EL Paso/ Coastal Refining and Marketing and ICON International. 

  Currently, Eric is owner of Evans Advisory LLC serving as an Energy Consultant / Strategic Advisor for Marine Fuels, LNG, ESG, and Sustainability.  He is supporting and engaged with various clients in marine fuels management, global procurement, innovative and creative finance, petroleum sourcing, and oil infrastructure projects.

  Eric’s experience includes working on various projects including Carnival Corporation’s Exhaust Gas Cleaning Project with the USCG and EPA, and the development and implementation of bulk LNG as a marine fuel. Other leadership responsibilities include lobbying and government affairs, international sales and marketing, asset management, human resources, and business development. He has vast experience in managing large billion-dollar budgets utilizing various innovative strategies and market driven negotiations.

  Éric is a founding and two-time Board Member of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), served on the Florida Department of Natural Resource Oil Spill Council following the enactment of OPA 90, and is a globally recognized fuel expert with extensive experience supporting the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA).

• Jack Grogan - Senior Account Manager, VPS View full bio
  Close

  Jack Grogan - Senior Account Manager, VPS

  Jack is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a degree in Marine Engineering Systems and a US Coast Guard license as a Third Assistant Engineer.  He also served in the US Naval Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.  After a brief stint in the aerospace industry, he worked as a Technical Coordinator for the largest, privately owned shipping company in the world.  In 1993, Jack entered the bunker industry full time as a Technical Coordinator for Coastal Corporation, a diversified energy and petroleum products company in the Fortune 500.  He later became a marine sales representative and then Bunkering Manager.  He joined Shell Marine Products in Houston in 2004 where he directed Shell’s bunkering activities in the Americas region.

  Jack joined Veritas Petroleum Services in 2015 and currently serves as Senior Sales Manager.  He has more than 25 years of dedicated experience in the bunker industry.

• Helle Graesdal - Head of Bunkers/Alliance Executive, Frontline and Golden Ocean  View full bio
  Close

  Helle Graesdal - Head of Bunkers/Alliance Executive, Frontline and Golden Ocean 

  Helle Græsdal has over 20 years of experience in the commodity trading, marine fuel and shipping industries. She has been Head of Bunkers for the John Fredriksen Group’s Frontline and Golden Ocean since September 2015.

  Helle is also an Alliance Executive for the Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean marine fuels supply and procurement joint-venture, TFG Marine, providing business development support in the procurement and supply of both traditional and sustainable marine fuels of this rapidly growing company.

  Prior to her current positions with Frontline and TFG Marine, Helle worked as Bunker Procurement Manager for Western Bulk shipping company from 2009-2015 and as a trader and broker for Entranor Energy Trading Norway .

  Helle holds a degree in Business administration and  International marketing from the university of BI.

• Rasmus Jacobsen - Americas Director, Monjasa View full bio
  Close

  Rasmus Jacobsen - Americas Director, Monjasa

  Relocating from Denmark to Stamford, US in 2011 to set up Monjasa’s first presence in the Americas, Rasmus Jacobsen has developed in-depth knowledge of the global oil and shipping industries for the past eight years. Coming from an internal position as Bunker Trader and General Manager, Rasmus Jacobsen was appointed Managing Director for Monjasa Americas in the early months of 2016. Today, Rasmus Jacobsen is located at Monjasa Americas’ headquarters in Panama City. Since his accession to the Monjasa Group top management, Rasmus has contributed significantly to the strategic, organisational and commercial development of the Monjasa Group.
  Educated as Sergeant First Class, Rasmus started his professional career in the Danish Army, which included secondments with NATO forces in Kosovo in 2005 and the coalition forces in Iraq in 2007. In addition, Rasmus Jacobsen holds experience from the LEGO Group in Denmark, where he worked with supply chain management from 2009-2011.

• Peter I. Keller, Principal, Peter I. Keller and Associates, LLC View full bio
  Close

  Peter I. Keller, Principal, Peter I. Keller and Associates, LLC

  Peter I. Keller is the Principal of Peter I. Keller and Associates, LLC, a consulting and advisory practice serving the International Maritime Industry.  Mr. Keller is also Chairman of SEA/LNG, a London based organization that is committed to furthering the use of LNG as an important, environmentally superior maritime fuel.

  Most recently, Mr. Keller served as Executive Vice President of TOTE Inc. and oversaw the development of the world’s first LNG powered, dual fuel container vessels, the Marlin Class.    From 2012 until 2014 Mr. Keller was President of Sea Star .  Previously from 2000 until 2010, Mr. Keller was EVP and Chief Operating Officer of NYK Group Americas, Inc. During his tenure at NYK he was also a member of the Governing Board of NYK in Tokyo for a number of years. He started his career in 1968 at Sea-Land  and  later led the CAST Group.

  Mr. Keller has acted as a Consultant to many leading Container Carriers as well as Ports, Terminal Operators and Intermodal service providers prior to joining NYK in late 1999.

  Mr. Keller was inducted into the International Maritime Hall of Fame in 2006 at the United Nations in New York. He is a Past Member of “The Box Club” and has served on many Industry and Labor  Relations  Boards.

   

  He was recently featured in Dynasties of the Sea written by Lori Ann LaRocco and published in 2018 by Marine Money.

   

• Michael Mcnamara - Vise President, Carnival View full bio
  Close

  Michael Mcnamara - Vise President, Carnival

  Michael is the Vice President, Global Fuel Sourcing for Carnival Corporation.  He has a diverse set of experiences in the petroleum and shipping industries that spans over 30 years and covers all aspects of finance, production, processing, transporting, selling, buying and testing petroleum products.

  Prior to joining Carnival Corporation & PLC, he served Managing Director & President, Americas for Veritas Petroleum Services B.V. where he oversaw all aspects of Sales, Marketing, and Operations for North America and South America

  Prior to joining Veritas Petroleum Services, he was responsible for coordinating global strategies for all aspects of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines fuel exposure and energy expense across all of the corporation’s operations, including fuel procurement, emission abatement, fuel/emission regulation, fuel hedging, and energy efficiency programs.

  Michael holds an MBA in international business and finance from Oklahoma City University, and has completed the Executive Management Program at Wharton School of Business

• Frédéric Meyer, Head of Strategy & Projects, Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS) View full bio
  Close

  Frédéric Meyer, Head of Strategy & Projects, Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS)

  Frédéric Meyer is the Head of Strategy & Projects for Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS), Total’s dedicated business in charge of worldwide bunkering activities. He oversees a team that focuses on low-carbon alternative marine fuel projects, R&D programs and industry initiatives.

  With 20+ years’ experience in the energy sector, Mr. Meyer joined Total in 1992 and has held leadership positions in the Marketing Services and Gas, Renewables & Power (GRP) branches of Total. His previous roles included managing Total’s Special Fluids and Additives business unit in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, and Total’s Commodities Trading business for Asia Pacific and Atlantic markets.

  Mr. Meyer is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from the École Nationale Supérieure des Industries Chimiques. He also holds a Post-Graduate in industrial engineering from the École des Mines of Nancy, and in Industrial Marketing from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers of Paris.

• Alok Sharma, Senior Vice President, Inatech View full bio
  Close

  Alok Sharma, Senior Vice President, Inatech

  Based at the company’s UK headquarters, Alok Sharma is responsible for the global business development of Inatech’s portfolio products for the Oil Trading and Marine Industries.

  During his career he has also headed global purchasing and commercial departments within Marine, Express and Logistics industries. He has been responsible for energy procurement/trading and risk management in various capacities. He frequently contributes to the “industry debate” through articles, webinars to assist in Shipping and Bunkering industries work together as strategic partners.

  Alok has experience in implementing large strategic projects including IT, Commercial, Supply Chain and M&A. Prior to joining Inatech, he worked in senior positions for the Royal Mail, Quantum and the CSAV Group. He also has worldwide sailing experience on cargo ships.

  Alok Sharma is a Master Mariner, and has an MBA from the London Business School.

   

• J. Stephen Simms - Simms Showers Llp View full bio
  Close

  J. Stephen Simms - Simms Showers Llp

  Stephen (“Steve”) Simms is a Principal of Simms Showers LLP.  He serves as Chair of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) Legal Working Group and is a past IBIA’s Board member.

  Simms Showers is one of the world’s most active law firms working in the area of bunker trader, broker and supplier representation, vessel arrest, maritime attachment, and related maritime remedies for creditors. The Firm has to date recovered over $700 million for its clients as the result of vessel arrest and maritime attachment proceedings throughout the world.

  Mr. Simms was selected for the United States Department of Justice, Honor Law Graduates Program and served as a federal prosecutor.  He was Editor‑in‑Chief of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business at Northwestern University School of Law (Chicago),  holds an M.A. in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a B.A. in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.

  He is the Husband of his wife of 30 years, Denise, and Dad of daughter Alison and son John,  and of West Highland White Terrier Barrett, who enjoys chasing squirrels with the same enthusiasm that Mr. Simms has for chasing ships.

• Hauk Wahl - Business Development Manager, Intertek Lintec View full bio
  Close

  Hauk Wahl - Business Development Manager, Intertek Lintec

  Hauk Wahl is the Business Development Manager for Intertek Lintec, responsible for the Americas and Scandinavian markets.

  Prior to joining Intertek Lintec, Hauk Wahl spent 21 years in the Fuel Quality Testing and Bunker Quantity Survey business, holding positions in Sales and Management in Oslo, Fujairah and Houston.

  Part of his career, he also worked with Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems and Marine Radios.

  Hauk holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Management from BI Norwegian Business School.

  Hauk resides in Houston, Texas.

• Felix Yamasato - Senior Analyst, Infospectrum View full bio
  Close

  Felix Yamasato - Senior Analyst, Infospectrum

  I grew up in Peru, but I was raised by my Japanese grandparents. Thanks to a tennis scholarship, I graduated from Temple University, in Philadelphia, with a triple major in International Business Administration, Economics and Finance. Upon graduation, I started my career in maritime credit risk assessment with MRC, which was part of the publishing side of Lloyd’s. The latter major marine insurance group had recently spun off its publishing assets into an independent publicly quoted company, whiich prominently included the oldest and most respected maritime business newspaper, Lloyd’s List. I learned about the maritime business there, eventually heading the North American office of the credit assessment subdivision (under what became known as Lloyd’s List Intelligence). After more than 15 years at Lloyd’s, I joined the Peninsula Petroleum group, which had recently opened a US Gulf bunkering operation, in 2013, helping their marketing group grow their global business. By 2016, I was back in the risk assessment world when Infospectrum Ltd was looking grow its Americas team, essentially re-joining some of analysts with whom I had started my carrier at MRC and had formed Infospectrum Ltd just a few years into my career.  Infospectrum Ltd has grown to become the leading provider of specialist commercial reports covering the marine and commodity trading industries.  With headquarters in Oxford, England and regional offices in Continental Europe, North America, Singapore and Australia, Infospectrum Ltd issues reports that are used by a number of clients for due diligence purposes, including major wet and dry commodity traders, trade finance banks, ship owners/operators and bunker suppliers/traders.